Smyrna times., 1895-04-10
The Divorce Mill at Dover.
Correspondence to the Smyrna Times.
Mr.. EDITOR

Correspondence to the Smyrna Times
Mr.. EDITOR:
As the legislature is now in session,
and supposed to be employed and paid
by the people of the State to enact
good and wholesome laws for their
benefit, l propose through the medium
of the TIMES, to offer some criticisms
for the consideration of those people
who have right ia all matters of lepis-
latiOn to be heard. l will now only
call attention to one subject, that is.
This Wholesale Divorce Business"
1 would like some thought on the
question whether the object in the con-
stitution in providing for a legislature
was mainly for the purpose of annull-
ing marriage contracts? If so, it would
seem to be as we'll and less expensive
to prohibit all marriages in the future.
What want to get at, is whether the
underlying principle upon which all
this species of legislation rests is not
mischievOus and wrong.
Is il recognized as crime to betrav
a girl under promise; and does the law
in every State impose penalties, some
times to the amount of thousands of
dollars, for such betrayal; or even for
a violated promise without betrayal
But if the ceremony of marriage is gone
through with, has the man escaped all
responsibility Can he now abandon
the woman that he has ruined and
whose prospects in life he has blighted,
after having sworn to love and care for
her through life; and the legislature
promptly sanction the act? Are fathers
to understand that tender and loving
daughter may be enticed from her
home where she has enjoyed every
comfort, and been the light and Joy of
a happy domestic circle; only after
three or four years, or less, thrown out
upon the cold world to perhaps fud
home again in her fathers houseP
If man wants to be divorced and to
marry some one else, he can maltreat
and neglect his wife for that very pur-
pose. l have not been personally ac.
quainted with many cases but cite
one where | was personally acquainted
with both parties. A widower in the
city of Wilmington of abundant means,
of about sixty years of age, married a
woman that he had long been ac-
quainted with, but after going back to
housekeeping he found it expensive,
and that he could live cheaper by max
ing his home with one of his married
children. The next thing was an APP
plication on his part for divorce, with
out any pretention to cause; and the
application went through with the rest.
1 see it stated that it is expected that
! one hundred divorces will be
: rushed through at this session.
r 1t is not only the wrong that
} may be done in individual cases, but
) the demoralizing and degrading influ-
/ ence of legislation of this character
} The theory seems to be set upa a rule
of action. that people have the same
: right to be divorced that they had to
} marry, if either party wishes the mar
riage annuled.
We claim rs a nation to be a christian
nation, and recognize bible authority
as the standard of right and wrong.
do not know but Delaware also makes
some such pretensions. The Great
author of the christian religion says
r this way Have ye not read that He
which made them at the beginning
made them male and female, for thi!
cause shall a man leave father anC
, mother and cleave to his wife, anC
they twain shall be one flesh. Where
fore they are no more twain but on,
flesh. What therefore God hath Joined
together let not man put asunder.
Math. xix, 4, 5, 6. Our creator hal
Joined both parents in an indissolveablt
bond to provide for aud rear theil
children, What is to become of all the
, children then thrown upon the worlC
by this reckless spirit of dissolvine
, marriage obligations. We of Delawar,
are fast becoming the butt of coarse
, jests and ridicule from all sections o
, the country.
, Many years ago our neighborinl
State of New Jersey was engaged every
!. winter in this sort of work aud it wa
, growing on the hands of the Legislature
until it had assumed alarming pro
a portions A single county would fill I
, column of the county paper will
notices of applications for divorce
! Sometimes from one party, sometimes
. from the other. Yet the courts wer'
I all the time open. In 1S43 they estab
lished a new constitution for the State
It contains among other provisions thi
one, against which not a word of Op
position was raised: "No divorce shal
!, be granted by the Legislature" Thu
: at once and forever did New jersey
extricate herself from all this vexation
scandal and demoralizing Legislation
and redeem her damaged reputation
so as ever to maintain her escutcheOr
free from the stains of violating plighteC
; faith. That there are cases, where il
!. would seem that legal separation
should be allowed, but the courts are
provided for the purpose and have
ample authority. think that in New
Jersey under the new constitution the
divorce business was pretty nearly
brought to an end.
: Your OLD CORRESPONDENT,