The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-26

IN TIE economy q nature Is some warrant
for he primitive ana innocent but vtr-
troux. faith In divine ordination II mat
Ing was always governed b. reason and
preserved By compatibility rms hyposhe-
- weuid Be almost rnassaflahae. but the
cruelty apparent act that many marriages
are mistakes aad that lke-long lore = not
he inspiring mossvs forces the conyic-
ton that men and women are Tres agents.
How faS they owe . duty to society -
taking upon themselves the mutual respon-
sfbilities Of husband and wife and Of fAsh-
er and mother IL me problem which seeks
unravelment in the variations Of publie
opinion manifested IN divorce lava
Ingerson says there should be no mar
rage without mutual love. and although
there may Be . wedding there can be no
real marriage without IT, That Is true:
but the question b whether society-that
to. social organization, the welfare Of the
race-does not have such claims that II
people make mistakes they must bear with
the consequences. At least to the extent
that they DO not jeopardizs the social fab
rio In their efforts to escape II seems un-
justin some casss II 10 the most refined
crueity-to insist that two people becom-
ing rspugnant to each other shall never
theIess bsar the most intimate and con-
tinued presence. Tho solution would b
easy enough. and the advantags to society
would Be clear enough. II in the meantime
. new relation had not been created.
Ingerson believes that marriage should
be solemn undertaking. that the record
should b pubic and the legal rights Of
both parties be clearly defined and faith
fully observed. He would grant divorce
to man only upon nagrant violation OF
the contract by the woman; but To the
woman he would grant divorce for the
asking. This seems 1t FIRST glance unjust,
but there are good reasons for making the
distinction All children should b the on
spring Of love: the children Of unloving
parents arc menaced with inherited faults
more serious than those OF temper and
temperament. which cannot easily b regu-
lated and may be beyond control. But
worse than this are the children born -
mothers who loathe the fathers.
Another reason for being more lenient to
women ID that they age more rapidly than
men. who are well able to take care Of
themselves long after women have passed
the period when either . later marriage OF
q means Of honest livelihood IL open to
them.
The laws OF heredity are 80 subtle and
% little known to mankind that they do not
and cannot be subjected to regulation or
their consequences be known as well as
laws whose operation Ii distinctly mani
fest This IL the reason why society has
always been reluctant to countenance
easy divorces. Tho experience OF nations
where divorce is easy Is that respect for
the marital relation declines. and wedlock
Is ventured upon with q less sense OF re-
sponsibiity. Where divorce has been dim
cult and divorced women especially are re-
garded with disapproval. greater care Is
taken and more elaboration exercised in
entering upon a union which Is not to be
lightly dissolved. When divorces were ex-
ceptional and almost q scandal. marriage
could not be contracted without the pub
fishing Of banns for three Sundays at the
parish church. This In itself compelled
caution. and gave time for reflection. There
has been gradual departure from these
solemn rites. and . marriage can now be
had in any state with practical secrecy. A
sudden impulse sufIices; II 1t prove salts
factory all is well; IL not, divorce Is almost
as easy.
The old belief that marriages were made
In heaven has not been % prevalent since
the advent of newspapers afforded insight
into the miseries disclosed In the divorce
courts: and the world has become pos
sessed of the knowledge that It is not I'M
chastity alone which comes between hus-
band and wife and makes unhappy homes
Incompatibility Is being recognized as the
most general. although least easily defin-
able. cause OF loveless lives. and there is,
1t must be confessed. in Ingersolrs sugges-
ton, a certain common sense justice which
In general way is as near as human judg-
ment can come to solution of a social prob
lem which has vexed the courts. perplexed
ministers Of the gospel who seek to preach
the right. and has caused great mental
suffering