The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-30

pay Tor trip hdl1 way across tH'
e continent and for three months of idle
. ! ness. The abolition of the Oklahoma
: divorce law will not prevent a single
( New Yorker from getting divorce
: it viii not re-unite single quarreline
/ couple in all the wide world. The mel
} and women of the rich east who want
a diverse will get it-either by going
, to Dakota or remaining the lega
{ length of time in New York or where
ever they may live.
There is however, a movement in
the country for a uniform system of di-
vorce laws for the whole country.
This movement was not inaugurated
by the people who want divorce or by
those expecting they will need it. 1t
is backed principally by moral reform
ers' who are intent on the simple an
cient duty of sticking their noses in
other peoples business.
A uniform system of divorce must
come. But it will not come through
meddlers. The country demands it as
it demands uniformity in all the con-
dilions of the great nation, not be-
cause John Smith wants TO regulate
the morals of his4neighbor or his neigh
boris wife.
Since Bismarck took the bull by the
horns and made marriage civil instead
of religious, the world has come TO
look upon the civil marriage as suffi-
Gent. The religious ceremony is very
pretty and may serve to bind the con-
tracing parties close together, but it
does not save a woman from a drunk
en- husband or a villain if she chooses
that kind of man.
| The Baltimore ministers are making
a great effort for a uniformity of di-
vOrce laws, their principal idea being
to restrict divorce. Rev. Lockwood
of that city said the other day: Mar
riage is a divine institution and as
such was not made arbitrarily, capri
ciOusly, nor for the purpose of exercis-
ing authority, but created by the wis
dom and love of God for the highest
and best interests of man. No rite,
duty nor service is set forth more ex-
plicitly nor admits of so little varia-
ton in Interpretation among all the
teachings of our Master as His prohi-
bition of divorce for any cause save
one. Marriage is the law of nature.
IL has created the only social organiza-
ton where love is law. The moral
developments of the race may be trac-
ed in the history Of the marriage rela-
ton.
The state cherishes marriage as its |
chief regard and has the right to regu-
late the relation. Marriage is not q |
civil contract. The state does not re-
gard nor treat marriage as civil con-
tract, but as a status. In every divorce |
suit the state is a party. Legislat ton |
cannot make husbands and wives live |
together peaceably and lovingly, but
the state has no right to make immoral |
separation legal nor TO put premium
on immortality, nor to remove obliga-
tiOns which the status of marriage i'm
poses.
generally favor easy divorce Laws
providing for easy divorce justify po-
lygamy, consecutive polygamy, which
is us debasing as simultaneous polyg-
amy. The Mormon or Turk supports
all his wives. The POlygamist among
us has no such troubles, having only
to take care of his new wife.
Lack of uniform divorce laws in
the United States is our shame and dis
grace. A recent supreme court de-
ciSlon is the herald of long deferred
justice. That court has decided that
divorce is not merely a state affair,
but divorce granted in one state must
govern in all the states.
THE churches must assume no po-
sition but that of the New Testament
the only justification for divorce on
any other ground than that mentioned
in the New Testament rests in the rea-
son given by Christ for the Mosaic
Iaw-'because of the hardness of their
hearts. Good state laws will imnaSe
a disadvantage, penalty on the guilty
party, so great as to serve as a re-
straint. From civil standpoint there
s no justice in refusing TO the inno- ,
cent party in divorce the right to re-
marry Why should a guiltleSs per
son be chained for life TO the corrupt :
ng corpse of q consort executed for :
rhine?
The law should give the time of de-
;ertion due measurement, from three
. five years being not too long.
1.-The cruelty Of men to their wives
argely arises from drunkenness and
,annot be remedied by divorce, which {
,iveS the guilty man a license TO Sc
IRE another victim.
''The difference between divorced
nd divorcing should be emphasized. :,
TO say in conversation she is divorced 7
leyer indicates whether the person was :
'!aintiff or defendant The injured :.
'arty should not suffer the loss of pro- =
'erty. but the guilty party should fear !,
ii pecuniary loss.
Divorce should not be granted for :
uch insignificant causes as incompat- :,
bility Of temper Let US surround =
he marriage state with every precau- ;.
ion. Each divorce permitted insures :,
be degradation Of woman" :
In reading this one idea will strike ;
be fair-minded reader forcibly. Does :,