Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-11-13
esstx County Arrala.
ISLAND PoxD. VT, NOVEMBER ID.
Our Divorce Laws.

7NoAhNhAibh ANtA ~ @NA@Aa~
last June, that our iyorcc laws
are cunformable 20 her reh-
gion, morality, convene e, nor
humanity. The Bishopmos lily
treated the subject and cited Il
merous authorities bearing upon
each of the aboveconsiderations.
We venture to suggest that it is
"a subject of such Importance that
it ought to command the earnest
attention of legislators. Under
our statutes an absolute divorce
is provided FOR founded upon a
great variety of causes, some of
which have a very remote rela-
ton to strictly marital condi-
tons. The great number OF
causes or opportunities for di-
vorce have created a very lax
sentiment in respect to the sane
tity of marriage. The Bishop
suggests that there are sad cases
in which protection by means of
legal separation, divorce mensa
ct thoro, is required. 1t is al
most too evident for argument
that the law as it now is is not
well adapted to all conditions.
In the first place it is such as to
constitute marriage in many in
stances merely an idle and un-
meaning ceremony, and to make
marital relations or their con-
tinuance dependent upon the
fancy of parties to them. If the
truth could be known a very
large proportion of applications
for divorce would be seen to be
preceded by designs on the part
of one or both of a marital rela-
ton with some other person,
thus using the institution of mar
riage as a sort of seaside en-
gagement." But of course many
enter into these relations with
proper appreciation of their i'm.
portance, and in good faith. Tn.
forseen conditions, however, arise
which make those relations in.
tolerable. What is the injured
party to do? If he or she is d
reasonable person the thought
will be "Of what consequence is
it to me whether am permitted
to marry again or not? In the
nature of things l ought not tc
be permitted to. Shall | whose
virility is nearly or quite ex
hausted ask for what | imagine
a more fortunate relation anC
tarnish my children in the fresh
ness of their lives just to graft,
me in the senility of my time
So it seems to us that while ,
little hardship may be imposed
on one by inhibition other ant
greater hardships would be i'm
posed otherwise upon many 9th
ers. Therefore it is difficult t,
see how this indiscriminate sys
tenn of absolute divorce can just
w benefit one without doin
great wrong and injury to man
others and to society generally
Everyone whose interests ar
sacrificed by prohibition onl
adds to the sacredness and il
dissolubility of the marriage n
lations. But men and wome
do get in such situations will
out their fault that separatio
of some kind is just and nece:
sary. Perhaps a community {
life and property involves the ii
terest of the whole family, til
parties and their offspring. On
NAV be unreasonable and S
conduct as to squander wha
the other may desire to presery
for the children; while the othe
who may be the meritoriou
cause of their accumulations
compelled through vexation'
annoyances and even suffering
to toll hopelessly on while seein
the provisions for the offsprin
dissipated and squandered. VIII
should the law be blind to sue
and other like conditions? Ii
the courts be authorized to graz
relief by some such d1spos1tlo
of the property and on sue
terms desperation as they sha
deem just. Thus would be pr
vided to a conscientious man {
woman who would shrink fro
a divorce which would bring +