The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-01-15
Divorce VS. Marriage.

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are, perhaps larger than ever oc-
Cured before in the respective de-
partments. Is there a correlation
here or merely Il coincidence Be
that as it may, the fact that in one
term of Court are found fifteen ap-
plicati0ns for divorce may well
cause apprehension for our future
social welfare.
We were encouraged by seeing
so large Il number of marriage lie
enses issued. We have thought
that there exists close relation
between the great number Of un-
married persons and many of the
evils Of our society and even our
ind ustrial condition. Surely the
throng of boys and young men who
grow up to II life OF loafing and
whiting store boxes, while their
sisters are taking their places in the
Offices and shops, affects not only
our social life but our industrial life
as well. There are a number Of
pers MS in every community whose
departure from the present field Of
action would leave no aching void.
Indeed there be some whose re-
moval like ihe pulling of a bad
tooth, would be relief to IL suffer.
ing community. We have thought
that these troubles would be large
lyremcdied If the store box whit
Ter and sun-bath man would awake
to the factthat he could be useful
in this world, and by taking the
place of the girl in the shop, could
make home for himself and her
and thus become useful social
factor. We think this would have
far-reaching salutary effect on
Industrial life. We hoped the in
creased number Of marriage licen.
ses meant something like this.
But an unparalleled rush for di.
vorces has come. Something is
very wrong in our society. One
single divorce is an evil, and may
but rarely be permissible. To a
christian civilization there shoul |
be but few if not only one excuse
or cause for divorce. Marriage is
too sacred state to be lightly en-
tered, or to be profaned by any
other than those who purpose an
earnest, honest, upright life accord
ing TO the laws Of their being and
the fullfilment of the purpose for
which they exist. No rushing into
the married state under loose or
mistaken ideas Of the meaning of
the vows taken should be allowed
aud it should be known that once
assumed, this alliance could not be
again laid down, but in the most
exceptional cases.
Modern liberal thought, indeed,
argues otherwise. 1t says that If
after trial it be found that man
and wife are Incompatible, they
should be SET free, TO infiict them
selves anew on society and make
the experiment with other co-part-
ners, In fact, the ease with which
divorces are obtained in these mo-
dern times, and the complacency
with which society looks upon
these people who have failed
through their own fault in their
own lives, and who threaten other
lives happiness, is one of the great
est inducements to hasty, unripe
marriages. We are inclined to the
opinion after some reflection, that
the ducking-tool, and the stocks,
and other like harmless aud eff
ciept appliances would he "A much
more effective cure for domestic
tranquility, and more lasting
benefit To society than the most
circuinspect divorce court ever or
ganized. We do not believe in di-
vorces. We believe they are un-
dermining our social fabric. We
believe they are prolific cause Of
immortality, impurity and degrada-
tion. We believe, by their eX-
ample, they corrupt society, desc
crate the marriage relation, per-
vert nature, destroy virtue and
work an irreparable injury to our
manhood and womanhoo |.
Our institutions, our welfare,
and our happiness depend upon the
preservation OF the family. And !
when its existence or its purity Is
threatened we believe it Is time To !,
call "a halt.
Let those who have joined their
fortunes, unfortunately pay the
penalty and by self discipline and ,
sacrifice repair their mistake by |
making the mostof their remain
ing lives; hut let them learn that
they cannot again prey upon s0cie-
tv or cause IL Ia stIff,.r nv reason uf