Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-02-10

principal provisions of the proposed
law.
THE hill provides for the physical
examination OF all persons contemplat-
ing marriage and the granting of
certificate only to those who are free
from diseases named In the bill. The
examiners are to he reputable physl-
clans, and no license to marry shall he
granted TO persons contemplating mar
riage unless they shall have received
from the examiners n certificate setting
forth that such applicants are free from
the ainlctions mentioned. including
dipSomanin. true insanity or insanity
resulting from vice. hereditary tuber-
culosls or consumption. The physicians
Will hold Office during good behavior.
All vacancies are to be filled by the
probate Judge"
Legislative propositions having the
general character of the Parker bill
are being much discussed now a. days,
and the restriction of marriage, sub
stantially on the lines laid down there
in, has many advocates. But there are
ut least two radical and insuperable
objections to all such legislation: l. II
enforced. 1t would greatly reduce the
number of marriages and would give
corresponding impetus to sexual inn
morality, which, In turn, would vastly
augment the disease and misery
sought to be prevented. 2. The law OF
nature which lmpels the sexes to come
together is stronger than any human
enactment, and the right to conform
10 IL is one OF the natural and in
alienable rights OF man, of which he
cannot be deprived because of mere
misfortune and in the absence OF
crime on his part.
To say that because n man
Is unhealthy he shall not live,
Is to go only one step
further than to say that. for the same
reason, he shall not marry. 1t would
be great deal better to pass legis-
lation OF character to promote
marriage. for the fewer unmarried peo-
pie there are In "A given community the
frecr win that community be from the
evils sought to be corrected by the
Parker bill.
Another strong objection to such
law Is that 1t degrades man to the
level of farm animals, and puts the
FAMILY circle on par with the stable.
1t seeks to bring children into the
world as colts and calves are 1t ignores
and would crush out of human nature
the element of conjugal love, that at
tribute without which men and women
are raised but little above the brute
creation.
There are people who ought not to
marry, but they themselves and not
the Legislative power of the state
should decide the matter, when Ill
health alone is the reason for celibacy.
Insane persons may properly be pro-
hibited from marrying for the same
reason that prevents them from making
other contracts, namely incompetency;
and 1t might be quite proper to prevent
by law the marriage of certain classes
OF criminals, especially il they are to
be kept in confinement; but there is a
question whether 1t is not better to al
low wife to every criminal who Is
allowed liberty, provided he can win
one, than to turn him loose in society
under n law that would prohibit him
from establishing home of his own.
The whole question is beset with
difficulties of the greatest magnitude
and most complicated character. and
there is only one solution for 1t. the
to correct principles of life,
including n righteous self control, of
the individual members of society: for
society can never become any more
in any respect than the aver
age of the component units that COM
prise 1t, no matter what laws may be
placed upon the statute book.