The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-05
Spirit of the Press.
rs A UNIFORM DIVORCE LAW
POSSIBIlE?"

I(DSSI
Senator Edmunds in New York World.
"The question of Il uniform divorce
law for the United States presents 4
problem which requires serious study and
consideration. The variation of laws
governing the subject in the forty-hye
different States which comprise tbs
United States of America aggravates the
constitutional difficulties of the subject
THE wide divergence of onmnlon OF
Legislators and lawyers ON the divorce
question would prove an almost lnsur
mountable bar to remedial measures
Let us look at the possibility of Con
gress passing Il uniform law based upon
unQuestioned cunstitutionality. Would
il lessen the evil? The power of mitiga
ton would still remain with the Presi
dent, while unfortunately the religious
communities view the subject in an en-
tirely different light.
With freedom of religion, which Is
assured by the Constitution of the
United States, it would be "a difficult
matter to frame law which should EN-
brace all different views and give uni
versal satisfaction, no matter whether
full and absolute freedom be granted to
those divorced or compromise be
agreed upon.
I'm England there is one law for the
entire country. In many cases where a
living openly with their paramours. This
is especially true in the case of members
of the mobility and upper classes, and yet
no effectual remedy can be found to sup
rITSs the evil.
s1V IL @I,4
New York State there are an average
of one hundred persons i'll each county
living in Immoral relations. There are
stringent laws to eradicate this evil. but
the District Attorneys close their eyes to
these direct violations of the law. This
has tendency to increase immortality
rather than stamp it out.
'1f every person and religious sect
viewed the question of marriage in the
same light, the task would be easier
Py some the solemn rites of marriages are
looked upon as an inviolable sacrament.
which. once taken, cannot be broken or
recalled. Others consider it Il legal con-
tract, carrying with it obligations easily
annulled and abrogated, and again 9th
ers regard Il continuity of marital re-
lations as contingent upon mutual salts
faction of the contracting prties, TO be
discontinued at others pleasure.
IF we glance at the divorce laws Of
Connecticut and Wyoming we will find
conflicting clauses which make divorce
possible lin one State and an impossibility
in the other. This does not apply solely
to these two States, but is applicable ia
others.
Cardinal Gibbons, of the Roman
Catholic Church. Bishop Potter. of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, and Bishop
Hurst. of the Methods, may advance
theories for the settlement of this social
plag but the mischievous legislation
regarding divorce prevents the possibili-
ty of radical cure. The poison must be
stamped out at the top. Children must
be educated early i'm life to the higher
principles of morality, and taught self
respect. 1t is not enough to give them
an ordinary scholastic education, but the
seeds of purity should be sown while the
mind is still in wholesome condition.
with the fountain head pure the
stream is more likely to be clear. and
transparent. Ill-assorted' marriages
would become rare if the atmosphere Of
home life were purified. 1t is impossible
to avoid altogether the dissolution of the
marriage bond The baser passions of
mankind will rise to the surface. and the
innocent are made to suffer. If proper
seed is sown in early life the prospect of
a desirable growth of goodness is far
more encouraging.
1.-The task of remedying the evil is diff
ficult. The statute books of the different
States offer a variety of causes or pre-
texts as sufficient grounds for divorce.
Amy remedial measure would entail a
complete revision of the existing divorce
lmws, thorough digestion of author-
ties on the subject and collection of all
available matter bearing ON divorce.
Even with this, insurmountable OBJ
stacles present themselves in the shape
Of conflict of views of the legislators
and the difficulty of agreeing upon prac-
tical suggestions which would lead to
the passage of such laws as would pro-
duce relief. With this accomplished.
there remains another and more serious
proilem-the control of mems passions.
If these could be kept under mastery the
task world be infinitely. easier, while
the imposition of penalties under national
Givorce laws would entail still further
difficulties.
''Iyhe most potent remedy is the Guilt
walton of the minds of children, careful
training and an honest application of the
teachings Of the gospel. Until some uni
form law IS passed there is no other way