The record-union., 1899-07-01
hABoRED ADVOCACY OF INFAMY

A few days ago the Record Union
spoke sharply of the so-called contract
of marriage entered into at Toledo by
Rev. Cassons and a woman named
Commander, which recited that they
took onesanother for man and wife so
long and only as long as love dwelt in
posing as reformers, and having some
prominence as advanced idealists'
their action drew new attention to
them.
The Record Union spoke of their
marriage" as an outrage upon the law,
mere free love; a marriage" under
which either at pleasure could declare
himselfsor herself divorced. We took
occasion to point out that all such con-
tractsfwere immoral, defiant of the law
and the usages of organized society,
and nothing less than infamous, being
in disregard Of the rights Of children, of
property, and of the obligations society
places upon it's units, and destructive
of the home upon which sure founda-
ton the State is builded.
Thee Riverside Enterprise" however,
1audsj Casson and his concubine by in
ference, saying that he is a man Of high
character and is simply putting into
practice "a doctrine for which the
world is not personal---very. true-and
we takesit one for which it never will
and never should be prepared. We are
told that Casson and his woman while
fiyingyn the face of "a popular preju-
dice,1 are not guilty of any act which
on their part will have demoralizing in
fiuence upon society. We are assured
that the essence of the proposition laid
down by Casson is this:
When love of itself does not bind
man and woman together, neither law
nor religion can in truth, and that
either, the one or the other seems TO,
is sacrilege against the purer passion.
Before God, who looks into the hearts
of people and has no respect for mere
forms. the, man and woman who do
not love each other are already sep
arated.
In this doctrine, says our esteemed
contemporary "the most careful study
can find nothing vicious" But it. is
conceded that It is impracticable be-
cause the world is not good enough
for the gospel" AS finale to this
train Of reasoning the Enterprise
which is careful to disavcw advocacy
OF free love, pays its compliments to
the Record Union.' saying that the
for his BRUTAL defiance of the proprie-
ties and the laws. mistakes the vi
ciousness Of mankind for iniquity in
truth which is beyond him." What
ever is meant by that we do not pre-
tend to understand, but we do under
stand the charge that the Record
Union" is standing ON a moral plane SO
far below that of Mr.. Casson's ideal,
that it's words will never be able to
ascend to the ears for which they are
intended"
While that expression is made per-
sonal, its application is simply to the
scoring that this journal gave Casson
and his woman. From that there will
be no retreat. After the champion Of
the reverend freelover is heard in full,
st remains that Casson and his concu-
bine have made marriage of con-
yenience and agreed to a divorce of
convenience; that they nave entered
into unlawful relations; defied the law
and the established usages of society,
and set themselves up against them on
a so-called plane of super
We concede tina, love 1nj marriage
should be co-partners, that the first
should underhe the other and be it's
only firm foundation. That far Cas-
son and his, champion, the Enter
prise" are right, but the world was
right on the same point before them.
Marriage assumption must be accord
ing to some one Of the formulas pre-
scribed by society that the latter may
he protected from promiscuity. and in
decency. Once assumed, it's obligations
Should not be cast off without the sane
tion and formula prescribed by the law
and )countenanced by society, in pro-
lection to the innocent, and that the
whim Of the individual shall not be-
come the law Of disorder and infamy.
The doctrine advocated by Casson
and defended by our contemporary
though with the paradoxical protest
ahat as it is impracticable it cannot be
urged upon society as a rule of action
would unloose the tent hooks of hui
mainly, set license above order and
passion above reason. 1t would make
each individual the judge of the right
fulness of divorce, and substitute for
the courts the whim of safety, or the
persuasion of more attractive physi-
cal affinity. 1t is an UNANIMOUSLY low
doctrine, and has no idealisrn above the
cranky. fancies Of perverted intelli-
gence.
The American Consul General at
Hongkong reports that large capital
and many energetic men are awaiting
there the pacification of the Philip
pines to engage largely in the cultiva-
ton of Sumatra tobacco In Northern
Luzon. Aparri is the port from which