The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-16

THE DIVORCE AGITATION.
The subject Of divorce IL receiving ex-
traordinary attention just now at the
hands Of the Eastern press. Ministerial
associations have also taken the matter
up. and one OF the prominent denomina-
tons has about decided not to permit
its ministers TO remarry divorced per-
sons This is an unwise step. The
Catholic church forbids 1t. as ii for
bids marriage within certain degrees of
consanguinity. but since persons Of In
fiuence and wealth can secure an abro-
cation Of the rule. the moral force Of the
prohibition Ia entirely wanting. Re-
marriage Is not the thing to be forbid
den; under happy auspices it Is to be
highly commended and encouraged. II
four mismated and unhappy people can
be remated and made happy. q nearer
approach to true marriage is made.
That Is not the evil to be deplored,
nor the point to be made, although,
from the tone OF the controversy. II
would seem to be so. The fact il that
this whole agitation has been started
by the Sloane wedding. and it has led
to discussion Of our lax and diverse
laws throughout the United States.
There should le only one law with refer
ence to marriage and remarriage. and
to divorce in the entire country: ana IL
should be the wisest ever devised. be-
cause we have had, as a generation.
more experience than all that have pre-
ceded. and because we assume to be
broader in our views while We are more
elevating In our aspirations than any
people OF any time or race.
We have evidently not succeeded
when our law, which Is different in al
most every state, Is denounced alike by
Protestant. Catholic and Jewish author
tiles and by the notwithstanding the
iegal-and religious press. The scandals
arising out Of lax laws. and the lax ad-
ministration OF better laws. in Dakota
and Illinois. and even in the state Of
Washington. are arousing the American
people to a sense of shame II IS 70 be
hoped that the agitation win result In
a moral reform. but that will not be &C
complished by attacking one Of the hes,
consequences Of divorce
In the Sloane case. the social position
OF the parties attracted unusual atten-
ton; and the marriage on the very day
OF the divorce OF the condemned wife to
another person shocked all except the
aris,ocratic circle in which the parties
moved. Law Notes. a legal newspaper,
earnestly protested against the meth
DDS which We're resorted TO In the pro-
curement OF the divorce. and President
Patton. OF Princeton college, denounced
the present state Of our marriage and
divorce laws as "a disgrace 10 our
Christian civilization" and with refer
ence to the particular case he said that
II was simply disgusting
The newspapers do not snare the
minister who performed the ceremony.
He was officially reprimanded by his
own church. We confess that we do not
see that there is any principle involved
in the length Of the interval. although
IL may be that marriage as a sacrament
seems thereby TO be treated without
reverence. We admit that as a matter
Of prop.iety and good taste a delay be-
tween divorce and remarriage is as de-
siraole as an interval between the death
of a spouse and remarriage OF the sur
vivor. Custom generally and the law
in some states have prescribed a pro-
fishes the interval only for the length
Of time within which an appeal may BE-
taken. OF course. II marriage Is per-
naittea within that time Il tieprives the
right or appeal o; any value. But when
persons are freed. either by death or by
divorce. they are as independent a min
ute after the decree is confirmed as they
would BE- years sfserwsrd.
The law can aid in investing the mar
riage relation with solemn!ty. but re-
srsect for II must find deeper root IN
society. II Is not divorce which dts
gracss civilization. That may be nee,
esSary To the highest purity snd the
greatest social safety. The evil lsex IN
the irresponsible idea az marriage ard
the laxity with which 1t may he entered
uTson. No law viii altogether meet this
difficulty. II Is sometimes quite as &C.
slrahle that marriage shoald necoms
possible without difficulty. although the
general principle would hold good that
elaboration (. fully as wise In matter
90 go mach Importance as IL undoas,e3-
ly Is in all the affairs OF life
The church can do much good In IN