Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-08-27
THE CORVALLIS GAZETTE.
NENACES 10 The HOME.

Inc nome is the CHIEF COIHS1-
stone upon which rests every
thing in our social AID polite i
life worth perpetuating What
ever menaces it or impairs its
wholesome influence endangers
our very national existence. In
temperance and gambling are
terrible enemies to home and
home life, but they are recogniz-
ed and organized war is made Oil
them. Public opinion holds
these vices in such detestation
that they do not now neuace the
home in nearly SO large meas
ure as formerly. The expressed
determination Of transportation
companies and Of owners of mills
and factories using complicated
machinery to employ none but
temperate men is a mighty stride
toward home protection against
the evils of intemperance.
Of course, whatever works
widely extended hindrance to
marriage is ininlioal to the home.
There are conditions arising out
of Our advancement in civiliza-
ton along certain lines which
discourage early marriages and
induce increasing numbers Of
men and women to lead lives of
celibaey.
The increase of wealth and the
greater prevalence of luxury and
ease is such condition. Young
people are not now willing to be
pin, as their parents did fifty
years ago, at the foot of the lad
der and by mutual endeavo1
through industry and wise frugal
ity rear a family and gain mod
est competency. They must be
gin life under no less desirable
conditions than the young We
man has under the parental roof
This may require long waiting
and often does result in ulti1nat'
estrangement and celibacy.
. The greater facility with whic1
women, dependent in whole o
part upon their own exertions
may now support themselve
doubtless induces many womel
deliberately to choose an unmar
ried life. She finds she can sup
port herself comfortably, be quit
her own master, escape the care
of rearing family and the posi-
bic scandals of divorce.
The ease with which divorce
may be obtained in nearly a
the states is a national sham
and reproach. Knowing ths
the matrimonial bonds ca
quickly be sundered, multitude
heedlessly, recklessly contrae
marriage, quickly repent, are di
vorced and are at liberty to max
another contract on trial. Unde
such conditions marriage become
little more than legalized prest
tuition, and is utterly devoid {
the home element. The ease {
enforcement is a constant menac
to the home.
At present there seems to be
growing purpose to displac
monogamy with polygamy. w
notice this in London and in som
portions of the United States
The advocates of polyganly hav
never been so numerous and ae
tive in the propagation of thei
theories in the English metrope
lis as they are now. Every argu
meht possible i'll condemnation c
monogamy is adduced. Th
tone of public sentiment is low
cred and instances of conJugal il
fidelity and unlawful alliance
multiply. In England the prac
tice of morganatic or eft-hand
ed" marriages by the nobilit
has exerted a terribly demoral
izing influence on the masses an
made unlawful alliances and in
moral relations between the sexs
less offensive among all classe
than Americans can we'll con
prehend.
In this country monogamy he
not been assai1ed except by fe'
self-sty1ed "free thinkers" an
the Mormon church. The might
protest of Our American wome
against seating the Mormon reI
resentative, Roberts, in congre:
relieves us from any fear of pc
lygamy, but there is vet so muc
loose, easy sentiment touchin
the marriage relation that W
must regard it as the most insidi
Gus and dangerous enemy whic.
threatens the American home.