, 1903-10-15
The Question Of Divorce.

Several of the state papers have
had something to say with reference
to divorce, since the matter was taken
up in these columns, IA few days ago.
In commenting on the editorial, Ed
itor Chaplin, of the Laramie Repub-
lican, says:
What the president desires is that
the institution of marriage shall not
be made a mockery and IA hollow
sham. He desires that marriage shall
be the beginning of a new home and
a family and not the beginning of do
nestle infelicity and strife. 1t is his
government, the home, shall not be
banished from the earth
Well, there is nothing wrong about
that, because it is just what we all
desire. We all know that out of the
thousands of marriages, Il vast major
ity of them are really the 'beginning
of a new home,' ard great peace and
happiness follow. But we also know
that out of the thousands of mar
Tiages, there are a few couples that
are mismated badly so; and all such
should be relieved of the yoke of
matrimony. Because marriage is a
divine institution and for the reason
hat many, very many couples, are
happy, is no argument that those who
are mismated and miserable should
not be separated.
regard marriage as "A divine insti-
tuition marriages should be made i'll
heaven, truly. Formerly marriage
ceremonies We're performed, with
much solemnity and always in the
church, where the couple received the
blessing and benediction of the pas
tor. Marriage WAS not instituted by
man, but by the Divine Ruler. 1t
was intended to he the foundation of
the home, and of happiness as well.
1t is not IA man-madr ordinance in
fact man has had but little to do with
it, except to mar it, and make II mock
cry out of it, whenever his own evil
nature and wickedness has had sway.
The real trouble about this MIR
rage question is the great haste with
which people enter into it marrying
IN haste and repenting al leisure, AS
the saying goes. Marriage is losing
its sanctity, its holiness. This is
bound to be the case, SO long ms mel
are lustful and run riot in such mat.
tiers. And when such AN one breaks
into matrimony, and ruins the life of
some good woman, by all means
loose the bonds.
So far as the Presidents opinion
goes in such matters 1t will have
great weight, and may tend to help II
little in IA matter where great reform
alton is needed but the opinion of
President Roosevelt can have but
little more effect in that matter than
1t can in the sacrament of baptism,
for marriage itself is a sacrament, one
OF seven that We're originally ordained
by the Divine mind. We don't want
any "Me unit Got" business SO far as
President Roosevelt is concerned, and
it is impossible to see how he can mix
into "A sacred ordinance of that kind
without making himself ridiculous
1t cuts very little figure with this
question as to what the different states
have enacted in the way of laws gov.
erning divorces. There should he
such care, before entering the mar.
ried state, that there would not need
to be so much misery and degrade
ton following it, and if the states
will enact laws, looking to the physic
al examination of every man and
woman, who are candidates for mat
imony, two. thirds of the causes for
divorces will be removed.