The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-01

sign Of the time as 1t is a fruitful
source of evil.
1t was advanced by way of a plea
for divorce law that 1t would have
beneficial influence on the birth and
marriage rate. This has not been YER
1tled. The number Of births, which was
9Sl,944 in 1883, has gone down steadily
to S38,059 in 1890. 1t has varied
slightly since then. It cannot be said
that divorce has been the cause, or
sole cause Of diminution, but it has
not increased the number of children.
AS to the increase or diminution of
marriages, divorce has had little in
nuence one way or the other.
The same, however, cannot be said
with regard to crimes against the mar
riage state. Judicial sentences for ir-
Irregularities Of this kind numbered 81
IN 1883. Since then, they have con-
t1nuously increased up to 1889, in
which year they numbered 996. Then
there was slight variation until
1884, the increase continued to the
1,183 cases of 1899. and the 1,175 of
1900.
There Is striking analogy between
the number of suicides and the number
of aforesaid domestic nisfortunes.
There were 1927 suicides in 1888: but
in 1889 there were 1852. and in 1900
there were 1862. By either a strange
SO4lASAoC1lSS VI d RUE OF morals the To-
callt1es In which suicides were most
frequent were precisely those in which
divorces were most numerous. The
number of suicides credited to domestic
unhappineSs to unrequited love or
jealousy was LOO in 1888, 1,404 in 1889
and 9,344 in 1900 The disappearance
Of belief In the old creeds and religions
carrying with it the spirit of patience,
resignation and self-restraint has ia
ciI1tafp6 the fpn6ar1oEy TO
ness of which suicide is the result as a
sequel to earlier divorce.
1t therefore appears that the antici-
pated benefits of the new law have not
been realized, but a moral condition
prec1pitated among the French people
which is infinitely worse than existed
before the passing of the measure
The Catholics consistently fought the
divorce law and continue to do SO on
the ground that a divorce law is a
temptation to Indulgence in immortality
They claim that-the consequences of
legalized disruption of the marriage
bond clearly prove the correctness of
their assertion that: 1.-The moment a
Jealous infleXibility prevails, and is
fostered by, license of law and by the
contagion Of example, the supports Of
family life begin to totter; society is
injured, and probably the divorced In
dividuals also"
The magistrates, for one reason or
another, have shown great facility in
granting divorces. The excuse has been
offered that they are overwhelmed with
petitions. But whatever may be their
plea the law Of divorce once establish
ed, it has not been found possible to
restrict to narrow limits the number
of legal dissolutions of marriage.
Another aspect of the question is
that Notwithstanding the evil conse-
quences, it becomes almost impossible
to remove the cause. Prevailing pub
lie opinion sustains the divorce law.
and many who regret it's effects are
convinced Of it's necessity.
The facility with which divorces are
obtained in France, particularly by the
poor and laboring people, clearly and
rapidly tends to the destruction of
family life, to the degradation of man
and woman, and to the decentralization
Of society.
This then is the condition of things
In France today and many thoughtful
men and women are puzzled by it.
1t Is feared that retrogression in the
matter of divorce now would be met
with opposition of such a character as
to render repeal of the law impos-
s1ble, but nevertheless an attempt will
be made to secure the repeal as soon
as the interested elements have ma
tured their plans.