The Irish standard., 1903-05-30
HOW TO FIGHT DIVORCE.

their efforts, but it is hard to see how
he can cooperate with them on any
other plan except the inflexible rule
of the Catholic Church, which recog-
nizes no such thing as divorce and re-
fuses to remarry divorced party.
The matter of divorce is subject
which merits the attention of all
churches, and it is good sign to see
them uniting in an effort to do some
thing to put check upon the evil.
We believe that it would not only be
in accordance with the Christian re-
ligion, but also conducive to morals
and the great good of the state if
divorces for any cause were forbidden
by law. The Protestant churches
which have decided to invoke the aid
of Archbishop Farley would doubtless
be unwilling to go to that extent and
the Catholic Church will not meet
them on any other ground. 1t would
be we'll for them to apply the same
rule to their congregations, and this
would be great step toward the solu-
ton of the problem. Many people
who are in no way Influenced by re-
| ligious or moral considerations would
be moved by the fact that ban was
placed upon divorces by all churches
AS it is now, divorce being permitted
and sanctioned by law, and by most
churches no obstacle is placed in the
way of those who tire of the marital
obligations and ways and means Of
| freeing themselves are easily devised.
All right-minded people are agreed
that the divorce evil has reached the
dangerous stage, dangerous to society
and to the state. The peculiar thought
in connection with this matter is that
so little effective legislation has been
enacted upon the subject. In fact re-
cent legislation has been in the direc-
ton of making divorces more easy.
Some legislation has been scandalous
and an insult to humanity. A few
years ago the legislature of Florida, at
the solicitation of one of the standard
oil magnates, passed a law making
insanity happening after marriage a
cause for divorce. He then secured a
divorce from the woman whom he
married when she was well and sane
and at once married young society
woman. He is now supporting his
former wife in elegant style in a SAM
tarium and living with his second
wife. Surely this is legalzed adul-
terry! All the states recognizing mar
riagc as a civil contract hold that
insanity of either party at the time of
but for the nnnuilment of the mar
riage, because an insane party cannot
give that assent. which is necessary
element in every contract. But to al
low Il person to get Il divorce from an
unfortunate spouse who has lost his
or her sanity perhaps many years at
ter the marriage relation has been
entered into is inhuman and a dis
grace to the state that allows it, But
as the situation of the above mention
ed capitalist now is before the world.
what would be his situat ton should his
former wife regain her sanity?
If the Protestant churches really
desire to do something which will
reach the root of the evil. let them use
their influence with their congrega-
lions to vote for members of the legis-
latures in the different states who will
work and fight for the enactment of
laws which will absolutely prohibit
the guilty party in a divorce action
from rcmarrying. Let it be made Il
penal offense for such a person to do
so. and let there be attached thereto
good long term in the penitentiary
as Il punishment. Outside of all re-
ligious considerations. would not that
be just provision? The man or
woman who by his or her acts of
omission or commission has been the
cause of one marital wreck should not
on any ground of right reasoning be
allowed to embark in another venture
which will in all likelihood be another
failure. We are unable to perceive
any reasonable objection to such Il
law. And vet outside of Georgia.
which prohibits either of the divorced
parties from remarryng there is not
q single state in the Union that has
such law. The District of Columbia
which is under the federal laws. al
lows only the innocent party to TO-
marry Some states, such as New
York. have placed restrictions as to
the time within which the guilty party
can remarry after a decree of divorce
but thee restrictions are generally
not ont.Ous. Minnesota has made it.
self ridiculous by passing Il law for
bidding divorced persons from mar
rying within six months after the
entry of the decree of divorce. This
very mild restriction was adopted by
the legislature in 1901. 1t was no
doubt considered best not to shock the
moral sensibility of the public too
violently. The law has. however.
served one purpose. 1t has brought to
public attention in forcible manner