The Washington times., 1904-10-16

practice Of changing partners in mar
riage as in a dance, at will. the dec
adence of Rome would be quickly re-
peated.
1T is a natural consequence of any
such practice that the state must pro-
vide for the children Of such temporary
marriages. This suggests strikingly the
destruction of family life, and leads
more or less directly TO state socialism
of the most commuaistic type"
Dr.. Kent Favors Plan.
George Meredith's plan for short term
marriage might result ia the demoraliza-
tiOu of society for a time but that il
might not in the long run bring perma-
neut good is By no means certain" said
the Rev. Dr. Alexander Kent 10 a Times
reporter. DR.. Kent is the pastor of the
People Church in Washington and has
long been known as q socialist and q
man in advance of his times.
"Au human institutions are imperfect
when compared 90 an ideal Marriage Is
undoubtedly a human institution and as
such is imperfect. but in is doubtful
whether it is any more so than other hui
man affairs. But because human lnsti-
buttons are Imperfect there is every rea-
son 10 hope that they may be improved
upon, and 7 am hopeful that marriage
viii be included iu the list
Marriage as IL exists today is too
often entered upon without due consid-
GRAFTON Of what the marriage tie really
is. frequently the union is prompted
merely by passion and there IS no real
love on either side. such a marriage IS a
virtual prostitution. and as such exists
as long as the parties live. Marriage
with love is the ideal existence for men
and women.
am opposed TO making the marriage
bonds any stronger than they are all
present Divorce is frowne5 uDoD law
the churches, and the question OF doing
away with the only means by which NM
Happlly married persons can hope 10
gam relief IS agitated AT nearly every
ci-Nfch convention that assemblies today
Liberty Is Essential
Liberty Is a dangerous thing. but il
is the most essential thing IN the world.
Although freedom sometimes creates li-
conse when first granted. its recipients
finally recognize that there are limits
TO which they must coudne themselves.
And ~ George Mereaith's plan for sbort
term marriages were carried into effect
Il IS probable that the public. after 1T
had once become accustomed to this
unusual liberty. would md limits for IL
and genuine freedom, not license. would
be she result.
How many partnerships in the bust
ness world last throughout the lifetime
or the contracting parties2 The nuuUer
is lunEltesimal- Marriage is lust as
much I'll partnership as are the business
-'HttArl7 Eri hundreds OF persons carry
-iitli through i-Te. ana hundreds OF
ti-s-e marriage contracts are unsuita bile [
an every way Marriage Is a state mat
J. . III Dol Hr
-E-E through the courtesy Of the state [
D I-'AAs mat minister's are allowed 10
lneTs De- serious cause for disseminating
we marriage partnership IL should ba I
dissolved bog law
Not Strain on Morals.
THE fact that under George Mere /
dith's scheme men and women would /.
have Ereatcr freedom IN contracting ana I
breaking marriage relations does NOT
necessarily mean that the morals of the /
great mass OF people would be lowered /
nor even that there would be .--eater 4
than there is under the
present laws.
some years ago ] visited Porto Rico /
The Spanish rule. was still i'm exist /
=uce. and there was no mere Ieeal form
1f marriage. but everybody had to be
married by the priests. The fee charged /
for marrying a couple was such a great .
expense that many of the Porto Ficans /
could not anord IT, ! found that 50 Der
cent of the children born IN the island
were born out OF wedIock almost en-
-ireiy on this account. When / was re-
turning 10 this country ! met q priest.
Father Pope. on our steamer. He la /
leuted she state OF affairs on the ISL /
and, but pointed out the fact that the .
proportion on men and women living to-
sether ass man and wife, not bound by
the marriage tie who separated, was
less than The proportion of married men
and women VINO are separated by di- d
,Orce lu England and the United States.
THE same found 70 be true Ira Cuba