The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-05
NATTER OF THE HIGHEST IMPOR-
LANCE.

Two years ago there was an earnest
fight III the Legislature to repeal all
the amendments to the divorce law
enacted prior to The Code of 1883. 1t
failed by narrow margin and then an
agitation was commenced 10 test pub
lie opinion. The press and the pulpit
nave sounded the note of warning and
no matter that will come before the
Legislature has behind it such strong
public sentiment as repeating all lax
statutes and putting up and keeping
up the bars. Almost every newspaper
in the state has expressed itself
strongly in favor of going back to
The Code provisions and the retiring
and incoming Governor urged that
policy. And vet. With this strong pub
lie sentiment for this righteous course
there are some members of the Judic-
larry Committee who recommend add
ing new causes of divorce to meet
cases of special hardship. The people
ask for bread. Are they to be given
a stone?
This divorce evil among white peo-
pie has not assumed large proportions
laws are encouraging the increase that
is noted at most every term of court
The time to prevent a spread of the
evil is when it begins to spread and
injpre society. This divorce evil is
arrestjng the attention of all thought
f,,1 n
message to Congress, President RooSe-
Welt recommended the collection Of
divorce statistics by the Federal Gov
ernment, none having been taken since
1886. and said;
''rhe institution of marriage is, of
course, at the Very foundation OF our
social organization, and all influences
that affect that institution are of vital
concern to the people of the whole
country. There is widespread con-
Viction that the divorce laws are dan
gerously lax in some of the states,
resulting in a diminishing regard TOR
the sanctity of the marriage relation
THE hope is entertained that CO.
operation among the several States
can be secured to the end that there
may be enacted upon the subject OF
marriage and divorce uniform laws
containing all possible safeguards for
in North Carolina, but our growing lax
the security of the family. lnte!ll-
gent and prudent action in that direc-
ton will be greatly promoted by Sc
curing reliable and trustworthy sta
tistics on marriage and divorce. |
deem the matter of sufficient general
importance to recommend that the
director of the census be authorized
by appropriate legislation TO collect
and publish statistics pertaining to
the subject covering the period from
1886 to the present time.
The above extract from the Presi-
dents Message is printed in late is
sue of the Wilmington Dispatch. which
ADDS:
THE President is right. The mat
ter. Is of sufficient general Importance
TO call forth the most careful consid-
Grafton. followed by specific action
Now what we folks in North Carolina
want to see Is immediate action by the
Legislature. 1t Is beginning TO look
as il the General Assembly is going
to wink at the divorce evil and leave
the lax laws governing divorce about
where they are. If the Legislature
doesn't repeal those amendments
which, have caused the divorce evil
to grow, shame an them. Ill the lead"
ing church bodies in the State have
memorialized the Legislature ito
change the divorce laws. aud the bet
ter element of society has been pray
ing for relief in that direction. Mem
berS Of the General Assembly, con-
slider we'll what YOU are about 10 do:
A great responsibility is resting uron
each Of you
Referring to Il suggestion in the
Wilmington Messenger that the Le8is
Iaturc would be asked to pass "a gem
cral law on the subject III order TO
grant relief 10 some one person who
wished divorce but found no law fitting
the case the Norfolk Landmark
says: Think Of legislating for Il whole
State merely to meet the case OF
single person or couple 1t is to be
hoped that the Legislature of North
Carolina, whatever il does. viii take
no backward step with regard to the
divorce problem"