Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-03-14

| aL[1XEAvNA That some action along reform lines
| GlNEZE%% IL demanded BY the dictates Of
SgNY ~Xd good morals and social standards,
~ 49, it may not be amiss to take view
OF this matter from different angle. Granting that
all the pOpnarly accepted evils Of marital separa-
tion are natural consequence of the present loose
system Of legal treatment Of divorce, yet the begin
ming OF these evils is in the prevailing marriage
system of the country.
II divorce laws need revision is il not well TO
take look at our marriage lawsf As these laws
now stand, they are far from uniform and they in
vite the very conditions that give rise to the d.
vorce question. There is wider variation in mar
riage laws than in divorce laws. For instance in
Alaska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and
South Carolina no marriage licenses whatever are
required. In New York not even civil ceremony
need be had the parties simply agreeing to live to-
gether. This barbaric simplicity Of the matrimoni-
al estate has been the cause Of more divorces and
domestic unhappineee than can ever be computed.
Yet New York has the strictest divorce law, with
exception Of South Carolina, Oi any state in the
Union there being only the one ecripturaI Ofense
recognized IS ground for legal separation. While
no license whatever is required in South Carolina,
there is no law for divorce.
In regard to the marriage OF first cousins, whites
and blacks, whites and Indians, step relatives, epi
leptiCs, imbeciles and leebleminded, there are
many laws and many restrictions, yet the real main
point Of the origin Of domestic unhappiness has
been overlooked in all the states. This il the free
dom Of irresponsible yOnng people to enter into the
marriage relation upon the shortest possible 60
qnaintance ana witho1D evidence 0f moral or mater
ial responsibility. In many atss girls Of 16 years
Of age may, without the consent or advice Of their
parents, marry any mal6 over is years. There are
absolutely no restrictions put upon them except the
one OF relationship.
The beginning Of the divorce evil lies with the
marriage evil II the good refOrmers Of this coun-
try want to do away with the divorce evil let them
start by making 1t impossible for thoughtless and
irresponsible young people to Jump into matrimOny
with the caTelessness Of children. There will be
fewer applications for divorces II there greater
restrictions in granting the right to marry.
The young people Of today have been led to be-
lieve that it is ''smart'' to rnn away and marry.
They give no thought to the sacredness Of the
contemplated step. Any little impecunious Justice
Of the peace minister will marry them, and with
in few days or weeks there comes the awakening.
The wrong has been done. They have taken
false step. It would be far better to prevent this
in the first instance than to legslate against divorce
after the wrong is DONE This is the other side Of
the divorce evil, and the really important side
p.-----S -S-
The reunion OF soldiers who served On both sides
in the civil war; wearers of the bIue and the gray
which was inaugurated at the ST. Louis exposition
IN 1904, is to be continued at Atlanta, Ca. March
2S and 20. The sec3nd4meeting was held ia Wash
ingtOn, May Ill and IL, last year, and was Of such
interest that national committee Of the blue and
the gray was formed. General Julian f. Carr, of
North Carolina, an ex Confederate veteran, was
made national secretary. State charmen for nearly
every state and territory were also appointed One
OF the plans Of the movement is toarrange for ma
tiOnal rally in Washington, at some future date,
or all soldiers who have had part iii wars 81 the
United States, and to mass them in grand review
before the presidents It urged that this rally Of
veterans continue for q week, that lectures on an
cient and modern warfare be given and that hall
be hired in which relics snd flags Of all the coun
try's wars be on exhibition Much speaking has
been arranged for at the Atlanta meetinge where
the old soldiers will Be welcomed BY Governor
Terrell.