The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-08-03
THE FAMILY IN ANERIc.
From an Editorial in the Century.

From an Editorial In the Century.
America, with its evils of divorce
mas acquired an unfortunate reputation
from n point Of view OF the sacred
ness OF the family reputation On
the whole which IT does not deserve
a singular and dramatic international
incident Of recent occurrence illustrates
the fact that an Overwhelming BODY
OF public opinion sustains the family
institution Tbs incident hac been de-
scroed as an illustration OF national
pnarisaism, as having elements OF hv-
pocr1sy, cowardice and cruelty. Il mav
possibly have had touches OF thas.
unioEely vices, SO far as individuals
are concerned, but the action of pub
Tic opinion in such cases will always
De in danger Of faint and error or ny
pocrisy in details.
II Is, however. not theminor as
poets Of the incident so much as the
larger that interest us, and in larger
view there IS reason for deep rejoicing
IN the existence of 4 public opinion ii
Amerca which values, and is ~pTese-va-
tive Of, the marriage relation and The
institution Of the family.
When II comes 10 hypocrisy there is
no more loathsome hypocrisy than tha-
which sustains a condition Of social
affairs whereby a man or woman in
spired by caprice or self-indulge1ce
may evade solemn obligations and en-
ter easily into new and inviting .ela-
tons. To hear such action-when the
fruit Of pure selhshness and uncontrol
defended, as is often the case. on
high spiritual grounds, is enough %
awake the humorist in the dullast
mind or TO fill with disgust the honest
auditor. Who has not heard frrespon-
sibility. whim. safety or curiosity dig
nified by mateur philosophers with
scientific or with godlike names. Here
is hypocrisy Observation-Disclosures ami
rank. By this way lies danger to the
spirit, danger to the family, danger
to the state.
If the family is not worth saving,
let Us have the other thing. The other
thing-this Wanted freedom of the
spirit, truth TO individual character and
destiny. loyalty to liberty-has a pop
ular name which goes to the root of
the matter. Behind the false preach
ment of a noble life turks the Ipecter
of what the plain people call "free
love"
The public opinion of America has
been tested and it is opposed TO free
love- and all apparent attacks on The
sacredness Of the family; it may eX-
press it's opinion in any given case with
a~wkwardness or without sufficient dis
crimination-that is not what we are
now considering-but the opinion is
sound and right. Our people believe
that the family is worth saving, and
all good citizens and wise men should
be glad.
An after-the-war story, that our
southern friends tell, may come 10
memory when one listens TO high
minded excuses for anti-family prln-
ciples-in other words, for yielding ID
temptation. A young man OF hSht:rS
age who had accompanied his mother
in her fight from the south to Canada.
at the approach of histilities was not
received with marked favor by the
Young ladies on his return from self
inflicted exile. His good mother was
much concerned by this quiet. social
and tried to placate one
of the bellies of the town by explaining
to her how necessary it was thai the
young man, the only male in the family
should stay away from the battlefield
in order to take care of his mother and
the family interests. oh, my
dear Mrs. Blank" said the smiling
girl. "vou need not say another word.
for | would nave done exactly the same
thing mvself-I am such a coward.