Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-19
THE FAMILY IN AMERICA.
Opinion IL Sound and Right - The
Question Of Hypocrisy.
IRON an Editorial in the Century.


From an Editorial In the Century.
America. with its evils OF divorce. has
acquired an unfortunate reputation from
the point of view Of the sacredness OF the
family-a reputation on the whole which
1t does not deserve. A singular and dra-
matte international incident OF recent oc-
currence illustrates the fact that an over
.whelming body Of public opinion sustains
the family institution This incident has
been described by certain natives and
foreigners as an Illustration Of national
pharisaism: as having elements of hypoc-
rfsy, cowardice and cruelty. 1t may pos
sfbly have had touches of these unlovely
vices. far as individuals are concerned.
but the action of public opinion in such
cases will always be in danger OF taint ana
error or hypocrisy In details.
1t is, however, not the minor aspects
of the incident so much as the larger that
is reason for deep rejoicing in the exist
ence of a public opinion In America which
values. and Is preventative of, the mar
riage relation and the institution of the
family.
When 1t comes to hypocrisy there Is no
more loathsome hypocrisy than that which
sustains a condition of social affairs where
by man or woman inspired by caprice or
self-indulgence may evade solemn obliga-
tons and enter ca silly into new and invit-
ing relations. To hear such action-when
the fruit of pure selfshness and uncontrol-
defended. as is often the case, on high
spiritual grounds is enough to awake the
humorist in the dullest mind or to fill with
disgust the honest auditor. Who has not
heard responsibility. within. safety or curl
osity dignified by amateur philosophers
with scientific or with godlike names. Here
is hypocrisy indeed-ridiculous and rank.
By this way lies danger to the spirit, dar-
ger to the family. danger to the state.
If the family is not worth saving, let us
hn har ha 9th
this Wanted freedom of the spirit. truth
to individual character and destiny, 10y
atty to liberty-has a popular name which
goes to the root OF the matter. Behind
the false preachment of a noble life turks
the specter of what the plain people call
Gree love"
The public opinion Of America has been
tested and 1t is opposed to free love- and
all apparent attacks on the sacredness of
the family; II may express Its opinion In
any given case with awkwardness or with
out sufficient discrmina tion-that Is not
what we considering-but the
opinion Is sound and right Our people be-
lieve that the family Is worth saving. and
all good citizens and wise men should be
glad.
An after-the- story that our southern
friends tell, may come to memory when
one listens to hgh-minded excuses for anti
family principles-in other words, for yield
Ing to temptation. A young man of fight
ing age who had accompanied his mother
in her flight from the south to Canada at
the approach of hostiHties was not received
with marked favor by the young ladies
on his return from self-infifcted exile. His
good mother was much concerned by this
quiet, social disapproval. and tried to pla-
cate one Of the bellies of the town by ex-
planning to her how necessary 1t was that
the young man, the only male in the family,
should stay away from the battlefield in
order to take care of his mother and guard
the family interests. "Oh. my dear Mrs.
Blank said the smiling girl, you need not
say another word, for l would have done
exactly the same thing myself am such
q coward