The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-06-27
GIBBONS ON DIVORCE,

Tn the Del;neator for July Cardinal
Gibbons has a strong article on oi-
,,orca which is attracting attention
throughout the country. 1t READS:
The reckless facility with which dl-
vorce is procured in this country Is
an evil scarcely less deploraple thai
Mormonism-indeed, it is In some re-
spects more dangerous than the Id
ter for divorce has the sanction OF the
civil law. which Mormonism has not.
Js not the law of divorce a virtual
toIaration of Mormonism in a modified
formo Mormonism consists in a slmui-
taneous poygamy, while the Id" VI
divorce practically leads to successive
polygamy.
Each state has on its statute DOCKS
q list of causes-or rather, pretexts-
which are recognized as suftlclent
ground for divorce. There are IN an
% or more causes, most OF them o1
trifiing character and in some states,
as in Illinois and Maine. the power OF
granting a divorce is left to the dis
cret:on of the judge
1t is plainly manifest that the can
Ger of divorce is rapidly spreading over
the community and poisoning the foun-
tains of the nation. Unless the evil Is
checked by some speedy and heroic
remedy. the existence of family life Is
imperilled. How can we call ourselves
| a Christian people if we violate a fun
damental law of Christianity? And II
the sanctity and indissolubility of
marriage does not constitute a cardl-
nal principle of the Christian religion
|, l am at loss to know what does.
Picture to yourself the fearful
wrecks daily caused by this rock of
scandal. and the number of families
that are cast adrift on the ocean of
life.
Great stress is justly laid by moral
ISIS on the observance of the Sunday.
But what a mockery is the external re-
pose of the Christian Sabbath to homes
from which domestic peace is ban
ished where any mothers heart is
broken and the fathers spirit crushed
and where the children cannot cling To
one of their parents without exciting
the jealousy or hatred of the other
And these melancholy scenes are fol-
lowed by the final act of the drama
when the family ties are dissolved and
hearts that had vowed eternal love and
union are separated to meet no more.
The facility with which marriage is
annulled is most injurious to the NOR
ais of Individuals of the family and of
society.
1t leads to ill-assorted and hasty
marriages, because persons are less cir
cumspect in making a compact which
may afterwards be dissolved almost at
will.
1t stimulates disconnected and
iunprincipled husband or wife to law
lessness. QuarrelS and even adultery,
we'll knowing that the very crime will
afford a pretext and legal grounds for
separation.
l. engenders between husband and
wife fierce litigations about the Gus
tody of their offspring.
1t deprives the children of the pro-
tecting arm of a father or the gentle
care of a mother, and TOO frequently
consigns them to the cold charity of
the world; for the married couple who
are wanting in conjugal love for one
another are too often destitute also of
| parental affection. In a word, it brings
into the household a blight and desola-
ton which neither wealth nor luxury
can repair.
| This social plague calls for a radical
cure, and the remedy can be found only
in the abolition of our dnischievous
Legislation regarding divork4 and in an
honest application of the teachings of
| the gospel.
| If persons contemplating marriage
We're persuaded that once united they
We're legally debarred from entering
into second wedlock they would be
more circumspect before marriage in
the choice of a life partner. and would
be more patient afterward in bearing
he yoke and in tolerating each others
| infirmities.