The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-08-05
EFFECT OF NEW
DIVORCE LAW
IN NEW YORK

SdrdtoSd, IN. IT, aug, o.-Ine new
divorce law which goes into effect on
Sept. 1, which makes adultery a crime
in this state and attaches a penalty
of either six months Imprisonment or
fine OF $3.50 or both for either hus-
band or wife who may be found
guilty, is variously viewed here.
Mrs Ellen Hardin walworth. one of
the three founders OF the D. A. r.
and also founder OF the Parliament
club, of New York city. and writer of
several books, has this to say OF the
law:
1.-The new law. designed to reduce
divorces. Is movement I'm the right
direction. as IL may ltad public opin-
ion toward the estimate OF an equal
standard of morality for men and
women. They are equally punishable
for the same offense under that law,
IL l am correctly informed. The law
also gives definite form TO the virtue.
chastity, and thus may perhaps clear
away some of the misty ideas OF right
and wrong that seem TO confuse some
OF the younger generation OF today,
who have not been trained in the
strenuous ways of honesty and
chastity thatwere enforced I'm the past
under the puritanism of New England
anu the COue OF nOnOr OF t1rsln1d.
Good laws may afford opportunity
for blackmail and yet be educational
In their demand for higher standards
of virtue"
The Rev DIR. McMaster. pastor of
the Second Presbyterian church. of this
place, says that law is jealous of prop
erty rather than personal rights. Many
laws protect property, few individual
regulations He comedies the latter
most difficult to formulate.
The increasing complexity Of society.
necessftating the enactment OF more
laws makes the task OF lawmakers one
of extreme difficulty. For, as Glad
stone always emphasized. each law of
necessity Injuries some one. for owing
TO the diversity of cases covered by
that law, there are surely exceptions.
But nevertheless laws must be made
so that they will benefit the greatest
number OF people.
Mr.. McMaster said that he was not
radical on the subject of divorce. and
that he did not agree with his Episco-
pal brethren. He thought physical
conditions rather than mental should
be considered; for example. II girl
married a man who turned out to be
a drunkard, he did not think her
chances OF happiness and a home
should be sacrificed and she be COM
PEELED to live with the brute
But on the other hand. should a hus-
band who was ordinarily a good fell
low. fail to make girl happy owing
TO an uncongenial disposition, that he
thought that divorce on account Of
incompatibility of temper would be
wrong. But despite the difficulty OF
curing this evil by law. Mr.. McMaster
thinks that legislation is necessary, be-
cause IL the matter were left to the
raising OF the ideal. the result would
"a ~ n int fa Actr
ideals.
The Rev. DR.. Joseph Carey, rector
OF Bethezda Episcopal church OF Sara
toga and archdeacon. expressed him.
self as follows:
In considering the question sub
mitted to me, l would say that not
having the full copy OF the new law
Sept. 1, and consequently not having |
had an opportunity to study 1t care
fully in detail, ! can only venture an |
opinion on the general subject.
Il hail with delight any measure |
that is calculated to diminish the num- |
ber OF divorces as you say this will |
by one-half and to prevent families |
from being broken up.
1T is impossible now, of course for |
anyone to forecast the result of the |
law. 1t will requires at least a year
or more to test IL after IL goes into |
operation. BY their fruits We shall
know them I should deprecate any
measure that would lead people to be
guilty of blackmail and perjury and
IL the new law leads to this result IL |
should be wiped from our statute
books Immediately.
After long experience in dealing
with family life and the study of the
subject OF divorce, / have sometimes
questioned the wisdom OF any special
legislation whatever in regard to the
matter. Ever since the days of Moses
laws have been enacted and legislators
have tried to put them in force, but
probably there never was a period in
the history of mankind when divorces
were so frequent as now.
1t strikes me that the remedy OF
evil must be found in the proper in
struction of children with regard to
Christian morality. You never can
make people. in my Judgment, morally
good by lsgislations"