The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-05-27
n D TED TIL IN KERS
SAY DIVORCE Is
MORAL NECESSITY
BERNARD SHAW, LOMBRoso AND
OTHERS DENOUNCE AUSTRIAN
LAW-MEANs LESS MARRIAGE
-PRoH,BlTiON MEANS CRIME.

VIENNA, May T,--The Society OF
Marriage Law Reformers IN Austria
has secured very interesting express
sions Of opinion on the necessity
and the moral aspects OF divorce from
Bernard Shaw. Lombroso, Prof. Forel,
Ernest Haekel. Prof. Harnack. Aug
ust Bebel and others. Bernard Shaw
writes:
IF the Austrian law, forbidding d.
vorce absolutely. except by the death
OF one OF the contracting parties. IS
not abolished, the Austrians Will do as
the ancient Romans did-they Will re-
fuse to enter into official marriages,
substituting private marriage con-
tracts"
Caesare Lombroso: Divorce is not
destroyer of social order and domes-
tic happiness, as some fanatics as
sert; on the contrary. 1t helps 10
maintain social order and to re-estab-
lish happiness where such has be-
come impossible by hated bonds.
Says Divorce Means Peace.
Here are some figures: After tho
acceptance OF the French divorce
law, the number of marriages con-
tracted in France grew considerably.
When divorce was impossible, the
average number OF marriages per year
was 2S5,519. When II became pos
sible. the number increased to 303. 469.
The number Of suicides on account OF
domestic troubles decreased from 995
to S9S and the number of arrests OF
domestic brawlers, OF both sexes, de-
creased per cent Hence, | say, al
vorce means peace.
August Bebel. the Socialist politi-
clan and author: THE Austrian law
forbidding divorce TO an overwhelm-
ingly large proportion OF subjects Is
reactionary, cruel and barbaric.
Wherever divorce and the right of
remarriage are established, the moral
condition Of the people has improved.
There are no records to the CON
trary, and this will surprise no one
who knows anything at all of human
psychology. Strange that this sci.
ence should be a closed book 70 leg
isators and statesmen"
Prof. Forel: Divorce and the right
to remarry are a moral necessity be-
cause love. esteem and, beauty are
the ethical foundations OF matrimony
not legal duress or coercion.
makes Marriage PItfall."
ITO decree that people of incom
patible temper, or people who hate
each other. shall continue TO live to-
gether, is the height OF immortality
and unreasonableness. Such law
makes marriage a pitfall, out OF which
there Is no escape for the defrauded.
the disenchanted and the maltreated.
Upon women and girls entering the
marriage state without proper knowl-
edge OF its possibilities, etc. the
law referred TO Is an Infamous
fraud"
Prof. Ernest Haeckel. the famous
author and scientist: From the
standpoint of human society and OF
morality I hold that divorce and the
right TO remarry should be granted to
all having good and sufficient reasons
for wishing to separate from partners.
In those countries, particularly Aus
tria. where divorce and remarriage
are prohibited, this very prohibition
leads to numerous crimes and to
many perils that affect the family and
makes marriage hateful in the eyes
of thousands"
CONDITIONS Are UnbearabIe."
Prof. Adolf Harnack, the author and
scientist. Undoubtedly divorce and
the right TO remarry Is sometimes
made the vehicle OF passions by evil
minded OF frivolous persons. and In
that case becomes a menace to mar
rage and the family. But as the over
whelming majority. say 80 per cent
OF married people take their obliea-
tIons seriously and act from motives
of honesty and prudence. the excep.
tionai cases mentioned lose sfgnif.
canoe In comparison with the cruel
ties imposed and the damage done