New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-25
D|SSECTS DIVORCE EVIL
DR.. Colt Says Question Involves
Ultimate Good of Race.
ABNORMALITY MAIN CAUSE
Ethical Worker Maintains Com
munity Should Control
Marriages.

Divorce-with the ultimate good OF the
race In mind-was advocated by DR.. stan
ton Colt, chairman OF the West London
Ethical Society, in an address at the Free
Synagogue in Carnegie Hall yesterday. But
it was only with this idea in mind that
DR.. Colt, who is we'll known as the asso-
ciate leader of the Ethical Culture Society
and as founder and head worker of the
University Settlement, would sanction
severng the matrimonial bonds by the
sword OF justice.
First. the speaker said. it was necessary
to take into consideration the instinct OF
the individual; second to realize that com
munity approval is essential third, to con-
slider that monOgamy is not the only form
Of marriage, although" he added. 1T Is
the only form that will asitate society IN
the ages to come" He said I'm part:
Now in the discussion Of marriage and
divorce we must divide the individuals INTO
two classes, but not as men and women.
We know now that men and women are
very much alike in their emotions, Instincts
ana passions. The division We must MAKE IL
between the sane and the insane. DelleFe
that all trouble In married life comes from
the abnOrmalty OF some instinct passion
or emotion in the husband or WHO.
all the elements Of human being that
work for the best of the community. Ihere
is no other definition Of insanity than tnat
Il is an abnormal instinct on the part OF d
man or woman that if satated VIII in me
end be suicidal to the indlVldual anu Tue
social structure.
Then We must recognize that there are
two classes OF impulse. The firSt is thal
which eyaporates upon fulhlment. we
know OF cases where a man or a woman
simply worships an individual, and men
when her or his desire is consunnlatcn, !.
eyaporates and he or she wonders what II
was that excited their ScN-fasclnatloH'
Then there is the other kind OF Impulse
that kind which is so deep that It's run III,
tcnsity is seldom realized. ON TINS last
ideal marriage Is founded. .,
Some marriages should be ProhiDlteh' II
rs a wonder to me that tho United olateS
has not recognized this as whole' When
four states already have laws WHICH p22-
hibit the marriage Of habltudl drunkards
and inbecies. ,
When we come to a discussion Of what
marriages should be prohibited. inc hrs'
question that faces ne is, Who snail ne the
Judge? The answer 20 that Is. Inc com
munity. The community which now SahC-
tons marriage when certain forns nav
been complied with should not cast us m
probation upon any marriage Wnlcn VII,
not 20 10 make the race Better. mar 81
AT the socialists who argue mat the Ilud
distribution of property would hed, az ~
happiness and misery. ihey over Ipph W ~
life Is not the property Of the indvIduii
II belongs TO the community at large whlct
has the right 10 demand the best OF the
race. ,, -,
social nosition Is a damnatiOn OF maternity
Divorce should not be given on inc Srou'"
Of incompatlbility. .,,.. {,
I saw that the only reason for divorce. IL
We sanction IT, must be the reason Tor MAJ
rIage, Divorce must be granted on the
Grounds established by the laws OF eusen,
| les n the absolute separation OF man ana
woman. with permission to enter INTO h weG,
Iock with another Is to he given II shouIh
he given when il will be better Tor cnil-
dren. the community, the nation ana t di
emotional nature. | do not advocate al.
yorce because | pity the individual pui
because | have something greater IN mlnn
the good OF the race. ~, ., l.,
4 person should not he permitted TO DE-
scrt his post simply because he IS unhapp s
We must make the laws Amer. based more
mon tho result TO the community and not
70 the Individual. ! maintain that the pres pres
ont trouble with the divorce laws ~ me,
brutaIitv. their vulgarity and their bllnd-
meas 10 the good Of the community