The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-10-17
THE EVIL
OF DIVORCE.

Former Congressman Robt. w. Davis
OF Tampa has an article in a recent
issue OF the Tampa Tribune on "The
Evil of Divorce" Coming from
statesman and attorney of such ripe ex-
perienCe in life, the article has great
value to the literature on this subject.
The following is the article:
Marriage is regarded in law as
civil contract but nevertheless, a
sacred one, rising far above all
other human contracts. 1t has been de
fined as the union Of one man and one
woman, 10 continue SO long as both
shall live, TO The exclusion OF all others,
by an obligation which the parties can
not, OF their own voliIion, dissolve, but
which can be dissolved only by aulhori.
~ of the State" And again, it is said
that Sin this aspect, marriage is civil
or social institution, publici iuriS, being
the foundation of the family and the
origin OF domestic relations of the vi,
most importance 10 civilization and
social progress; hence the Stale is deep
ly concerned in its maintenance in purl-
ty and integrity"
am not opposed TO our divorce law,
when carefully Sateguarded and proper
ly enforced. There are instances in
which husband and vile would perhaps
be better separated than bound together.
Holy Writ sanctions divorce for one
especial ground, but there may be other
reasons why divorces or, at least, legal
separations, should be sanctioned by
the law, not only for the good of the
parties themselves but even for their
children. In my judgment, however,
these instances are comparatively rare
and exceptional. The Supreme Courl
OF Florida has said that ii is not the
policy OF the law TO grant divorces loI
causes short OF infidelity, although ii is
a recognized proposition that divorces
will be carefully granted when the con
duct of one of The parties puts the other
where he or she is rendered incapable
OF performing the duties incident 10 the
marriage status, or where life is made
intolerable. am inVeighing mol
against the law but the divorce evil
l here is divorce and alimony mania
abroad in the land. We effect 10 make
sport Of Reno, New, where, the funny
photographers tell US, the divorce mill is
kept grinding day aud night, but we
need not go SO lar away from home.
The divorce mills are grinding all over
the land. They are working overtime
in Florida. know that our judges are
trying TO stem The tide. know thai
the Judge of this Judicial Circuit is
especially careful. The tide, however,
is sweeping on. Look at the ChanceTy
docket in the Clerks office and you
will lind that more than half the cases
on il are divorce and alimony cases. /
have brought some divorce suits my.
self and have defended some. am too
poor in purse TO refuse legitimate bust
ness, but | have never taken a case
without cautioniDg my client that some
other course might be better and that
reconciliation, il possible, ought first to
be tried. am no exception, however,
because many other lawyers are perSu.
ing the same course. When and how is
the mania 10 stop? Every enlerprising
newspaper you pick up nowadays con
tainS a picture OF some mil 10 laire man
OF woman made prominent because o,
divorce or al.mony prose ng. And
ii comes down the line to he wg
carrier ID the poor. Ii is ma in
m ,rrlai c the less Sacr d. ana is III dc
mi ms lciety. Ii is br aking up fan |
lies-eStranging kindred and rendering
children unhappy. 1t is diScouraging |.
marital unions and leSsening the SEMI, |
ments of the roof-tree and the home.
have suggested the evil which is
"a to do, but am moi wise enough 10
Suggest the remedy The MIN JeIS Of
the bar a whole Ought to do their |
part and the pulpit al the press should
thunder against il.