Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-04
Senator RansdelI, South
erner, Offers Bill to
Amend Constitution.
IS WRECKING THE HOME
Shows Downfall of Rome to
Have Been Due to Violation
of Marriage Contract.

Washington. D. G. Feb. 4.-Diyorce
With the right 20 remarry would be
,-osibsted forever in the United States
.ss in all places under the nations
iq-isdictioa By an amendment 70 the
sssrai constitution proposed in the
ssnafe today by Senator Ransdell. Of
Iouisiana. Enactment Of uniform
uarriage laws for all states and terri
tories. with provision Tor separation
u.thout permission 20 remarry. would
b directed By the amendment
With the states Of the union grant
tnE more than twice as many divorces
a. all the rest OF Christendom COM
bfred. Senator Rausdeu told his col
kseees that the time had come for
tbs nation itself 10 put down this me-
race 10 the chief 0ulWarE of society
ne home-the maker OF good citizens
1-d the model on which every wiCe
g5verument Is founded"
The remedy By constitutional pro-
hbition Is drastic said the senator,
-hut the malady is so fatal that moth
i,g short Of Il will prove eficaciOus.
Il the United States divorce IS spread
rg with alarming rapidity. II has
permeated every walk OF life. and is
prevalent among every class Of people.
The total number OF divorces granted
IN 1867 was 1897 per 100000 pOpula-
ti0u- Forty years later. in 1906. there
vsrs 72.Os2 divorces. or Sc per 100000:
uus in actual numbers there were
l0re than seven times as many d.
llcez-szs1tsS-ts-190 as in IsST.-sre'
allowing for the increased population,
tTOrce had Increased 319 per cent
Divorce for Every Five Marriages.
II divorces multiply at the same
rate in the future as IN the past-and I
there Is every indication that they
III Increase fasfer-;hen before the |
middle Of this century we will have an
auaily IN the United States 21j di- /
vo7ess per 100000 population. OF one /
clvorce for every FIVE marriages.
II the United States were 20 write I
2 the constitution an amendment pro- /
-i7ring absolute divorce. it would not
b taking such 4 radical step as might /
= trst be thought. but would De fol- I
owing beaten path. Our own state
q South Caroliaa-alI honor 20 her
l'foids divorce It Is absolutely pro-
naied IN Italy. Spain. and two-,hirds
q re population cf Austria-Hungary.
shle the Latin American countries OF
Mexico. Argentine republic. Brazil.
feTa. Chile and others have similar
h-s
While rna-v cvc.tt,-,. r.,s-r.. =
-Foreed and some OF them make new
-oles. the Inevitable trend Of divorce
: . . break up many more homes than
: builds up. and 20 materially reduce
- humber Of children. When mar
'Ase is dissolved the true home
.1.ses to exist. the parents and. the
.-lersn are separated. and the sweet
= that bind father and mother 10
- onsprings. and 20 each other.
fe broken forever.
Causes Fall Of Rome.
As long as the Romans Of old look
! 1pon marriage az sacred. and held
sancuty Of the home invioIate. |
= arms we're invulnerable. and
-'as became mistress OF the world.
!. .ih the accumulation Of colossal
s-lta cane great Iaxity OF morals:
became a jest, and child
ing useless burden. The luxur-
I. Romans lost all respect for female
ny the heroic virtues OF their {
~ years were forgotten. and the i
-ple fen. the victim OF luxury and '
-esard for the binding effects Of i
es@l not the United States take
--las from ROme's example?" b