Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-01-06
Eugenics and "Obey''
BY REV. MABEL NJ. IRWIN.


Whatever may be said in favor Of the
monogamic ideal OF marriage which OBJ
tsins today. one thing is certain: II Il
can be shown that the institution. as
SUCH either In form or content places
motherhood under duress, then It must
be seen to be fundamentally wrong.
either in itself or in the understanding
~ the people as 20 what the marriage
relation involves.
We hear Il said that all forms of mar
riagcs through the centuries. from the
cruditles Of the csve-dwelIer dragging
his bride 20 the seclusion of his cave 20
the fashionable wedding and the giving
away" Of the bride Of today. have been.
IN the main. for the purpose of hedging
about with a wall of safety the weak
and dependent mother and her child.
Ii is said that these ceremonies, with
ever-increasing complexity, have COM
PEELED man to a growing sense Of ae-
countability and responsibility for the
expression OF his amatory habits OF life,
that through and by marriage women
and the children they have borne have
received an ever-increasing amount OF
protection.
re Is said that marriage has always
been. primarily. for the sake OF the
woman, and that today monogamic mar
rages is the bulkwark not only OF wo-
mans virtue but of her economic protec-
ton as mother as well.
The ever-growing sense OF RESPONSE
bility-placed upon the shoulders OF the
men Of the world by the men themselves
tells. however, but one-half OF the facts
OF the case. and that, too, the most
evident half. To the degree that man
las held himself. and to the children
born OF their union. to the same degree
has he exacted--or Observation-Disclosures
of them to his will.
This has always been the price de-
manded, either actually or implied, by
him for protection and support.
Obedience of children is a sine que non
involved in the parental relation. While
women were rated mentally and morally
children obedience to their hubsands
as TO their superiors seemed due Man.
as the head of the family, ruled, and his
word was law.
But with the gradual acceptance by the
mind OF the world that woman IL some
thing more than a grown-up child; that,
potentially at least she is mans intel
lectual equal. and EXCEPTIONALLY mayhap
his superior, the obedience due man from
woman In family life is being seriously
challenged Many are coming to see
that womans obedience is to higher
court than man, especially in those mat
ters for which the word "obey" was
plainly put into our modern marriage
service.
Just as the "hypocratic oath" IL said
to have originated In the desire TO PRO
teet man from the public effects of his
vices. SO 1t would seem that that little
word ''obey'' was slipped into the service
to insure obedience of the wife to her
husband in things marital
The higher tribunal to which woman.
as the mother of the race now finds her
self responsible. Is the race itself. The
awakening eugenic conscience of the
world is already Demanding that woman,
as.hunianityis gateway. shall stand guard
in such manner. that nothing unworthy
or unfit shall find entrance. To woman
in a far greater degree than TO man do we
look for humanity's redemption from
racial impurlty.
But until woman, under the marriage
covenant. feels that it is her right at cer.-
tain times to disobey man, and thereby
iobey God all the more"-that, in fact.
between the married there Is no ques-
ton OF obedience whatsoever. at any
time-she will fail Il d her duty either
to the family or to the race
II Is not sufficient to say that in many
modern marriages the word obey" Is
omftted-by request--from the ceremony.
Its baneful influence stu remains, after
ward to be felt by the sensitive mind of
tho wife, or expectant mother. This is
strong enough, like the tabled evil eve.
TO make with her all the flowers that
promised TO bloom in their garden of
love, when the bride with wistful trust.
let fall softly from her lips the words,
II WILL"
Not only woman but man must come
to see that ideal marriage is a matter
. Of sex equals. not OF superior and in
ferior; otherwise there were no upward
or evolutionary trend. II It were true
that the man must always mate down
ward, while It is left to the woman only
to mate upward. the race would be held
static. and progress would be Impossible
But since II is with equals, though diff
ferent, that they mate. each important in
It's contribution TO the offspring, there
has been an upward climb, as Witness
our race today
Il may be seen, therefore, that the Diff
ficulty lies not In monogamic marriage
as such--one man and one woman Joined
during life-but a misunderstanding OF
what the relation really involves.
The doing away of this nisunderstand nd
ing. and the INFRINGING of a truer and
higher IL no mean task. IL is one to
Which all who have the welfare of the
race at heart may we'll set themselves.
oy precePt ana example. 20 accomplish.