The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-05-29
Evils of Divorce
A National Disgrace

all the rest of Christendom combined:
yes, actually more than two times as
many divorces among 75,OG0,OOO Am
ericans that year as among the 4O0,.
100000 souls of Europe and other
Christian countries.
England stands in bold contrast
with this country. In 1911 she grant
ed a total Of only 655 divorces or TX
per 100000, while in 1906 the United
States allowed 72,O62 divorces, or SO
per 100000. During the 20 years end.
ing with 1906, Ireland had only 10
divorces, or an average less than one
absolute divorce per year for the en-
tire population of 100000.
If the United States were to write
in the Constitution an amendment
prohibiting absolute divorce, it would
not be taking such radical step as
might at first be thought, but would
be following beaten path.
The state Of South Carolina-all
honor to her-forbids divorce. 1t is
absolutely prohibited in Italy, Spain,
and to two-thirds of the population of
Austria-Hungary, while the Latin
American countries of Mexico, Ar
gentine republic, Brazil, Peru, Chile
and others have similar laws.
A legal separation, however, with
out the right to remarry, is recog-
nized in all of these jurisdictions.
In Canada the important provinces
of Quebec, Ontario, Newfoundland,
and the northwest territories have no
divorce laws, though divorce may be
obtained in exceptional cases by spe.
cial act of the Canadian parliament.
From 1867 to 19O9-a period of AZ
years-these provinces had only 40
absolute divorces. An average of
1888 1-3 divorces per year in a popula-
tion of 5,667,531.
1t cannot be gainsaid that divorce
destroys the home, and the home is
the base and foundation of the state;
hence we must stop divorce or ruin
the state, which cannot continue to
exist if its base is allowed to crumble
and fall.
Let us turn to the history of Rome,
the greatest republic nd empire of
the ancient world, examine her Gus
toms, take warnings from her exam
pie, nd try to profit by her exper
fences.
Senator Ransdell here entered into
creful review of the history of an
cient Rome. showing that up to the
latter days of the republic the form
of marriage was essentially relig-
ious one.
But gradually the wealth of the
world was poured into the lap of
Rome; philosophical scepticism and
Oriental superstititions undermined
the morals of the people. Luxury and
sensuality went hand in hand and the
Romans, enervated by a life of ease,
became victims of the most depraved
vices. Conjugal fidelity became the
scoff of the poet; marriage vows the
target for the shafts of the satirist,
and womanly virtue the laughing
stock of the servile courtier. Finally
marriage lost its religious character
and became a civil contract.
Thus the final disintegration and
destruction of the western empire
was caused, not by foreign army,
! but by its own. For Rome had no
Romans left to fight her battles. His
tory relates this in no uncertain
words. And this was the logical and
inevitable result of divorce coupled
with luxury.
Let us take this lesson to heart and
own times.
Simultaneous with the change in
the sacramental character of the
Roman marriage came the belief that
the marriage tie could be broken; and
once this idea was prevalent, frequent
divorce became only matter ol
time. AS soon as the zeal of religion
was removed from marriage, it be
came mere transient.
The same thing is true of moder1
times. AS long as the Catholic viev
Of marriage was accepted throughou
the Christian countries, and it's sacra
mental character acknowledged, di
vorce was unknown.
But when the specious doctrine tha
marriage was civil contract, of civi
status in which the church has no cor
cern was promulgated by the early re
formers, the sanctity and indissolubil
ity of that relation was denied.
This denial of the religious charas
ter of marriage in so many countrie
of the world was the greatest blo1
/, ever received by the Christian home
and it is doing more to encourage d
: vorces than all other causes CON
bined. If marriage be not a solemn
: religious ceremony, requiring th
sanction of the church to which tn
3 parties belong, but mere civil COZ
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