Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1912 — Public Opinion Should Compel Uniform Laws [ARTICLE]

Public Opinion Should Compel Uniform Laws

By CHARLES E. PARK

Boston

Con public opinion compel uniform divorce laws? If it can, will it ever teach the point of exerting itself to bring about this result ? As to the first question, there is no doubt. Public opinion can do about anything. It is our final authority.. ' To be sure, we hear a great deal these days about the tremendous power of the “interests,” and-how frequently that power is exerted in directions counter to the natural trend of public opinion. But when we attempt an analysis of the matter, it becomes apparent that the power of the “interests” is simply a power to mold public

opinion, and that this poftpr is successful only in so far as public opinion is of itself sluggish or wanting in unanimity. • ' - Public opinion, once-thoroughly aroused and concentrated upon a definite object, will always sweep everything before it. . , It is not, then, a question of ability, it is a question of willingness on the part of public opinion. .Will public opinion ever reach the point 'where it will compel uniform marriage and divorce laws? Most assuredly yes; just as soon as present conditions become bad enough and universal enough to justify the concentration of public attention And public disapproval upon them. , Few people realize how important a part the process of decomposition plays in all evolution. The oculist docs not .remove a cataract until it is ripe, . > ■ ’ • : It may seen* to some of us that in the matter of ,divorce and remarriage conditions are already sufficiently malodorous to justify their correction without delay. . It is evident that we are too much in a hurry. The world is patient, but its judgments are sound and sure. As soon as these conditions become “ripe” public opinion -will turn its attention to them and will perform a drastic and thorough surgical operation. It is simply a question of time.