T H E TORCH OF REASON, S IL V E R T O N , OREGON, T H U R SD A Y , OCTOBER ¿S, 18»7.
im a n ’s nature in passional affection tions, for there can be no honest ence her w’om anly, her splendid
act
She has helped to lift m a rri­
golden thro ne
is not em ployed, but mere passion, traffic in love.
Feelling appeals
age to its true beauty. The great­
[ a romance by S amuel p. putnam .] an (1 go does violence to reason, only to feeling, and will not recog-
est ethical teacher of her »lay, in
truth law m ight never have been W ould you justify freedom here as nize nor respect law outside of its
applied to it, and would not now be conducive to the highest m orality? proper dom ain. True m arriage is her union with George Lewes she
necessary. Moreover, how can you Yet if you adm it freedom in love, as sacred as religion, and needs no displayed her noblest m orality akin
know th at freedom is an inalienable would ’ it not be arrogance to enforcem ent above itself. If adapted with the severest lessons of her
rig h t? Is it not, rather, a condi- abridge or deny it to passion?”
to hum an wants, it will surely books. Now, boys, I m ust go hack.
I did not expect to say so much.
tional right, depending
upon
“ U nqualifiedly, that conduct is survive.”
w hether used for good or evil?”
the highest which subjects itself to
“ Are you not guilty of a little You know science is my delight,
“ I claim the rig h t of freedom in reason, and this would be my law; prejudice, Doctor? You despise and this is a deep one. I have d is­
m arriage on the same ground with but I would have it of myself, and Jaw in the regulation of social rela- cussed the subject chiefly from a
m an ’s inalienable right to self-pro- not of another. 1 have no right to tions, yet would apply science to scientific stand-point, because this
tection. and the right to life, liberty, m ake even this law of my m anhood this effect. If love is its own law, side of it has, thus far in the w orld’s
and pursuit of happiness. Freedom the law of another. The distinction does it need science any more th an history, been suprem ely ignored;
m ust be the m eans to this end. f would m ake is th is; th a t, until a law? So far as love is concerned, but m arriage will never he u n d er­
Did it ever occur to anybody w hat m an infringes upon the rights of ¡s not science as cold and bloodless stood nor used to its highest ad ­
vantage until science has unfolded
a ridiculous contradiction it is to j others, he should be held subject to as law ?”
pronounce th is rig ht upon m an, his own reason and a u th o rity , and
“ Not at all. Law presumes to w hat belongs to it. Holding m ar­
an d yet deny him the freedom by not the reason or au th o rity of control love, at least its expression, riage as a sacram ent, there has, of
which it is possible to use it, and others. I am willing a m an should a nd would m ake it am enable to course, lx?en no place for science.
which alone gives it any value?
be controlled by bis own conscience, law. Science explains and instructs, It would be a heresy whose teach­
In d iv id u al rights are the p iv o t' but not by the conscience of and so educates feeling. Law would ings would be blasphem ous. Con­
ou which a m an m ay tu rn him self another.”
rule love, while science would tea< h sequently, there has been no wav
harm oniously and equitably with
“ After all, do you not forget, doc- ¡ love how to rule herself. I am sur- of looking at unfortunate m arriages,
except in the inevitable light of
tbose around him ; and, in the ex­ to r, th a t you h av e ju s t been ta lk in g pVised w hen I see m en a n d w om en
erciBe vi
nivnc rights, there
— .................
- about n atu ra l laws, which show suffer hum an law to do so much self-sacrifice, abnegation, and d is­
ercise
of these
is some-
where an exact point where the th a t n a tu re herself is bound? Can where it should do nothing.
It cipline. There is an o th er aspect of
greatest possible happiness and there be absolute freedom ?”
love is worth an y th in g , if it is not the case, m ore sound and hopeful
good of society harm onizes m ost “ This is true, hut we m ust
not a m is n o m e r .it m ust he free; for because more true. At the same
perfectly with the greatest possible m istake lim itations which are fixed love cannot be love, unless it is free, time, boys, d o n ’t lose sight of the
happiness and good of the individ- and hounded by the n a tu ra l for Then why should state or society fact th a t there is a tim e and place
ual. In the com plications of life, it lim itations which are th e m se lv e s interpose th eir au th o rity , when the for the altru istic conceptions of
duty in m arriage, as have hereto­
is, perhaps, impossible to find this u n n atu ra l. There is a difference lov? w hich alo n e m akes a m a rria g e
fore obtained. Science cannot harm
happy contact, and hence im possi-j between a law which
works sacred or tob rable has departed ?
hie to evolve a law from hum an ! from w ithin toward the legitim ate
“ If tw o hum an beings most deeply these convictions. It will work in
conditions, which shall perfectly fulfilm ent of ite ends, am i a law interested and most thoroughly ac- harm ony with and alw ays to the
m aintain th is equipoise. The law which proceeds from w ithout to in- quainted with their own affairs furtherance of duty. Conscience
universally chosen as approxim at- terfere with and prevent those ends, {¡minot he supposed to know or de- may be helped by health, so will
ing the nearest to this end is the Yes, there is that in freedom which ride what is best for them selves, science supply tru th which is need­
one which concedes th a t individual preserves ami expands. Freedom how can any other body or organi- ful to goodness and power. I only
. more .1
rights belong to everyone, t<> any can educate
than ------
repression; zation decide for them ? Some m ar­ insist th a t each one be free to adopt
extent which do not violate or tres- for law m akes us responsible to riages are so discordant th a t they his own m ethods as best fitted to
his individual needs and circum ­
pass upon the rights of others, law, / while freedom m akes us re- are sim ply
a * degrading. The high-
These rights may he abused to one’s sponsible to ourselves, and instead est and finest feelings are daily in- stances. This will he the best in the
v... j .......
self ; but they
still _____________
abide tike the ____
sun of coldness or opposiion, is inspired suited, and perhaps tru th itself is end, for it will teach men and
women how to protect and elevate
of heaven, which shines upon the sym pathy. The finest processes of sacrificed. I bis must not he.
and
unrighteous and the just. Were t h i s , life, its noblest results, How from
“ I only ask th at m arriage, as them selves through noble
not so, nature would impeach and and tow ard freedom. The noblest everything else, should be an open worthy loves; and, as character
confound herself; for hum an rights 1 nations and peoples are freest. See question,—open to more light and and virtue are above law, so will
are those eternal and im p artial en- what woman is to d a y .—the proud truth. No arb itra ry fiat should he this be an achievm ent worthy of
dowments by which a man may com panion and helper o f m an; she placed upon it; hut, with love am i the means. G oodnight.”
“ The doctor is a host in him self,’
either save or uesiroy
iin s e n , mm
destroy n himself,
and grows more strong and royal in the science, it may he com m itted t<> the
yet his rights rem ain unchanged.” freedom she builds herself upon, ever living m anhood and woman- said Will,—“ so learned, yet artless
and modest as a child. I am glad
“ 1 adm it, doctor, th a t freedom And. only a cen tu ry ago, what a hood of our race.”
m av be safe for love, because, as slave was wom an,— her ed u catio n ! “On these grounds, then, you, of he happened to talk on this subject
you have said, true love is virtuous held in abhorrence, and even to course, justify the conduct of George tonight. I have heard him on
every other topic, and have often
and constant, and needs no law; know how to r»*ad denied her as a Eliot?”
hut would not freedom of passion dangerous license!”
“ Ju stify it thoroghly. She did wished he would get started on
he unsafe?
! “ W«mld you, then, dispense with th a t which was right and prop­ this one; for I knew, with his vast
er and really conducive to hum an experience of life, his erudition and
“ Indeed,does not a strong passion hum an legislation?”
ivi the
vuv time
n...^ being
•
................
...... -
I see no necessity for any; th a t welfare. She did not revolt against close observation, he would speak
for
often m istake
itself for love?
W hat, then, but is, I believe it should he the fane- m arriage, hut only against an to some sense and purpose. He is
im placable law, is strong enough to tiou of governm ent to rigidly enact unjust
and cruel
interference wise, charitable, honest, and true,
deal with this most m ighty hut whatever financial or business com- with m arriage. It was a noble act, and I believe in w hat he says; but,
most subtle and uncertain of hu- pa°ts parties have entered into, a courageous act, an heroic act; between Lorena and me, the princi­
man forces?”
W ith wliat else should law concern and it was a wise a c t,--th e full, ple of sacrifice that he last spoke of
“ When I speak of love, I do not itself? It should certainly» not at- free choice of a far-seeing genius, is the one for us to accept.”
“ H ave you ever asked yourself
mean mere appetite nor desire, but tem pt to legislate in m atters of love. It was not passion; it was wisdom
..
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nr a a
love _ will
brook 1 _ ____
no , laws
but its . th
a t dictated
her course. It
was the question if you had not a right to
the
total i expression
of e a m an » ’s n a ­ for
ture, wherein his reason and con­ own. Love enforces itself, is its for m arriage th at she acted, not sacrifice the happiness of her hus­
science are exerted as well as pas- own law, and needs no other so long against it,—for a true and noble band, if, by si» doing, a greater h a p ­
sion and affection. Love is all th a t as it endures. W hen it ceases, exalted union between a man and piness foi Lorena and yourself could
a man is, which he would devote in w hat is any other law to it but a woman. She struck against a tyrau- lx? procured?”
“ This is not a question of the mere
sacrifice and tn tru th to another, ty ran n y and an im pertinence? nical institution based on supersti-
Passion is only a part of »his w h o le;1 The province of law’ should h e th at tion and bigotry with the calm per- balance of right, b u t of sim ple h u ­
therefore, the whole should rule the of arb iter in respect to values, sistence of her strong intellect. It m an nature, which is so constituted
,,v, and ..w
.......v ,
estates and property claim s; hut, was not a mistake. It was a b attle th a t it does seek another's happiness.
part,
not « a part v v.v,
the whole.”
“ Very true; hut suppose w hat you beyond this, it should not go. It th a t she won for hum an rights; This is a p art of it» life. Men are
call love, or the total expression of a cannot a rb itra te in hum an affec-, an d , with my deepest soul, I rever­ n a tu ra lly generous as well as self-
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