CO129-268 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [7-11] — Page 215

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dents

the lives of the parties,

during and induce definite rights upon their offspring. What, then, is the nature of this institution as under. stood in Christendom? Its incidents vary in different countries, but what are its essential elements and in wa riable features ? If it be of common

acceptance

Jauce and existence, it must needs / however varied in different. countries in its minor incidents)

have some pervading identity and

universal bavio. I conceive that was.

as understood in Christendom, ringe, may for this purpose be defined a the voluntary union for life of one and one woman, to the exclu-

wan

sion of all others.

There are no doubt countries.

peopled by a large section of the

human race in which men and

women do not live or cohabit to-

gether upon these forms-commies

in

in which this Jushtition and statics.

are not kudon. In such parts the

suke to thanselved several women,

men take

whom they jealously guard from the rest of the world, and whose number. is limited only by considerations of material mean

caus. But the states ofther

resembles that of

women de no

wayy

the Christian wife ". In some parts

perhaps

they are slaves, in

are slaves, in others parto not, in nove do they stand as in Chirskudom,

the same level with the man upor..

under whose protection they live. Theres

are, no doubt, in these countries laws

-adapted to this state of things, laws which regulate

te the duties and define

the obligations of

new and warnetv

standing to each other in these relations.

It may be, and

e probably is,

the

that the women there pass by some

word or name which corresponds to

our word)

wife . But

But there is no ma-

gie in a name, and if the relation

there

1