Page:The rights of women and the sexual relations.djvu/150

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THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN

ture and social position of woman. But I should then also not fail to discuss the relation that obtains between present marriage laws and the crimes of married people. I am convinced that the marriage laws commit more crimes than passion. That a dependent woman, in the power of a hated man, should sacrifice her life with all its desires, hopes, and needs to a senseless law is a requirement which must indeed be called an indirect incitement to murder. If Mrs. Robinson should be hanged, it is probably for the law-givers and the priests that she would die.