Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-10-30

Caleb Cushing on Crinoline and Hard r.,,.
In Faneuil Hall, the l4th inst ex- Attorro, To-.
era Gushing delivered address before the uI
sets Charitable Mechanics Association in refenco ~
the sentiment -" Our Country-Glorious for ;tS 90;
ence, glorious for its arts and still more glorous s ~
public men," In the course of his speech Mr. Cusbino
said: s
doubt at any rate in the breadth of its ord;no,,,
statement the truth of the current doctrine of assumed
prouson OF living as the evil of the times or Contracted
rerenchment its remedy think both the evil itsF
and its remedy lie deeper in other causes and acts which
would be out of place to attempt to unfold here ut
the festive board.
For example it is quite common to assail the ladis
and to rdicule and reproach their taste of dress
al ornament and custom of life Of the responsible
causes of the present commercial crisis utterly denv
this. would like to break lance with any gentleman
in that quarrel will 90 further and run the risk If
paradox in saying that in my Judgment the prevailing
costume is not only graceful but, relatively to other
fashions which have preceded it, convenient and there
fore justified by considerations of utility as well as beam
ty Apart from that, confess have been amused to
observe how much OF undue Importance the great sum
of our wealth. industry and commerce. has been at
tribute to the extra founces and frbelows of the Ia
dies. 1t is III truth matter which enters for mere
bcgatec into the complex question of imports and ex
ports and that is all. Did the silk worn by the ladies
produce the failure of the Ohio Life and Trust Gonna
n.y. Did their superhuous aces and musns break down
the Illinois Central Rail Road? Did the voluminous
skirts stop the wheels Of the Erie Rail Road? Was
fancy of theirs for cakes and sweetmeas which raised
up or pulled down, the speculative prices of sugar and
-four in the United States? Was it their kid olovns
and lputan bonnets and slippers which occasioned the
embarrassment of the great dry goods commission houses
of Boston, and the suspension of the banks of Phadc
pha and New York? Absurd ..s
| confess it shamcs me- man, to hear SO much said
of the prOfseness of the ladies' in view of orr own Nov
of life. Most assuredly Mr.. Fitz Frivol with his cham
pagnc his cigars his fast horses his yachts and his 9th
er fancy pastmes has right to complain of the fine
robes the brodered kercets and the 6ijoere of Miss
Flora McFmsey she will discover that she is in want
Of nothing 20 quite he will find anything
useful to do; for even she has warm wOmans heart
beneath all the point lace and MORE antique in whose
mysterious volume her fair form is draped and if he did
but know how to reach that heart he would see her
prompt to please by rugaty as by luxury and proud
to make any sacrifice of fashion at the voice of duty and
of love.
But all the foles of all the Ftz Frivols and Flora
McFlmseys in the land nothing in effect, on the
financial condition of the United States compared |
will not say with in the Crimea in India-for
that we do not and cannot have-but as compared with
few cents per pound or yard of rise or fall in the price
of the cotton of Carolina the and wheat of Illinois,
or the reghts and manufactures of Massachusetts, and
their oes have had appreciabe influence in produc-
ing the actual breakdown of the credit system of the
i United States.
AT such time as this at any rate when so many thous
ands OF industrious men and women in Massachusetts are
deprived OF occupation and of means of support by the
curtament suspension of work in the great manuac-
tories of the State although for them rerenchment is
necessary as well duty yet it is not for those who
with wealth. possess assured means of subsistence Why
should they retrench when every article they consume
of diminished price? 1t would be especially unwse for
them to do at time when every item of personal ex
pendture which they may cut off will but serve to ag
gravate the evils by contributing to impede the crcu
lation of money by increasing the superabundance Of
unemployed labor and by multiplying the causes of pov
erty and crime and the long run subject them to lar
ger expenditures of almsgving and taxation
At time like this, in France, for instance, Their
would be succor to labor by great public works of tn
Government such as the addition of new quadrangle
to the Louvre the Tuileres. We cannot in this way
combat the effects of structure, it is called in thu
money market. But can, so far as we possess thu
means, continue accustomed train of lite persever
in well devised and well directed enterprises keep so a
possible, ships and looms in action preserve
unmoved the great landmarks of industrial prosper
ty; and stand ready to start anew when proper time
comes, it must, all the great movements
production of commerce throughout the Commonwealth