New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-20
WORD FOR BACKSLIDERS.


tn, Wamans Advocate ,akes us 10 task for
structures on the course pursued by Mrs Blackwell,
Miss Anthony Mrs. Stanton, and ohers for reno ncng
The Reform Dress The writer ipdes for our benefit
a hong bomily upon acting from principle" which
sounds very like hundreds Of others of ike nature
that have been circulated through the conservative
press for years past, ano which amounts SIMPLY 70 tn:
The writer fully convinced tbat there IL such thing
"a "ecting from principle yet whe found or IN what
consists the seems entirely ignorant For Instance,
IA woman is convinced that u physeai beng OF me
race is sueriDg and diseased by fashions demands,
and che turns 20 better way of life in the hope OF
strengthening her weak and PROSTATE 20 Fers and by
Der example trusting 10 lead others IN better path,
The AdpOcdte sees no principle involved, Out nef5y
mater OF oJDy eDlence.
Bot we must hasten in our remarks, as we wish 10
touch several points mentioned.
Ty sIe charged with principle and doing
great damage 20 the caoSe Of women generally
We repeat the charge, for these women said they
adopted the Reform Dress from principle; hence, IN
LAYING it of they have proved re9reant 10 p,hSlPe'
They said change must be made 10 womans dress,
elee she could never accomplish the desired good.
They knew fere must be pioneers in this cause, and
their weak effort at sustaining it speaks but little for
their powers triumph error, If opposition ass4is
them 1t very heroic to dwell in admlring angu age
the heroes and martyrs of the past who have en-
dured petecutiOn for conscience sake, but quite an-
other to ~ithess the dOngs of the present stug-
plers in q ranks of ,rm VINO are willing 10 meet
persecutiOn fer the rlths sake. Aud an established
ruth It is that fsshohs require mentS are dSarhng
womsns pow end crushing her physical being inns
ia well sustained by the evidence of many ct our hst
phys Clans and by the acknowledge Mt Of hundreds
OF tUfIeTon-as any women knows who Is at all sc-
quanied with the weaku, So and debility under which
tbuusst ds labor stimulated, II not wholly caused, Dy
the OF fAi liOi
They have the Boomer their satisfaction:
They adopted it, they thought matter OF primo tile
They found after trial that was question OF enVenence
Il balance between the ANNOYANCE of long des
es of constant observ.on Tenaik aud Ia
sslt for wearing unusual costume We do not deay the
ssht Of woman to wear such q dress"
We do not believe they were satisfied the Old co.,
tune half good, or that they were doing night
in returning to it, else Lucy Store Black veil would not
have alluded the Reform Dress in such sro0g teras
Of appreciation che did at tho late convention in
Eew-YoIk. 1t is not merely the annoyance OF the
long dress which makes bitter in our denuncia-
ZION it. but the physical curse which il imposes upon
our iex entang disease pain and death, and at the
same time uniting her 10 equally minge with msn in
the political professional and bu,iness relations winch
these ladies' mentioned striving hard that she
may DO. No, il is all folly 10 i'm 4gne that she can
stand equal footing with mao, thus cramped,
while he enjoys such unftttered freedom Every one
who enters the tilt ground of reform which must neces-
sally be that of change, must make calculatous to
meet the attendant annoyance, else they should never
show sign of battle; but this making great flourish
Of arms and then retiring from the Arena at the first
onset OF the foe, shows oo~ardlce for which they
should blush.
With our sister we do not deny the right of woman
TO dress as abe cho'ses but when fdeness sad
inconsster cy 10 the acts of those making great show
of doing wonders and asking of others great &C nceSs)ns
shall take the liberty to point them TO the difference
beta cen talk and practice We agree With Tee Afoo;
eate that these women have labored faithfully and
earnestly in the cause of womao, though We believe
they will YET find that the part of their field Of labor
pnseoOmpshed, has more TO do ~th her elevation
fAan any concessions they may get from man.
Miss Stone The Siby adopted the long dress again
get please husbapd Whatever Others and
tpd We FRANKLY confess to the belief suca motive k
most excellent one"
But whsrever The Adrocafe msy thiuk on tbs sub
ject we think differently. So did Miss Stone always
md sha has 40 "a
This matter, sbe should have shown them what she
would do when called upon 10 avow her sentiments n
practical form.
TAe Adrocate further SAWS that Mrs Stanton Joined
the Episcopal Church sed found ueedfd to cohe her
religion in flowing drapery. II this is fact il shows
Mrs b In a most contemplate aud ridiculous light,
when compared with her showed sestimens as regards
woman's duties and requirements As reformer. TIil
h a lame apology, and we scarcely think Mrs s. will
he grateful 10 the writer for 1t.
In fact, we hardly imagine any of the ladies msa-
toned will feel themselves hatered by the reasons
wky which our sister of The AdrOcGte offers The
she hiss pursued is certainly very CD srtsble,
and sounds well for who has never taken TIE ultra
grounds Of the women he'd no to public CRITICISM bit
vey poor and crippled affair when we think of the
course takeL by thcSe We have presented to notice.
know that ss present long shirts not che best fash
sby anoomforaSls That is one extreme The soo nsS
sDothsr dre. jest reaching the of the CATERS
orally locked uPon sensible AmoPer reform
tSe sn,i. adoption of their was fashion As much
ss long slh,, and hooPs."
Here is truthful Acknowledgment, coupled with
assertion which think our sister will find il
rather difficult 20 prove. None that va know Of en-.
gagged in the agitation of the Ref)rm Dress questioo
lake hs. Boomer their standard, or insist upon
any particular cut 10 their skirts pants. Let her
review the course of The Sbyi in this matter. Wheo-
ever called upon 20 give advice, or direct thOss
adopting the Reform Dress we have merely
Stated what We liked best, at the same time uigng
and all 20 consult their styles and tases, in
de- pepdeDt of Others We want no established or arhi
kary fashion save costume which permias woman |
60 drees with nesiDess snd simplicity Ie,tiug utility
and com eniepoe dictate the style and keeping
Mat sye sufficiently long to the wearing cut Of the