The New York Sun expressed the general sentiment of the press when it said in this connection:  “Miss Anthony is a lady whose word will everywhere be believed by those who know anything of her character.”  Her home paper, the Democrat and Chronicle, paid this tribute:  “Whether she will make any definite revelations remains to be seen, but whatever she does say will be received by the public with that credit which attaches to the evidence of a truthful witness.  Her own character, known and honored by the country, will give importance to any utterances she may make.”

Most of the charges made against her during this ordeal were so manifestly absurd they did not need refuting, but the oft-repeated assertions that she believed in what was popularly termed “free love” were a source of great annoyance.  In a letter written at this time to Elizabeth Smith Miller she thus definitely expressed herself:  “I have always believed the ‘variety’ system vile, and still do so believe.  I am convinced that no one has yet wrought out the true social system.  I am sure no theory can be correct which a mother is not willing for her daughter to practice.  Decent women should not live with licentious husbands in the relation of wife.  As society is now, good, pure women, by so living, cover up and palliate immorality and help to violate the law of monogamy.  Women must take the social helm into their own hands and not permit the men of their own circle, any more than the women, to be transgressors.”

To Mr. Hooker, on this same subject, she wrote:  “In my heart of hearts I hate the whole doctrine of ‘variety’ or ‘promiscuity.’  I am not even a believer in second marriages after one of the parties is dead, so sacred and binding do I consider the marriage relation.”  A few extracts from her diary during these days will show the trend of her thoughts: 

Silence alone is all there is for me at present.  I appreciate as never before the value of having lived an open life....  The parlor, the street corner, the newspapers, the very air seem full of social miasma....  Sad, sad revelations!  There is nothing more demoralizing than lying.  The act itself is scarcely so base as the lie which denies it....  It is almost an impossibility for a man and a woman to have a close, sympathetic friendship without the tendrils of one soul becoming fastened around the other, with the result of infinite pain and anguish....  The great financial rings, Christian Union, Life of Christ and Plymouth church, the three in one, most powerful trinity, seem to have subsidized the entire New York press.

In her positive refusal to speak the word which would criminate a woman, Miss Anthony was actuated by the highest sense of honor.  She loved Mr. and Mrs. Tilton as her own family.  She had enjoyed the hospitality of their beautiful home and seen their children grow up from babyhood.  Mrs. Tilton was one of the loveliest characters she ever had known,