Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-11-08
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

gentleman voted for Col. John T. Heard, the
Democratic candidate for Congress in the Bos-
ton district, at the recent Massachusetts, cleo
lion, in preference to Mr.tAnson Buriingame,
and took occasion to write letter declaring
bis intention SO to do and setting forth his rea-
sons for so doing. This is the frst tins Mr. W.
ever voted for Democrat, We apprehend. Mr.
Winthrop has been slower than Mr. Choate in
perceiving the incompatibility of longer con-
nectiOn with such an opposition as that in Mas
sachusetts has become, if he would continue to
be governed by desire to conserve the Gov
eminent as our fathers made it, in what he
does in connection with politics. He at length
realizes that the ends and aims of the Rspubli-
can party leaders are neither more nor less than
naked revolution, designed to bring about an
entire change in the character of the Govern
ment, whereby all the limitations of the Consti-
tuition which protect the reserved rights of each
sovereign member of the COnfederacy shall be
swept away, in order that the spirit of abo-
litionism and the concomitant utOpian ultra
ideas of the times may work their will.
The declension of Mr.. Winthrop to 90 further
with the Republican party was followed by
conservative gentlemen of Boston, who, up to
this time, have Though with gradually increas-
ing unwill;ngness) followed the political lead
of Messrs. Banks, Wilson, Burlingame i Co.
The Rochester speech Of Mr.. Seward was,
indeed, enough to convince such gentlemen that
to be Republican-party men longer is to be
practical advocates for the destruction of the
Confederacy; for it is surely destined to follow
in the way of the dismembered churches of the
land, from the moment the General Govern
ment may fall into the hands of party placed
in power upon Mr.. Stewards new platform.
Unfortunately, the eyes of Mr.. Winthrop,
and those who acted with him on this occasion,
were opened at too late period of the canvass
to permit their deserved personal influence to
have due weight in determining the result of
the election for Congress in Boston. Had they
taken their stand fortnight before they did
take it, Mr.. Burlhgame would doubtless have
been Overwhelmingly defeated.
As it is, they reduced his majority to mere
nominal one. While it is quite probable that
the effect of their change in politics. will not long
hence rescue the city Of Boston from the do
minion of the Abolitionists, and, possibly, one
or two other surrounding Congressional dis
tricts Of Massachusetts, the aggregate majority
of the voters of that State, will continue to
favor the most ultra Abolition party that may
contend for popular favor
The change of MIR Winthrop, and those act.
ing with him, is the first sign of the re action
in politics to be produced by Mr.. Stewards
PRONUNCIATION of his new platform for the Re-
publican party How far that reaction may be
effective in stemming the tide of growing aboli-
tionism, now that Douglas has transferred hun
dreds of thousands of late Democrats to the
Republican party throughout the North, is a
problem yet to be solved.
Our MINISTER TO CHINA The motives of
the course Of the British press towards Mr..
VIM. b. Reed, the Anne rican Minister to China,
are clearly and succinctly stated in the follow
ing extract from late number of the PhiIade-
phia Ledger. 1t should be read by all who de.
sire to comprehend, at a glance, how and why
it happens that John Bull takes what Mr. Reed
has lately felt called on to do in the discharge
Of his official duties in such - high dudgeou ~
MR- REEDS Policy IN CHINA Mr. Reed, the
American Minister in China, has incurred the
serious displ' assure ct the London Times The
immediate Afense that he las been guilty Of ap-
pears TO beShat he has neg otiated a treaty. with
China, independent of the assistance Of France
and England, and that he has succeeded, by a
peaceful and eoHeilistoTY course, in etfecting
much for the int ests Of the commerce OF his own
country as the allies did with their bRyonets aDd
their shells. This is the report which cnmes
f'om China: bnt this is the fact which the Times
denies. IL hot nDiy ACCUSES him OF having sur
rendered advantages which nigh have been
gained, but IL charges him with Intriguing with
the Russian Minister 10 keep the allies from ad-
vantages which they wishe d to secure acd have
rnain!y done so, though some concessions from
their first demands were made by them, not be-
cause Russia was feared. but because it would
not have been safe To daily longer with the oppo.
sitioH Of Russia, backed by the i.insensate AS
sistancs Of America -
These are the accusations of the Times, but
remembering the TaEcoTous spirit In which Il
refers TO everything American, and knowing
how apt II is to InlsrepTtsent well, known facts
when treating Of American politics and diplo-
macy, We mast have Some better authority for
believing that tbs natural shrewd ness and knowl-
edge OF MI Heed have become 30 stultihed
abroad, as to permit himself to bs made either a
tool or fool Of by either Russia OF China That
he did not symPathize very strongly with tho
purposes Of the Allies Is very natural. His in
structlOns were pedceable and his policy pacific
He possibly did not think Il his " mission" or
that Of his Government, TO coEMit aggressions
upon another country for the p4 rposs o: carry
Ing them the blessings of civilization, or opening
and Christianity. He may even have regarded
This ayowed philanthIopic purpose as nothing
more than respectable pretext for a bold plan
Of national outrage and territorial aggression.
Scarcely nlibuster but puts forth the same plea
when he wishes to plumber otLff counties
Tnat @e did look upon this Plea-as hypOcritical,
when he saw those who presented il engaged eX.
tensively Introducing opium into China, against
the laws and policy of the county, trade a
thousand times worse than the traffic in rum-is
not at all improbable and II is quite likely,
when he put a restriction upon this trade IN his
own treaty, that he may have foiled the Philau-
thropic purposes Of the British djplomafists In
wishing To get the imperial sanction TO the law
less .raiti", which has been hitherto stu bbornr
ly 'thhed- The spirit OF the comments upon
Mr.. Reeds conduct shows that there il some
thing ranking benSsth, proceeding from a very
different feeling than d mere opinion Of the polf-
cy of his Official conduct would he likely to pro-
duce. Aud al tie opium trade has been really
the cause OF the war in China, il is not unlikely
that there will be bitterness Of spirit. IL those
who undertook the war should have failed TO sc,
cure beyond peradventure the real object Of It,
The CIrY.-The signs Of the near approach
of the next session of Congress thicken around