New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-12-15
0s6 0rleans 9ailg CrGstent.
THE LONDON TIMES AND MR.. REED.


The London Times, not long ago, commented very
severely upon the course Of our Minister to China,
Mr. Reed and professed great concern for the conse
qnehees q bis conduct According to the Times, he
had 50 oundered in his diplomacy and truckled to
and taWned upon the absurdties of Chinese negotia-
ton, that ne had endangered the interests Of the
French and English, as they were about making
treaties had defeated the main objects of bis own
mission and brought himself into deserved copteopt
with both Europeans and Chinese. An official copy
Of the treaty Is now in the hands Of Mr. Buchanan if
it has not already been sent n to the Senate and in
his recent annual message to Congress he says:
The event has proved the wisdom Of our neutrality.
Our Minister has executed his instructions with emf
nent skill and ability. In conjunction with the Rus
sian PenipOtentary he has peacefully but efeCtuay
co-operated with the English and French PlenipO
tenares; and each Of the four Powers has concluded
separate treaty With China of highly satisfactory
character.
We trust that when the Senate shall come to ex
anime the document it will be found that the state
ments Of the Times were nothing better than maIig
nant ISLANDERS, prompted by that inextinguishablt
hatred and jealousy which usually characterize tht
fulmnatons Of that journal against American affairs
Some Of the charges made against Mr.. Reed bore the
evident impress Of that sort of origin, as, for exam
ple that he might have been supposed to be acting
in the interest Of the Chinese as against his Gov
ernment, and that when accused Of siding with the
Chinese against the French and English during some
of the discussions he had replied, in effect, that the
Europeans were not always in the right, the Chi
nese always in the wrong.
A very reasonable conclusion to come to, no doubt
if he listened intelligently and understood the merits
Of the business in hand. And why should be moi
say 50, frankly and honestly if such was his opinion
spice Of candor may not be out Of place even il
the crafty subtlees of diplomacy, and perhaps wheE
the truth becomes known, it will be found that what
ever plain talk Mr.. Reed used was due partly to a re
gard for truth, and partly to the arrogance Of the
| French and English Commissioners.
Mr.. Reed was not sent to China to cooperate with
AngloFrench lead and steel in bringing to terms and
humiliating the vain and ignorant authorities Of that
country. 1t would perhaps have been well enough il
such had been the nature of his instructions but he
had no authority to proceed in that way, and his
mission would indeed have been at an end had he By
any undue manifestation of sympathy with the Eu
ropeans, excited the suspicious and prejudces o
those with whom he had come to treat.
The only possible chance Of his making treatl
(wthout obtaining authority for adopting an entire,
different policy would have been quickly and angt
destroyed and he could then have rowed quiet
aboard his vessel and steamed back over the water
expanse Of 10000 miles which lay between him an,
his country. That would have been the only cours
left him in such a case 1t is in this very circum
stance, for which the Times reproves him 50 sharply
that we see proof Of sagacity, independence, and
determination to accomplish his mission. But still
notwithstanding President Buchanan,s endorseEneh
of Mr.. Reed and his treaty, there may have bee
some foundation for the denuncations of "The Thur
derer.' Let US await the action of the Senate.