New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-03

Amsteur patriotism is. sbstractly considered,
one of the most fascinating and classical of vir-
tues. 1t is quite Greek absolutely Roman, and it
may positively be African 10 countries as yet unex-
plored by DIR. Livingstone. But in this country
amateur patriotism is at discount. We Ike men
who can draft laws and sustain them, who can re-.
cognize principles and defend them, who can ad-
vance measures and maintain them. We have q
great respect, and, perhaps, as a people, We have
too much respect, for any gentleman who having
excositated idea in rising, philosophicay eluc-
dates the same over bis breakfast, gentceny con-
firms the same in his library, with dignity receives
deputston Of his fellow citizens with care COM
mits his opinion 10 paper, and with awful sclem-
nifty read it in public meeting. Such men are
the sauce if not the salt Of society. They serve
great purpose. They remind us of duties which
although We may have l,ped of them in our child
hood, although We may have Glanced at them in
our primers, although We msy have heard of
them in our boyhood, although We may have
still heard Of them in our insurer years
are yet BY too many Of us too often for.
gotten. That two and two make four is q
fact as yet in the hubbub and Babel of controversy
uncontroverted. But it may be controserted. IL
may he necessary, in the name of Archimedes, snd
Newton. and La Place, 10 cal upon the pupils Of
some grammar school, in the probable default Of
the Dudley Observatory, to prove it. That We
should all love our country is TACT. That our
country is in danger is fact. That the people Of
the Northern States-educstod, thoughtful, inteli.
gent honest and religiOus-sre all wrong, and that
Mr. Robert c. Winthrop of Boston in the State of
Massachusetts, is all right, is one Of those pheno-
mens. whether regarded ss Intellectual moral or
political. which I'LL the mind with IS much awe as
apy phenomena of tho kind can excite. Nothing
in the natural way can have y chance. Thunder is
no. nearly so impressive. Earthquakes are com.
monplace in comparison. The Delphic oracle wss
an IDIOT, not 10 BE- usned in the same day, We
bow down. We listen, with aching minds with
agonized cars, and with weary legs What We
hear, is another matter.
Our readers may remember gentleman Of the
name of Robert C. Winthrop. a gentleman who
lives in very genteel squsre in very genteel
locality in the very genteel City of Boston. Quite
up. YOU mus. know. Miles away from vulgar
people. In very good house. With very good
library and good pictures. And two cloaks.
And ether comfortable things. Tha. this gentle
rnsn upon the eve Of an election should shuttle him
self from his senteel shell. and write refined let
ter in defense of gentee politics. is not half 50
wonderful IS that be should write the letter sfore.
.aid 20 Col. Isaac II. Wright-e Mexican Colonel
NJ = Massachusetts, regiment, and therefore not
e,.oSeio, genteel parsonage. But Mr.. Winthrop
has done it--bess bis honest snd selfsscri6c-
inc soul. Wss this moment for etiquette A
glorious Union endangered-the proud fabric OF our
political Liberties shaking IS With shaking palsy
tas thunders Of destiny rumblns-the le'ins Of