Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-09-29
MIR. WINTHROP.

e
association with black spirits and white--as the
Daniel s. Dickinsons, Benjamin +. Buffers, and
John w. Forneys on the one hand, and the VIM.
Lloyd Gsrrisons, Frederick Douglasses, and Luz
creta Motifs on the other-has betaken ITSELF under
the stress Of an imagined fellowfeeling that makes
it very kind, to commiserate the Hon. Robert @.
Winthrop on his present cooperation with the
Democratic party in the election of Gen. McClel-
Ian. 1t thinks that Mr. Winthrop must have
found himself ain rather unusual company" ct
the immense meeting held in the city Of New
York to ratify Gen. McClellan's nomination, and
instances the presence at that meeting Of Elijah
F>Purdy, "the Grand Sachem of the Tammany
Club" Of Mr. Fernando Wood, and of the "noto-
rious Isaiah Rynders," in illustration Of its
meaning.
As it is estimated that nearly one hundred thou
sand persons participated in that great popular
demonstration, we think it quite possible that there
may be some room for the profound observation OF
the Advertiser. We have no doubt that in such
= crowd many persons could be found who would.
be antipathetic to gentleman of Mr.. Winthrop's
scholarly tastes and political antecedents But We
have just as little doubt that in an assemblage
which comprised among its officers such men as
VIM b. Astor, James Gallatin, James T. Brady,
and hosts of others, it would be quite possible to
find other persons who, by whatever test their
responsibility" may be tried, (even as respec-
liability is measured in Boston, would be deem
ed by the Advertiser not entirely unworthy of
political or social fellowship. But on this point
we express an opinion with great difidenoe. As
the Advertiser, either from the poverty of its
resources for augmentation, or from the new
direction in which its tastes for political discussion
seem nowadays to rum cannot rise to the consid-
Grafton of the principles involved in this great
political struggle, but expends its choicest strength
now on the recovery of Judge Abbott from lame
arm and bad cold, and now on the attendance of
Mr.. Winthrop at q meeting FROM which Fernando
Wood and Isaiah Rynders were not excluded, we
propose to-day, as some slight diversion from po-
emics Of higher order, to descend into the arena
which our respectable contemporary, for the want
of opposition, seems for some time past to have
made "pecularly its own" as the critics for
country newspapers are won't to say Of writer's
whose style is too good Cor bsd) for imitation.
The lament, then, which the Advertiser utters
over Mr.. Winthrop is as follows:
"Mr Winthrop has had his opportunities to establish
himself in the good will the confidence and esteem of his
fellow. citizens such few men have enjoyed He is
of those who born to be public favores.
There hardly any station in the gift of people which
did not once seem be within his reach. To not few
stations of high dignity he has actually been cslednot
will remark, by the sufrages or with the good will OF
those with whom he consorts. We will not under |
take now discuss the for that gradual aud not
quite voluntary withdrawal from public affairs which for
some years back has left MIR. Winthrop outside of the
current There may have been grievances his part
well mistakes He may have found it difficult to ac
custom himself to the political onship aud to the
claims for precedence of men whom he had not been
used to regard his worthy associates but whom the
vicssudes of politics had made coospicu
than himself for the tme although perhaps lees fully
prepared for the org race OF pubic life We cannot con-
ceiye that any association thus brought about by the
change Of times and of issues have been more dis
tasteful than that which Mr.. Winthrop has formed
but STILL these considerations and such these may have
served to put him in position where his abilities and
requirements lost to the public service, almost
much to the regret of many of his felowctizens to
his own.
"The time came, however, when Mr.. Winthrop could |
easily etcape from this false posiiion-an hour when
of all parties ready to bury the past and to remember
the breaking out Of the msny record, with blos far
worse than any upon Mr.. Winthrops was closed and
fair page opened which account could be entered
There no difficulty in recalling names then in as false
pgushed by the public gratitude for service promptly
and heartily rendered 10 the hour OF danger. That OPP
portunity frankly improved according TO the Dictates
will not say Of interest and personal ambition, but OF
generous patriotism, would have given Mr.. Winthrop q
foremost place in the regards of people The popular
judgment asked only for evidence that ready instinct i'm
ped the statesmen though retired to spring to the
defence of country assaed by If he forgot the
past and remembered only his country, the people Of all
parties ready to do the same and to recognise gener
ousy all worthy service"
If there is any body in Boston, or out of Boston,
who, whenever he was called to say "what he
thought of the Republic" has manifested more
intense or sincere sympathy with the cause of the
country, as "assailed by treason We would be
grateful to the Advertiser for the indication of his
name. We are not apprized of any such. And
when our contemporary says that "at the breaking
out of the war many record with blots far worse
than any upon Mr.. Winthrop's was closed, and a
fair page opened on which new account could be
entered" there is nobody who does not perceive
that in writing the Advertiser merely essays to
cover the smutches which cling to the past charac-
tiers Of many among its present political COM
panions, for every body knows that there are no
"blots" on the escutcheon of Mr. Winthrop which
call for any erasures or new quarterings such as
the Advertiser invokes in behalf Of the broken