William C. Duncan, One Of Detroit's

most prominent citizens, and an ex-mayor of that city, died on the 19th inst. aged 57 years. Farley, Democrat, bas been eleotec U. S. Sonator from California, and wil succeed Sargeant, Republioan, March 4 1879. Hon. John F. Dkiggs, of East Saginaw, formerly Representativa in Congress froin the Saginaw district, died on the 17th inst., agod 6ó years, of paraly sis The Sonate finally confirmad Baxter as judge of tuis circuit, and so the Chandler emissaries to Washington iuade lus than nothing out of their raid on Judge Cooley. Baxter shoulc return thanks for their mulishness : the dirout cause of his confirmation. Ex-Gov. McCokmick, of Arizoni Territory, has been appointed by Presi dent Hayes, and unanimously confirm ed by the Senate, Commissioner-Gen eral at tha Paris Exposition. Are the wilda of Arizona just the place to de velop the talents needed for such a po si t i on ? Mbs. Baldwin's questioner in Mon day evening'8 seance was a little tard; in asking " Will Conkling and Blaine harmoniza their differences soon ? " an( had the clairvoyant been a little better posted politically she would have re plied, " They have already kissed an( made up." A sort of "fellow teeling' again8t Hayes and his administration was what did it. The Fret Press puts itself on recort in good plain Knglish against the ac lion of the House in seating Patterson of Colorado. And our cotemporary i in the right. No doubt the temptatiou was great to folio w the partisan exam ple of the Senate in admitting Kellogg but both Patterson and Belford shoulc have been sent home to Colorado and a new election ordered. Before the Senate adjourned on Sat urday last, Senator Butler asked th Sonate to investígate the charges tnad against hira, pending and in connection with the discharge of the Couimittee on Privileges and Eleot.ions from the con 8ideration of his credentials. The Re publicans refused investigation, becaus coupled with a cali for investigation o Democratie charges that Messrs. Ed niuuds, Spenoer, and Dorsey, had con spired to force Patterson to vote agains Butler's admission. The Post and Tribune has found ou what is the trouble with the Adminis tration. It says : " The trouble with the Administraron is not that its presen Cabinet is notj in harmony with the majority of tho Housejof Kepresenta tives ; but it is out of harmony with the majority that elected it." As the Administration waa never elected b; a majority, and in no sense repro sents the majority, - either of the people, of the States, or of the right ful members of the electoral colleges - it is not at all surprising that it is ou of harmony with it. The P. and 1 should be more careful in its use of language. The less the Republican journals have to say about Senator Gordon having " insulted Senator Conkling " the better it will be for the champion turkoy-cock of the Senate. If the "insult' had been very marked, and couplet with ever so mild a threat to cali Conkling out, Messrs. Hamlin and Howe would not have been so officious anc made such liaste in repudiating the wild and exaggerated stories and getting journal entry made of their explanation and denial. Both Gordon and Conkliug played the big bully and there is no adequate excuse or apology for one more than the other. Mayor Lewis, of Detroit, vetoed the ordinance repealing the charter of the Mutual Gas Light Company, holding that the Council could not by ordinance declare a charter forfeited, and that the proper method was to proceed in the courts. The Council passed the ordinance over tho veto : nevertheless we are conndtnt that the position oi the Mayor was correct. Councils are not judicial bodies, and there are some things that a legislativo body cannot do, and that neither the rights of individuáis or the public would be safe could it do. And the destruction of the legal rights of either the individual or a Corporation by resolution or ordinance is one of those things. At Albion on Wednesday of last week, ou the occaBion of the inauguration of Rev. L. R. Fiske, D. D., as President of Albion College, Rev. Dr. Cocker, of tuis city, dolivered " the charge," in which he is reported (we quote the Post and Tribune) as saying : " Education "in the true sense is the legitímate " work of the Christian parant and of " the concerted action of parents and " churches in a Christian college, The " State has not the constitutional au" thority, nor tho intellectual and moral " competency to provide for and control " the higber education." If Dr. Cocker uieans by this - as he is interpreted to mean- that the State has no right to provide schools above the primary grade ; that it has no constitutional right to establish, raaintain, and support at the public expense, a systeui of high schools or even a college university, then Dr. Cocker should show both his sincority and cousistency by resigning the chair he holds in the University. As a good, honest, moral citizon, he has no right to accept a salary of $2,500 a year for teaching in an institution which the State cannot inaintain without violating itg " constitutioual authority," or by levying taxes upon its people wrougfully and without warrant. AVo should disliko to have the University lose the services of Dr. Cooker, but entertaining such views hü should cunnect himself with a denomiuatioual or Christian college, and not continue to aid the State in an illegitimate work.