Death Of John A. Dix

Few men havt) enjoyed so evoutful a career as bo wlio pssrd sivay on Mondny, uearly 81 years of age. Hia death, althoujrh naturally oxpeoted at any timo cüiibi'li:ring the extreme ago to which he had reacbed, comea with a shock of surprise. A few weeks ago the General Bustained a fracture of the collar bone, which led to a serious indisposition resulting finally fatally. Tho public Hfe of Gen. Dix covers a period of over sixty years. Within that time he has held a large number of positions, and belongod to almost every political party. In thein all he has boruo the name of a faithful and honest 8rvivnt of the people. No scandal, not even a suspicion of wrong has ever fallen upon the adminietration of trusts confided to him. Hg was born in Bosfawai], N. H., in 1798, and named af ter President John Adama. Serving during the war of the írontier, he sought at its close, being then only sixteen years of age, an education. In 182S, at 28 years of age, he began tho practica of law at Cooperatown, N. Y. Despite the federalistic handle to his nauie he began life as a Democrat ; became a Free Soiler, and in 18G2 gave adhesión to the Republican party, to which the balance of his life was devoted. He bas beid successively the following positions : Chief of staff to Gov. Throop; Secretary of State; Assemblyman ; United States Senator ; Assistant Treasurer of the United States at New York ; Secretary of the Treasury; Major General of Volunteers; Minister to France ; Naval officer of the port of N. Y.; Governor. General Dix was of small but closely kuit, "wiry" physique. His bearing was military. He was courteous and affable and prompt. It was said that, when Governor, whenever he could snatch from official cares a leisure hour, ho would devote it to translatiug the Latin and Greek classics iuto English. This was his recreation. He waB an uutiring worker even at an age when few men will work except uuder the spur of absolute necessity. His published writings are not a few. Beside his state papers and two volumes of speeches, he iilso published "The Resources of the City of New York," 1827, "Decisions of the Superintendent of Coinmon Schools of New York and the Laws Relating to Cominon Schools," 1837, "A Winter in Madeira," 1851, and "A Summer in Spain and Florence," 185o. Had General Dix showed more aversión to office holding, he would doubtless have stood higher in the estimation of his countryinen. But for all thal weakness he leaves a record of which, as a whole, bis i'umily have a light to be proud. How to Judgre the Future. There is no better way to judge the future than by the past. We know what Gen. Grant's administration has been, and from its record, thero is no reason to believe, should he be elected in 1880, that he will give the country a better administration than any other man who can b chosen. Gen. Grant has served two terms. What was the charactor of his administration ? Notoriously the most corrupt there has ever been in time of peace. Were he elocted a third time, there is every reason to thiuk that we should have the same thing over again, only worse. Some of his enthusiastic supporters say : "Oh, what you say of tho past is true, but he has learned the ropes now, and will never be so imposed upon again." But Gen. Grant never showed any indisposition to let corrupt persons have their way with him. There is the most painf ui reason for doubting the sincerity of his affected indiguation when his bosom friends, like Babcock, were detectod in shameless frauds. Gen. Grant, for a little while, pretended to be indignaut, and greatly incensed - just as he did tcward his brother-in-law, Corbin, for his intrigue with Fisk and Gould. But how long was it before he was staying at Mr. Corbin's home again ? No: there would be no reform undor Gen. Grant. It would be a renewal of the same oíd spendthrift and corrupt administration. Is it such that the countiy wants? Burrows of Kalamazoo made a speech in Congress last week, and before he concluded Sunset Cox was the only menibor remaining on the floor. The next duy Cox replied. During the sesBion he walked in with a little book like the " Third Reader," under his arm, and, having reached hisseat, rose to a question of privilege. Raising the little book in his hand he read the title, "The Coluiubian Orator," and explained that it was a friend of bis youth, which he had stndied twenty-five years beforo. - While his honorable friend from Michigan was delivering his eloquent efforl em the day before, the sound of his honorable friend's words carried hira back to the days of his youth, and to the MEblambian Orator." He then, with malignant glee, proceeded to read from the little book, word for word, the very speech Burrows had delivered on the day before. This is why Burrows is called, and will go down to future generations as, " The Columbian Orator." Hov-rgreat is the eouirast between the wwïther in' this portion of Michigan siid that in the state of New York ! - Here, farmers sa& busy ploughing, and gardeners engaged in preparing béds for oarly vegetables. Doors are openec in business places, and inside woolens burdensomo. There, eight inches o snow teil in Troy on Friday, and not a much smaller amount in Utica. Goot sleighing was had all last week in the city of Auburn. Over the larger por tion of the state snow from sixto twenty inches d'eep prevails. Uueasy lies tha head that wears aorown. The lato twttack apon the czar makes ffve attempts-uponcrownedheads within 11 raont'ha. The only wonder is tbat tho would-be EtssassittS are so na nuccessful.