National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-08-11
DEATH or COZ. A. a. ALLEN.
Brief Sketch of an Interesting Career Life
and DeAth OF n Noted Washington Jour

and DeAih OF n Noted Washington Jour
nniist.
Col. A. q. Alien, for many years prominen,
journalist and political ADVISER Of this city, died
yesterday Sunday morning at Providence hos
pitai of congestion Of the brain. Though Col.
Allen had periodically suffered from disease for
several years, he had for some months appeared
to be better; and being OF q powerful frame, his
friends hoped he would be fully restored to
health. His last illness was very brief and the
Announcement OF his death In this morning.
REPUBLICAN will be q sal surprise to many
friends,
Albert q. Allen was a native Of New lamp
shire. lie was born at Cornish, In the year 1915,
aud was therefore, at the time Of his death, nifty
ave years Of age. His parents were persons Of
respectfully, noted for good sense, honesty and
vigorous physical constitutions. lie inherited
these qualities. He hsd gigantic body, a mas
sive brain, and was noted for outspoken candor
and personal and political integrity. In person
he had great resemblance TO the late John c
Rves, so long Of the Globe, but was more actIy,
and rapid In physical action.
After common school and academlcal tralnint
Mr.. Allen determined to study law, and this pro
| fesslou he acquired at Concord, New Hampshire
In the once OF Franklin Pierce, afterwards Prcsi
dent Of the United States. Concord was then
| as now, the capital OF the State, and Mr.. Allen
soon developed an aptitude for politics. His nrs
once was a clerkshlp In the New IIampshir,
House Of Representatives. After the election o
Mr.. Polk to the Presidency he came to Washing
| ton, and was appointed to once In the Navy De
partment by Hon. George Bancroft, at that tim,
secretary. He performed his duties with grea
| fidelity, and all the while contributed articei
and letters to different newspapers.
lie was for time associated with Col. Johr
W. Forney In the UaioH newspaper OF this city
| Afterwards he went to Baltimore and tool
editorial charge OF the Republican there, remain
the National late iigsneer, under the proprietor
ship OF Messrs, SNOW, Coyle Co., and remained
with that paper until 1t passed out OF existence
Before this, however, he wrote daily Washing
ton letters to the Sun over the well-known sigma
ture Of Aga After the suspension Of the IN
teihgencer Col. Allen wrote articles upon topics
Of practical interest for various journals Of thi,
| city, especially for the Daily Chronicle and tn,
| Patriot, with both OF which he had successiv,
| editorial connections, devotlng his attention
particularly 10 tho discussion OF leading loca
| topics, bearing upon the Improvement Of tn,
city. Yesterday morning FraSy's Sunday ChrOn
lele had an article from his pen; perhaps the las
| he ever wrote.
Mr.. Allen was man OF singular personaI, DO
lltical and Intellectual honesty. His hatred o
/ shams Of all kinds was notable Characteristic
| Always an earnest Democrat, he ever denOunce,
Democrats whom he believed to be corrupt, o
| knew TO be stupid, as heartily as he did those o
| the opposite party. President Pierce made hin
navy agent here, an ONCE which he held abou
| two years, aud which he resigned for the NOR,
| active duties OF newspaper life. As a Journals
he had vigorous style, but never, or very rarely
| dealt IN vltuperation, and never In slang. Ill
style was pure and strong. lie aiuietl to persuade
convince AMI instruct. Thoroughly famllla
with our political history. aud an aiePt In stats
tics, Colonel Allen wrote many articles which
would yet be of value to those who desired I,
understand the conduct OF our public affairs
lie rarely used an ornament or classical allu
sion. but his essays were so full OF strong argu
ments, good sense and manly sentiment tha
they always attracted attention aud won respect
Ills letters 10 the Sun were admirable specimen,
| OF condensation. Nowhere else Is there nnei
| Illustration Of multum in pnrro.
Mr.. Allen was a remarkable conversationa!ist
| lie knew as many OF our public men, perhaps
and enjoyed their confidence to as great de
| gree, as almost any private citizen OF the re
knew as many state secrets as any one else, bu
| IN all his life he never Improperly dlynlged wha
| had been told him In confidence. Neither d.
| one have to say To hun that no was speaking II
confidence. His gentlemanly instincts laugh
| him what was confidential In Its nature.
| As u man, Colonel Allen was generous, warm
hearted, genil with those whom he knew, bu
not caring TO know everybody. Among all VIII
knew him he did not, perhaps, have q single per
sonal enemy. HIS death will be lainented By
large circle OF friends at the national capital an,
by many eminent men Of the nation la all part
OF the republic. He will not figure 10 our na
tons annals, because he held puOlc place but
short time, and exerted his Influence through
impersonal channels. Nevertheless, he sug
| gested no little that Is good In our politics au,
our journalism, and manfully combatted man
| evils which have passed away. II his fame shat
| not at all be commensurate with his intellectual
deserts, the fact cannot disturb him, dead, a.
never even annoyed him OF caused him thou Oh
| while living. There was much 10 his checkers
| life that eutNled him TO admiration and love
aud In his death our city has lost one OF Its hes
thinkers, one OF It's kindest hearts. and one q