The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-07
THE ANGRY nor IN BLUE.
An Accurate Portrait OF the Venerable Poll
ticisn and General, John A. Dix.


NON Lsu. Cor Dorshefusr' Speech IN BrootIvn-
This gentleman Gen. Dix has lately sup
piled to us the comic element In the canvass by
app airing In the character OF an angry Boy IN
Blue eighty ,three years OLD; lLiughter.l 90
anger to those things to which many do. Will
not say that he Is angry because Gov. Tilden
beat him by $1,000 majority. lGteat applause.l
am sure now that that cannot be the case. for
Gen. DIX has Just accepted The nomination for
by 5000 msJ GRITTY again. tAppl ause.1 SO as
sumo that Gen. DIX, So far from being angry,
rather likes to be beaten bv Just about $1,000 ma
tOrlty; but have no doubt he was angry. Now,
you VIII remember when Gen. DIX was In office
and Indeed. after he hau left office, there was a
general IMPRESSION that he had made good
Governor He had had quiet time and things
had gone Oh smoothly. To use Gov. Tilden's
phrase, he had "vliued quietly through on
cial term" lie was an old gentleman. There
was general disposition to iat the old man
have another chance tiauRhter1. and there was
kind feeling toward him hut il was Gen. Dix's
misfortune that his administration, which was
an administration Of mediocItv, happened to
come into contrast with the administration OF
happened That the people began to com pare this
perfe lily respectable mediocrty with this over.
lowering reputation which rose to It's highest.
vi Gov. Dix 1t may be said, IN this presence aud
anywhere. thHt he IL entitled to the distiuotion
OF having belonged to more parties aud held
more umces than any American that ever lived.
Laughter and applause. l will not describe
MN IA the gentleman used to four years ago.
The gentleman VINO ran for Lieutepant-Gover-
nor when senator kerran ran for Governor
[applause1-I " III not say OF MIN IA that gentle
man used to. that he was 80 old that no mad
come over Ia the Mayho over, and that he was SO
venal that wnen he landed he told his compan-
ions Of the voyage. " II you do not elect me to
only say this. that We have never had In the
politics OF the United States any man " no vas SO
skilful to catch the changing winds Of popular
favor, and so to trim his sails to bring his Dark
into an official harbor. do not care 10 90 back
to remote periods OF mis- history, ana therefore
viii not 60 further back than the time when
Gen. DIX began 20 be an old man. tLaughter.1
In 1850 Gen. Dix was Breckenridge Demo
cr9t he was too strict constructiOnist for my
friend, the senator. here. He could not support
Dough q, he was a Breckenridge Democrat, and
he advised his countrymeu. at a meeting over
North ought not to coerce the south. and that
any union Of these states which was preserved
by FOR, OF arms was a Union unworthy OF hav-
Ing. his, think. was IN February, 1861. March,
Auril-two short months-and the war began,
and suddenly GEN DIX blOomed forth q full
hrdged Major-General and most peaceaolo
NJ jor-General he was during the whole war. be-
cause hen Butler did aeht some battles, but the
only battle Gen. Dix fought vas the capture Of
the World Office In 1884. Laughter and APP
plause.l Having pursued peaceful career In
time OF war, 1t was natural enough at the close
OF the war that he should desire a restora-
ton OF our former terms with the South,
50 the next appearance Of Gen. DIX was
To walk arm IN arm with Gov. Orr
Of South Carolina into the Peace Con-
vention at Philadelphia. IN 1868, at the head
he longed for peace. Now. eleven years after
the war. he incites hls cOuntrymen to war, and
COncs IoItn lnt lOIl manner OF the BOYS IN
Blue. Laughter and apulause.l This pea, eful
temper which he sh wed at one time procured
for him, as II was calculated 10 do, an appoint
ment TO one of the Offices In the city OF New
Nofk-N wal OMcer. or treasurer OF New York,
or some one OF these places-l will not under
take to be certain as to the off1ce, but IL was
the COlecturship. And mind, while he was
consulting GOv. lilden as to whether he would
accept that appointment or not, be received an
offer OF the appointment as Minister OF the
United states to tue Court Of France at very
nearly three times the salary OF the New York
place, and 20 ne accepted the la ter ONCE
lie came home from France IN high dudgeon
with Gen. Grants Administration. and Ia 1872,
when myself and Others were busy with the
cinnati Convention, we were In frequent and
confidential communication with Gen. DIX. ana
mad n much reason to suppose that he with
us then as We have to suppose that he Is against
us now. tApplause.1 hut Mr.. Greeley having
been nominated. and II appearing that Mt Gree
lev stood no chance Of the election, somebody in
the interior OF the State wrote to Gen. Dix and
asked HIM to speak at a Greeley meeting. ana he
wrote back saying that he WAS insulted TO receive
a requ, ST to speak at Greeley meeting. I'm
dOuutedy at any time OF his life Gen. Dix. being
non-committ d, would be insulted N asked TO
speak at a meeting 10 behalf Of a man not like
" to be elected. That letter, that public act
procured hun the nomination Of the Republi-
can Gubernatori.l Convention OF ls72. and SO
this Breckenridge Democr { OF ls6O. this peace
ful General Of the war. this peace missionary Of
let5 made his appearance In ls12 IA the kepubli-
can candidate for the Governorsnip Of this
State. And now he has lapsed into the rage and
yet we have this consolation, and beg YOU not
to be too angry because am sure that II we win
he will he on our side presently after election.
LLaughterl