New-York tribune., 1879-04-21

hermit the controversy which may almost be
said to be as old as human nature itself, but
has been most discussed, III various forms, by
philosophers since the days of Bentham-that
between Science on the one hand, and Hent-
ment on the other BY series of obvious
circumstances, President Porter has become
well qualified for the task which he under
takes in this paper-Sccking to mediate be-
tween these two apparently hostile forces in
the intellectual lite of man, and to show that
there is no proper cnmity between the two
that each should be- in fact, aid and ally to
the other. The subject is one of vast scope,
and Is treated with scholarly skill and great
thoUghtfu.noss.
Mr.. Langbein seems determined to enrol
himself in the category of persons who are
benefited by being brayed in a mortar. In
spite of the unmstakablc opposition of the
people Of New-YOrk TO the bill to destroy
Central Park. as shown in every way but by
public meetings, he persists III press
ing it before the Assembly, and Fri
day made an attempt to pass It,
from which he was obliged to retreat. The
members of the Assembly who are aiding Mr..
Langbein in this crusade against Central Park
citizens Of New-York are irrevocably opposed
to the scheme, not so much because an Occa-
sional drill of soldiers might damage it, but
because the dIsorderly crowds which VIII
always follow soldiers anywhere, short OF 90
ing up TO the cannOn's mouth, VIII trample
the fair surface of the Park into desert. Inc
militia cannot have Central Park, even once a
year; no one can have it but the people, to
whom it belongs. And while Mr.. Langbein is an
absurdly diminutive person, politically speak
ing, to hold public meeting over, it might be
well for our people to convince the LeglSia-
ture Of the strength Of their feeling upon the
subject if no other way seems electual, by
some public demonstration.
The name of John A. Dix has so long been
a familiar one to the people OF this State and
of The whole Union, as that ol citizen
whose public activity did not yield even to
old age, that it will be difficult for them TO
realize how near his busy life seems to have
come to its end. Wmle General Dix was still
alive at the latest hour of writing. his con-
dition was such As TO leave htde hope
that he would survive more than few
hours, and no hope that he could rally.
His life since he retired from the Governors
char has been 50 comparatively uneyentlul,
that tins announcement will remind the public
still more vIvidly Of his extraordinary career,
and the important part ne has played in the pro-
crcss of the State and the country during the
past forty years. When it is remembered how
many positions he has held IN the public service
during that timc and how faithfully he dis
charged the duties of each of them
for the sharpest political criticism
never was able to show that he was not
thorough and capable public oiiccr-it must
be conceded that ms case is without par
aIlcl in our history. Up to the very last years
of his life his energy of body and mind have
been apparently uudimnishcd even by the
weight of almost four-scOre yeaIs. When hc was
elected Governor of the State he was already
past the Scliptural term OF life, and yet made
a more efficient Governor considered merely
rs the head of a bureau, than most of the
younger men who have occupied that Office;
ana several years after he retired, he allowed
lis name to be used in a plainly hopeless
local contest, apparently simply out Of loyalty
20 his party. While he has not been great
statesman nor an originator Of great public
ideas, he has performed much and varied public
service and his private character las been
above suspicion.