The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-06-17

syohn A. DIE.

AoI " y Wuoio CotHduuity. oofuS VOuotuotOu
indispensable to right conception Of nations
history. and those memoirs which usurp tho
offlcs properly enough discharged BY funeral
orations and which. far from answering any
urgent public demand arc due principally to
tho promptings OF flial affection or COM
placonoy. Such feelings are respectable
enough. and It would be ungracious to rebuke
the exhibition II them II the sumptuous and
elaborate volumes In which such memorials
arc frequently put forth wore only printed for
private distribution. Whom. on the othor hand.
books Of this kind arc offered to the public.
they cannot hopo to escape criticism. 1t Is
true that judicious reader does not look for
accurate and exhaustive Information regard
ing q political controversy or social
movement to a memoir written by the son
or klnsman OF a moro or less conspicuous
actor In tho events described. for even II the
writer Is otherwise qualified by the bent OF his
studies and experience to discuss tho subjoct.
We expect him TO be deficient In tho sense OF
proportion and perspective. But many road
ers are not judicious. and will not be harmed
By the caution that not fow OF the so-called
Biographies that have lately boon Issued
from tho American press are OF little
more historical value than tho record
upon tomb. wherein. naturally enough.
the virtues and achievements Of the departed
Ar6 tu0 uOSt Impressive ODJocto sAoWs
We are moved to utter this cavoat touching
certain class Of memorial literature By the
appearance OF two stout volumes compiled by
the Rev. MORGAN DIX and which. under tho
Aame OF Memoirs Of John Adams Dir (Harpers).
purport to give some notion OF American pOliti-
cal history during tho first three quarters OF
tho present century Regarded solely a.
monumental his fathers memory. erected for
tho exclusive bohooi Of surviving relatives and
intimate friends. this book reflects credit
upon tho writer's alial devotion. and at
tests the assiduous II not always fruit
full. study OF q subject remote from
his aptltudes and experience. But we can
not better indicate the special vice ofthis species
Of composition than BY saying that the young
man whose sole knowledge OF his country's
history should DO derived from these volumes.
would obtain strong impression that the
most important figure on tho stage OF national
politics. from tho war OF 1919 until at least
decade after tho war OF tho rebellion. was tho
subject OF this biography. Yet. neither as
General nor rs n statesman. Us a public speak
or nor as n scholar. rs lawyer nor rs railway
manager did John A. Dix at any time give owl
.dence OF more than second-rate abilities.
While. however. there have boon many poll
ticians now forgotten. who have held posts
quite as conspicuous as those attained by tho
services wero more worthy Of being chronicled
In two thick volumes wo arc Of the opinion
that q concise and candid sketch OF John A.
Dix might have been made interesting and use
full. II only to show how 1t happened that he
managed to regain In tho evening OF his lifc
q place In tho public eye. which no
had apparently. and. indeed. deservedly.
lost. Without entering in the space
at our command ON discussion which
would entail a somewhat close examine
ton OF tho Barnburnep movement In the State
OF New York during the Nth decade OF this
century and OF the shrewd policy pursued by
Mr.. Lincon's Administration toward that wing
of tho Democratic party in the North which
was disposed to vigorously support tho war for
the maintenance OF the Union. we will bring
together some Of those incidents in the life OF
Gen. Dix which mad a marked influence on his
career. or which threw most light upon the
scope and quality OF his natural powers and
his requirements. On his stainlessness
In ofYicc and on the uprightness OF
his private character no doubt was
ever cast: but n sober and just view
Of his intellectual capacity Is the moro ncedful
now because for some years preceding his
death it was scarcely attainablo. his reputa-
ton for statesmanship. rs we'll as for integrity.
having become. so to speak. q part OF the capi
Val Vi kEout pOiitiCul parry Hs Sho Pio'''hs
time there are no political ends to servo BY
overrating him. no crudges to safe by detract-
ing from his merits. and the young student OF
American history. II no will hold himself aloof
from memoirs that are only indiscrimi-
nate eulsxes. may at last recognize IN
John A. Dix precisely what he was
an 6most unique figure in the poll
tics xof our Northern States. u professional
.spSsiticIan In the sense that he may BIO said to
have seldom earned any money except by Office
holding. a man whose most exemplary step.
viz. his association with the Barnburner
schism In 1913. was taken against his will. and
who. after laboring for the twelve ensuing
years In the service OF the Shareholders. and
doing his utmost to avert the triumph Of tho
Republican party obtained from the harsh
Necessities OF his opponents u far moro splen-
did recompenss than he had ever won from his
lukewnrm and dstrustful friends. H. in fact.
1t may be averred with peculiar propriety and
emphasis OF any American politician that he
lived to reap where he had not sown. the sem
tence is clearly applicable to the civil and Mill
tary distinctions which John A. Dix received
during and after tho civil war Mt the hands Of
tho Republican party.
Among the minor misconceptions which,
during his later years. were curront concern
ing Gen. Dix. two OF the most grotssuue may
here be mentioned. viz. that he was n highly
educated man In tho Rcademicai or scholastic
sense. and that he had also received a thorough
military education. which qualified him for
high command In our civil war. The facts are
that John A. Dix. who was born In Boscawen
Now Hampshire. where his father kept the vii
iage store was dependent during the first ter
years OF his life upon such educational n1van
tages as small New England hnmcts were
likely to afford at the beginning of this cen
fury. About the age OF IL he spent ono year al
Phillips Academy in Exeter. and afterward Ar
teen months at the called College of Montreal
where no acquired some acquaintance with the
French language and tho power to construe
the easier Latin authors with the help Of gram
mar and dictionary OF Greek he never seemi
to have known anything: ut all events. We in
for from his own admissi ons that there was nc
p,riOd after he attained the age Of as when ht
could have translated Ave lines Of easy Greel
at sight. Nothing could be more ridiculous
than to describe u man possessed Of such rudi
montary requirements as II scholar. and the
fast that Gen. Dix managed to obtain
reputation for broad culture among the
people with whom he principally consorted
bNLrs witness to the low intellectual level OF the
Democratic party. In the Northern States