Year: 1874

1
tainty of his reelection over the gentleman
the democrats will probably nominate agains
him, puts our able and accomplished Governo
III position of suggestive prominence in con
nection with the great national contest o
1876. Would not his election to the Presi
dency ftly crown career of distinguished
public service which has included every othel
important State or federal Officer Besides his
} present position and that of United States
, Senator General Dix has been member OF
the Cabinet, has filed q first class foreign
mission, has held high and important military
, commands in great wal, has discharged
responsible trusts as the chief officer OF
important corporations, and has had more
varied and valuable experience than any other
public man in the country. No other states
man among us would bring to the Chief Magis-
tracy OF the nation so wide range Of knowl-
edge, so remarkable combination of literary
and social accomplishments, so large an ac-
quaintance with the great business interests
which may be affected by national legislation,
or greater vigor of character or higher integ-
rity What is still more to the purpose, there





presently show, whose views on public ques-
tions are so well fitted to quiet old animosi-
ties, reconcile hostile sections and harmonize
all interests


We are aware Of the one objection which
will meet Us at the threshold of such pro-
posal, and perhaps need to answer it before
We can gain attention to the most reasonable
suggestions. 1t will be said that Governor Dix
is too old to be thought of as candi-
date for the Presidency. Bat he is
younger in constitution and capable
of more work than most men of fifty. He
writes with all the strength and clearness
which marked his efforts when he was q
Senator. He tmnsacts public and private
business with the vigor, judgment and
despatch Of an able man in the prime of his
faculties. In point of fact Governor Dix is
several years younger than Lord Palmerston
was when discharging the duties of Prime
Minister of England in the fulness of his
faculties Palmerston came very late in life to
the highest post in the government, and Eng
land never had more powerful, jaunty and
efficient ruler than Palmerston when he
had passed his eightieth year. Thers is
another example of statesman young
in intellect though far advanced in
years. He is as strong debater, as able an
administrator, and his faculties are every way
as elastic, as when he was at the head of the
Ministry in the reign of Louis Philippe
Franklin was nearly eighty when he bore
the chief part in negotiating the treaty of
peace which secured our independence. His
tory is full of examples which demonstrate
the vigorous capacity of statesmen to manage
great affairs at an advanced age. The octoge-
marian Palmerston was Prime Minister be-
cause no younger Englishman was so compe-
tent, and for q similar reason Theirs was
made by common consent President of the
French Republic in the most difficult crisis
that ever arose in France. In all such cases
the question OF age is subordinate to that of
qualifications.


Now, as we have already stated Governor
Dix could render services to the country as
President which are beyond the competency
of any other man who has been named for
that Office. He has the great advantage of



ciples, and the reactionary tendencies against
the republican party which are now SO active
would be satisfied and reconciled by his elec-
ton. Those dissatisfied republicans who
hesitate to join the democratic party, lest its
success should unsettle the great results of the
war, would feel that safety and reform en-
braced each other in General Dix. His posi-
tion on the reconstruction question, for ex-
ample, would equally reassure the North and
the South. He had clear perception of the
dangers which have attended the reconstruc-
ton experiment dangers which the present
unhappy condition of the South proves to
have been too real-and he stands on record
as strenuous opponent of the extreme policy
of the radicals in Congress. Ii is becoming
the settled conviction of the country that they
went too far, and that there has resulted in
the South great crop of mischiefs which need
rectifcation. There has hence arisen two
dangers which moderate citizens equally dep
recate One is that the election to the Presi-
dency of an old line democrat would en-
bolden the new administration to adopt q
dangerous policy of reaction and the other
danger is that the election OF thoroughgoing
republican might perpetuate the monstrous
abuses and corruption which prevail in the
Southern State governments and precipitate a
war of races. Between this Scylla and Cha g,
rybdis such an administration as would be
organized by General Dix would sail with
safety. No other prominent statesman is SO
we'll qualified to act as an Arbitrator between.
thes5 berilous extremes. No other statesman |
of character enough to be thought of in con-
necton with the Presidency is so well fitted |
to discharge the difficult Office Of mediator
and reconciler. Genend Dix could be trusted |
TO redress grievances and rectify abuses in the |
South yxithauf aulAuartixa1x tllo ixaxao.4a..4