New-York tribune., 1882-04-20
A GLOOMY SUNSET.

A few DAYS ago we came upon an Item IN one OF
our exchanges stating that Congressman Cox had
returned from his eight months journey abroad
with his head full of interesting stories abont
foreign partsv Mr. COx's head may be full as
stated but we doubt if he tells any Of the stories
The fact of the matter is he is mood for story
telling Have his fellow citizens who latter them
selves they are far to mlddllng character-readers
been utterly mistaken III their impressions of
Sunset7 We are afraid He is popularity sup
posed to be one of the most light-hearted of men
the very personicatiOn of cheeriness; the incos-
SAINT and spontaneous originator of remarks that
cause Laughter to hold both his sides; fun maker,
who. hayirg respect unto the great law Of self
preservation, dares TO he as funny as ho can.
But it seems that this is iagrantly esti
mate OF the man. He is such person. Even his
heart knoweth its own bitterness and very bitter
bitterness it is True he wears a smile upon his
lips but the smile is paired OIL with the sigh that
dominates his soul IL Is the old. old story of the
poets tender verse:
Little they think who see him there
That the statesmans heart is breaking
We were not aware that hidden grief was
gnawIng at his vitals and making him feel pretty
badly all the WHILE until we read that very
ful letter which he wrote n few days ago to some
fellow Democrats, conveying bis regrets at being
unable to dine with them. We have already
alluded to this letter but now reproduce the
gist of it in order that the friends of Mr.. Cox who
may cot have seen it may be taught that he is not
to he expected to tell them racy stories of his for
eign trip or otherwise indulge in anything border
ing on levity. "rhe times" heZwrote, are out Of
Joint in public administration. This result is from
the loose and almost criminal Interpretation OF
organic law. Until we come back to the ancient
Of fait tn he
dividing line between State and Federal powers
and politics. the administration of our public Affairs
will 90 wrong. Misdirected politics lead to de-
mOralization and corruption. Tho fountain should
be pure and the stream will then DO less putreS-
cent? 1t will be seen that no Winter !Sunbeams
illuminate tins dreaTy picture that there is moth
ing in it that suggests Why We Laugh. And yet
Mr.. Cox is rs inseparably associated in the minds
OF the masses with sunbeams and laughter as Mr..
Bell is with the telephone Mr. Keely is with the
superb motor that bears his name, as Mr. Tiden IS
with cipher dispatches in the concrete and reform
in the abstract. How much people
stand up under! To think OF Mr. Cox appearing in
Congress day after day and ornamenting the social
life of the city. with nothing in his daily walk
or conversation TO suggest that he is not enjoying
himself firstrate, and yet all the while to he
crushed with the realization that the times are out
OF jOnt tnat tne organic law ~ Dcls loosely, not
to say criminally. interpreted, that an important
dividing line has gone astray, that quantity of
ancient canons are treated with the respect due
to age that considerable politics Is being misdi-
rected, that Generalization and corruption are
abroad in the land that the plumbers of the period
are not doing their duty by the fountains and that
consequently the streams are putrescent!
Now that he stands revealed To the country as no
really is. Mr. Cox will have the sympathy of our
entire people without regard to party lines, views
oil the Chinese question. or previons condition of
servitude His countrymen had been laboring
under tho impression that not "a wave of trouble
rolled across his peaceful breast. Finding that he
is up to his chm in tears of his own shedding their
own eyes will copiously water while man
they put up tho prayer that he may soon DO able