New-York tribune., 1883-12-19
JUSTICE TO PERRY BELMONT

IL is surprising how circumstances cOnspire
against Perry Belmont The distinguishing charac-
teristic of that promising young is his mOdesty
which is due alike to his native refinement and the
influences and associations of an ustrious lineage
And yet, by some malign combination, circumstances
are always contrvng to give him an appearance of
juvenile concert and impudence, which is utterly
foreign to his real nature. Just now over-zealous
friends are making him. in spite of himself candi-
date for Chairman of the House Foreign Relations
Committee against S. S. Cox. Mr.. Cox is q states
man who occasionally breaks INTO capers, which
neither we the rest of his true friends can sin
ce-ely approve. But he has done excellent public
service in his time. lie began his career in Congress
when Perry Belmont was still lending marbles to
his paymates, at ten per cent month on the origi-
nal cost, and selling them an inferior article of
molasses candy at prices far above the market rate
Mr. Cox has special knowledge Of foreign matters,
and, of all the Democrats in Congress, is probably
the one best qualified to be head of that committee
Everybody knows that it is ludicrOus to mention
Perry Belmont against him. Poor young Mr. Bel
mont knows II we'll and yet his iniudicous friends
are forcing him into such position of rivalry with
Mr.. Cox, and making him appear to be such a for
ward and froward and generally impcrtincnt and
self-asserting youth that distinguished Democrats
have said that they would not serve on the commit
tee with him if he is made chairman. This must be
very trying. 1t would be still more so If Speaker
Carlisle should disregard Mr. Bclmont's wcll-known
desire that Mr.. Cox should be made chairman.
Then there is the matter Of the Democratic Caucus
Committee of the House 1t is well known that
there was a universal desire among the Democratic
members on account of Perry Bclmont's ripe expert
cnce as a statesman, and his abiltya rs parliament
airy leader, shown in that terrific tourney in
yybicI be ut,1,, IIoi,,. ,,itl
a universal desire, we repeat, to make him Chair
man of the Caucus Committee. But he would not
hear Of il, and withdrew just far as he could,
which was only far the Office of Secretary.
This his friends insisted that he must take, and
again, in their maladroit way, they succeeded only
in giving the impression that he was anxious for
this place for the sake OF nOtoricty and influence.
IL really seems if Perry Belmont would never
get "A chance 10 show just how modest he can be.
Yet another accident bcfcl aim. General Rosecrans,
who was made chairman, gave Mr.. Belmont the
other day a call for caucus. Just at this moment
Perry incurabe bashfuness overcame him 50 com
pctcly that he could not issue the call and his
mics spread about the rumor that he had said no
did not issue it because he no necessity for
caucus
Thus do misfortunes accumulate upon the head of
young man whose only ambition is to get as far
into the background rs he can, and pull the back
ground after him. whereas tho public is rapidly
growing TO think of him as the brazen Small Boy of
politics, always ready to elbow older and better
men out Of the way, that he can push into the
front rank of the crowd. Last year his friends
showed him forward in this way into the position of
"A candidate for Governor. They likewise crowded
public dinner upon him, from which, in his modest
way he could only escape by running of to Phila-
dclpha. Here for once they shared his peculiariy
for they were too bashful TO come forward and pay
the bill till they were sued for il.