The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-10-16
IN MEMORY OF SUNSET COX.
MEMORIAL SERVICES IN NEW YORK.
An Address BY Ex-President Cleveland
Who Presided. and the Hon. J. Proctor
Knott of Kentucky-Many other
Prominent People Present.

NEW YORK, Oct. 10.-No larger sssemblage
ever gathered within the walls of Cooper union
than was present there this evening at the ser
vices in memory of the late Congressman Sam
uel Sullivan Cox. There were present men and
women not only from the district he repre-
sented but from all parts of the city. Among
those on the platform were ex-President CIeve-
land, Mayor Grant, ex-Mayors Hewitt and
Cooper, Gen. sherman. Roger A. Pryor,
Chaplain Milburn of Washington, Senator
Aldrich, George w. Curtis and John 4. Cocker
rill. Mrs. Cox sat on the platform in front of q
draped portrait of her late husband. The SER
vices opened with prayer by the Rev. DR.. Nc
Sweeney, pastor of st. Bridgets Roman catholic
church. julius Hamburger, president of the
Steckler association, introduced as presiding
officer of the evening eX-Presldent Cleveland
Mr. Cleveland said:
1T is peculiarly mt and proper that among
the tributes paid to the worth and usefulness
OF Samuel ). Cox, the most hearty and sincere
should flow from the hearts of his congressional
constituents. These he served faithfully and
well, and they were hOnored by the honor of
his life. 1t was as their chosen public servant
that he gathered fame, and exhibited 10 the
the entire country the strength and the bright
ness OF true American craftsmanship. Ii was
while he still served them that he died. All
MS IellOW-cltKenS mourn MS OeAtE speak
in praise of his character and his achievements
in public life; but his constituents may feel that
the afflietion of his death is nearer TO them
than to others, by so much that they are
entitled to a greater share of pride in all that
he wrought.
''I should not suit the part allotted to me on
this occasion if l were to speak at length of the
many traits of character within my personal
knowledge that made your friend and mine the
wise and efficient legislator, the useful and
patriotic citizen and the kind and generous
man. These things constitute theme upon
which his felow-cOuntrymen love to dwell, and
they will be presented 10 you tonight in more
eloquent terms than / can command.
IL shall not, however, forbear mentioning the
fact that your representative in all his public
career and in his relations to legislation, was
never actuated by corrupt or selfish interest.
Ills zeal was born OF public spirit, and the
motive of his labor was the public good. He
was never found among those who cloak their
efforts for personal gain and advantage beneath
the disguise of disinterested activity for the
welfare of the people.
These are pleasant things for his friends TO
remember tonight; and they are without doubt
the things upon which rest the greatest share of
the honor and respect which his memory exacts
from his fel elow-citzens.
"But while we thus contemplate the value of
unselhsh public usefulness, we cannot restrain
a reflection which has a somber coloring
What is the condition of the times when we
may justly and fairly exalt the memory OF q
deceased public servant because ne was true
and honest and faithful to his trust? Are we
maintaining a safe standard of public duty
when the existence OF these virtues, instead of
being general, are exceptional enough 10 cause
cOngratulatiOn? All public servants should be
as true and honest and faithful as the man
whom We mourn tonight.
81 beg you to take home with you among the
reflections which this occasion shall awaken an
appreciation of the truth that if we are TO Sc
cure for ourselves all the blessings of our free
institutions we must better apprehend the in
terest we have at stake in their scrupulous
maintenance. and must exact Of those whom
we trust in public Office more rigid adherence
70 the demands of public duty"
Mr.. Cleveland at the close of his address in
troduced Congressman Proctor Knott who de-
livered a eulogy upon his deceased brother
congressman.
The disposition to honor the dead, Mr.. Knott
said, was common 10 humanity everywhere,
and innate with every member of our species
who is capable of the slightest feeling OF re-
spect for his fellow-man. OF Mr.. Cox, be said:
The pomp and circumstance of war were
not for him. His triumphs were the beneheent
but bloOdless victories of peace The name of
no man was ever more widely known, or more
lovingly revered among his countrymen than
his. Thousands who had never looked upon
his kindly face nor listened TO his friendly
voice, read through the binding mists of bitter
tears the mournful tidings that his generous
pulse had been stilled by the ley touch OF
death. Yet how few there are among all the
mighty multitudes who loved him in life, and
who mourn for him in DEATH who fully realized
all that was admirable in his marvellous many
sided character"
Mr.. Knott gave biographical sketch of Mr..
Cox, paying graceful tribute 10 the excellent
traits of character and gifted intellect upon
which were reared the magnificent structure
which brought their posseSsOr fame and honor
in his later years. Continuing he said:
'In congress Mr.. Cox found his appropriate
sphere; no other forum could have suited his
tastes so well, or been more precisely adapted
to his talents, and in that his peer in all par
ticulars viii probably never be seen again.
There his remarkable character appeared like
a diamond of purest water, fashioned with
thousand facets, each emitting blaze OF irides-
cent splendor.
The one trait, however which distinguished
him pre-eminently in the estimation of a large
majority of his fellow-men, was the gentle.
Joyous, lovable disposition, which constantly
displayed itself in the playful w.t. the genial
humOr, the kindly sentiments and tender SYM
pathies which welled up from the serene depths
of his generous nature like perennial fount-
ain of bright and sparkling waters
"He was, indeed, the gentlest OF men, and
had he been asked to designate, among ali the
diversified transactions of his long and brill
liant career in congress, those which afforded
him the supremest pleasure, he would probably
have mentioned his repeated and earnest
appeals for universal amnesty. his eloquent de-
fense OF the homes and fireSides of the South
against a merciless and unconstitutional act OF
cOnfiscatiOn; his generous and disinterested
service 10 a large class Of il-paid employees in
the humber grades of the public service his
repeated manifestations of an earnest and
act. se sympathy in the sufferings of the op-
pressed and dOwn-trodden kindred of thou
sands Of his fellow citizens of foreign birth, and
his ultimate triumph, after laborious
and long-continued effort in the
tablishment and successful organiza-
tion of an efficient life-saving service,
which has been the means of preserving null
titudes OF valuable lives, and protecting myriads
of happy hearthstOnes from the grim specters
of anguish and desolaton. 1t may be safely
said, at least. that by these and similar exhibit
tions of an enlightened philanthropy, he reared
for himself in the grateful hearts OF his country
men a monument of affection which will sur
vive in the memory of their posterity long after
the majestic dome beneath whose shadow his
benefcent labors were performed shall have
crumbled into dust"
The service closed with benediction by
Rabbi Gottheil.
Mississippi Tragedy.
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