Omaha daily bee., 1889-09-10
coyqREssMAN cox DYING.


The announcement that Congressman
s. s. Cox, Of New York, is dying, will
be received with general and profound
regret. For more than thirty years
prominent in politics as one OF the
ablest and most respected of democratic
leaders, "Sunset" Cox is as we'll and
widely known as any contemporary poll
itician, and few have so large meas
ure OF hearty public esteem. He has
been inssome respects unique figure
in politics, and while at no period OF his
career foremost leader in his party,
he has always commanded its un-
questioning confidence and exerted
strong, II not commanding influence
in its councils. Always an earnest and
consistent partisan, prompt to accept
and faithful in performing every duty
devolved upon him by his party, S. S.
Cox has never been identified with the
bitter and rancorous class OF partisaus.
While never hesitating to defend the
principles and policy OF the democratic
party, whether in the arena of congress
or on the public platform, he has rarely
or never descended to the methods
OF speech which are common
with the average politician. His ma
ture and temperament are not OF kind
that permitted him to indulge in either
the coarseness or the acerbities of po-
litical controversy. He could deliver
blows that hurt, but the pain was not
associated with a sense OF insult and
personal detraction. His shafts of
humor shot at an opponent were often
more effective than all the arguments
of others, but they left no sting. There
have been few men in American
public life whose controversial rec
ords were so extended as that OF s.
S. Cox, and yet it is safe to say that
none who ever contended with him in
debate held toward him any feeling of
personal enmity
During the long congressional service
of Mr.. Cox, which begun in 1856 and
continued, with an interum OF five or
six years, down to the close of the last
congress, he was conspicuous in connec-
tion with a great deal of important
legislation, and attained prominence as
one of the foremost parliament
tarians Of the country. Perhaps
no part of his public SER
vice was of greater value, or
will be longer remembered to
his honor, than his efforts in behalf OF
statehood for the Dakotas, Washington
and Montana. He was q consistent and
earnest advocate of division for the Da-
kotas, in this respect antagonizing
many members of his party in and out
OF congress, but he drew others to his
support, and was thus very largely in
strumental in securing the adoption of
the legislation which has added four
stars to the national flag. His visit to
the new states a short time ago was
marked by numerous popular ova-
tions which attested how thor
oughly the people of those
states appreciate his labors in their be-
half His home constituents will no
more keenly regret the announcement
that he is dying than will the people of
the new states. and particularly those of
the Dakotas. Mr.. Cox had ID brief diplo-
matte experience as minister to Turkey,
winning great popularity there and
performing his duties creditably.
Mr.. Cox has contributed literally to
literature. and most of his works have
been widely read. His Eight Years
in Congress" is valuable contribution
to political history, while his sketches
of travel in various countries and
his lighter productions make very in
teresting, instructive and pleasing read
ing. Mr.. Cox is native OF Ohio and
is sixty-five years old.