Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-09-11
Death of s.sunseto Cox.

The death OF Samuel Sullivan Cox,
which had been momentarily antici-
pated, took place last evening. In the
demise of this eminent statesman the
nation has lost one of her most distin-
guished public men and the Democratic
party one OF its most sagacious leaders.
Mr.. Cox was a native Of GAINESVILLE,
Ohio, and was in his sixty-fifth year.
He served four successive terms in Con-
gress from Ohio. moved to New York
and served four terms from that State.
He accepted the Turkish mission from
Cleveland, but on account Of the poor
state of his health only remained year
at the Court Of the Sultan, and returned
home. He was reelected to Congress,
of which body he was member at the
time Of his death. Mr.. Cox has not only
secured an eminent place among Ameri-
can statesmen, but as a publicist and
litterateur he holds quite an exalted
position. He possessed a great genius
for humor, and one of his books, "Why
We Laugh" is a most delightful and en-
tertaining serio-comic storehouse of
knowledge and suggestion on the subject
OF wit. In debate, he was 80 bright and
sparkling, and withal 80 profound, logi-
cal and instructive, that whenever it was
known he was to speak he commanded
the attention of the House and filed the
galleries. He was one of the best informed
men Of his time on all topics, but
he was especially an authority upon all
domestic, political and public questions.
His knowledge was so various and wide
and his diction go rich and affluent
that he threw food of light and a
strength Of presentation into every dis
cussion in which he took part. Whilst
during the Rebellion he Loyalty sup
ported the cause of the Union with his
votes and his influence, he was a firm
and consistent opponent of the policy
and the methods of the Administration.
His m ost considerable work, published
three years ago, entitled "Three Decades
of Federal legislation" is one of
the most valuable contributions to
the historical literature of the country.
1t was written in defense of the con-
sentative policy of the Democrats who
attempted to stem the radical extrava-
gances of the ultra war party during the
Rebellion, and as an antidote to the
noxious doctrines advanced and justified
by the Wades, the Camerons and the
Blaines. 1t is an invaluable work of
reference to the political student, and
will take it's place as standard in our
libraries. 1t is singular fact in the
idiosyncracies of mind so brilliant and
we'll poised as WIS that of Mr.. Cox
that his natural prsneness to wit and
humor was considered by him great
drawback. He would complain
that having gained in his lighter
moods q reputation as wit, that it less
ened the force and effect of his most
serious and thoughtful efforts. He felt
himself unfortunate, and like Moliere,
who feared that his graver works were
weakened by the fame he had attained
from his lighter comedies, 80 Mr.. Cox
declared that when he was most serious
and most in earnest, his friends were
looking for sallies OF humor. Whilst the
great abilities of Mr.. Cox have always
been recognized by the country,
yet on account of the peculiar
state OF politics during the
time of his public life, he did not attain
that higher fame or reward which would
have been his had he lived an age in
advance Of his time. A man of genius,
he would have made his mark in any
country and at any time, but either be.
fore or after he came upon the public
stage, he would have had a niche in the
temple Of fame which the radical ten.
denotes of his own time denied him.