The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1889-09-13
HON. SAMUEL S. COX DEAD.
HIS LAST WORDS WERE OF HIS
PLANS IN CONGRESS.

Heritonitis the Direct Cause-Sketch Of
the Career Of the Famous Statesman,
Writer and Humorist.
New York, Sept. 11.-That gsn!sl states
man, SO widely known under his sobriquet q
Sunset Cox, died ct 6:3S last evening
The official, time Of his death was given as
$50 p. m., and his doctors said that the cause
Of death was peritonitis. 1t has not yet been
determined whether an autopsy will be made
on the body or not, nor whether the remains
will be taken to Ohio or be buried In Green
wood. The last time Mr.. Cox spoke at any
length was about II o'clock in the morning.
He talked in rambling way about the new
states and told his wife what he was going to
do when he went to congress next year. The
last motion of consciousness was to feebly pat
his wife on the arm, which he did about
thirty five minutes before he expired.
Hundreds of kilograms from all parts Of
the country were received at the house, ten
dering sympathy to the bereaved wife.
Much Regret In Washington.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10-The news Of the
alarming illness of Sunset Cox was received
here with deep regret Few public men are
better known in Washington than he. His
term of service dates back to the Thirty-ffth
congress, when he represented the Columbus,
O., district After filling four terms from that
locality he went to New York in 1865, and
from that time on he has almost continuously
represented New York district. His ap-
pointment as minister to Turkey and his ap-
pointment and election as speaker pro tempore
in 1876 are events in his career well remem-
bered. AS companion he was always de
ightful and as a humorist so entertaining that
people have chung to that side. Of his charac-
ter; but there has been no lack of recognition
Of his ability as legislator.
The people of the four new states just
about to be admitted into the Union rejoiced
over his having risen above the small politics
and espoused their cause. Standing on the
platform of higher craftsmanship, and en-
gagged in most serious struggle with others
of the party leaders last winter, his wit was
not dulled by his earnestness, and by force of
good hunkf AS " ell as by'foree f tKic 70
saved his party from grave mistaAA
This question Of the admission OF the new
states is as great a one as that which Mr..
Douglas struggled with upon this hoor," he
said to his colleagues in caucus warnlngly.
"But you are not Mr.. Douglas" retorted
Breckenridge of Kentucky, who was oppos-
ing.
NO." replied Mr.. Cox, "Mr. Douglas,
failed; l intend to succeed, y and hesucceeded.
During the latter part of the Forty-eighth
and the first part Of the Forty-ninth congress
Mr.. Cox's health was poor. This led him to
resign his seat, after being elected to the
Forty ninth congress, to accept the appoint
ment as American minister to Turkey. His
health improved and, resigning the Turkish
mission he was reelected to the Forty
ninth congress. He served through the
Fiftieth and is d member of the Fifty-frst,yet
to meet He is Is years old, and is an Ohioan
by birth. He was editor of a newspaper in
Ohio when a young man. He served two
terms in congress from that state before he
went to New York, and his first literary
work, ''The Buckeye Abroad . was published
while Buckeye. He has been active in
politics and literature all his life.
Mr.. Cox was born in GAINESVILLE, O., Sept
30, 1924, graduated at Brown univer-
sity, became lawyer and editor, Travelled in
Europe and was appointed secretary Of the
legation to Peru 1t was while editing The
Ohio Statesman, published at Columbus,
Ohio, in 1853, that he painted the pen picture
Of sunset which caused his envious contem-
poraries to dub him ''Sunset," a cognomen
which has clung to him since But while Mr.
Cox was man Of learning and solid attain
lnents, he was, perhaps, greatest as wit and
humorist, some of his humorous lectures
such as the one on "Colored Fun" being un-