New-York tribune., 1896-01-15
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
COLONEL KNOX EULOGIZED.
HIS sTALwART AMERIcANIsM. UPRIGHTNEss OF
CHARACTER AND CHARITABLE IN


HIS sTALwART AMERICANIsM. UPRIGHTNEss OF
CHARACTER AND CHARITABLE IN
CLINATIoNs PORTRAYED.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In regard to the late Colonel Thomas W.
Knox. should like to add something indicative Of
his sterling traits of character in addition to the
+ facts contained in The Tribune obituary of this
morning. His many friends both sides of the
will recognize them at once belonging to him.
and emphasizing his strong Individuality He was
a true son of ew-England. an American through
and through, in the best of the word. Demo-
crat, man without the least pretence or affecta-
tlon. a believer in hard work and honest purpose.
No man has been more strictly, more absolute
ly just. 1t is not too much to say that he the
embodiment Of justice in every act Of his checkered
career. He had often said that If all men were
just. there would be need of generosity, which
is only made necessary in order supply the de-
hcencies of what assumes to be justice. and is
acty the opposite
He was an unfinching believer in law and order.
Exceedingly conservative and practical he had
no love of theory, fondness for speculation, no
care to solve problems of any sort. He revered
facts. and of them he always ardent sup
porter. Very patient with the existing order of
things. for whose original existence he thought
there must have been entirely sound reason. he
could have lived in despotism with certain de-
gree OF contentment fervid lover Of liberty though
he was. II he had not been able to endure the des-
potism, he would have gone elsewhere. rather than
this feeling. amounting to principle, that made
him so rreconclably hostile to the Confederates.
while in arms, and was the of his efficient and
admirable service in behalf of the Union cause as a
correspondent In the field. With him, though a
trained journalist. news always subordnated
TO patriotism He would not have put the smallest
obstacle in the way of the ultimate triumph of the
Republic for all the news in the world.
Many of Colonel KnOX's acquantances failed to
understand him. he invariably upright, so
uncomprOmsing as to what he considered to be
right He sometimes gave offence doubt by
saying precisely what he believed and yet he was
uniformly polite when pOiteness did not Involve
falsehOod some form Of insincerity. He would
never ask any person TO do anything for him that
he would not gladly do for that person. He never
paid idle compliments: he fattered: he never
had ulteror motives. he frank. direct
trustworthy. He had never been known to borrow
money though he would frequently lend to any
one he esteemed to be honest. But he detested
from the bottom of his soul. man who could
in manner be suspected OF dead -beatism." OF
his charities he seldom spoke. and they were many
and constant. He would always give according to
his means, TO any person or cause that was needy
and deserving.
His books like himself. wholly honest and
painstakng. simple and straightforward In lit
erary way. he had made the most of himself. and he
was quietly proud OF what he had accomplished by
untiring industry, patient research. extreme con-
sci"ntiousncss and unquestonable talent Char
acter. however. was his sovereign distinction. He
was model American. pattern for the rising gem
Grafton. If every citizen Of the country were all
that he was. this would be an ideal Republic.
New-York. Jan. T. 1896 j. H. b.