The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-06

There were several conspicuous features
Indiana honors to-day that are worthy of
imitation. He was a patriotic man. Be-
fore he was of age he became a soldier,
and as soldier he was a patriotic man.
He was an excellent soldier because he
loved his country and its government with
all the intensity of generous and forceful
manhood. 1t was this high type of man.
hood that made him effective in the army.
A sergeant of one of the cavalry regi-
ments. soon after the fall of Santiago,
said to one who met him as traveller: eff
this war goes on General Lawton will be-
come one of our foremost leaders. He is
a soldier who inspires one by those quail
ties which 1 cannot explain, but which
cause you to desire to do what he wishes.
1 only knew him as an inspector, but in his
presence we all felt that a great soldier
and a kindly man was with u.s. Not by
laxity of discipline nor by the articles of
small men did he win the respect and af-
lection of men. but by the largeness of his
and obedience. and the feeling that the
rights of the humblest man under him
would be respected and protected.
General Lawton discharged every duty as
a soldier with scrupulous faithfulness and
intense zeal. To that devotion to duty his
promotion and now worldwide reputation
are due He entered the regular army at
the close of the war as an officer of the
lowest grade. He had made excellent
local record as an officer in the Thirtieth
Indiana Volunteers. but while that good
record may have secured his appointment
it could not help him in the regular estab-
lishment. His faithfulness and efficiency
gave him a reputation beyond his rank.
Not a graduate of West Point, he was
transferred to the inspector generals de-
years conspicuous fitness for a position
which requires the highest quality of SOL
dierly training and experience.
General Lawton was loyal man, not in
the restricted sense that he was loyal to
the flag, but he was loyal to his superiors
in the army. He discharged every duty
fully, and with all his ability did his ut
most to serve those over him. He was
loyal in that he was not plotting and de-
signing man. seeking to promote his own
advantage at the expense of others. His
superior officer knew that he could rely
upon him for his best performance under
all circumstances. He never asked, when
he had duty to perform, What am l to
get out of this?' He had all the ambitions
of a soldier, but they were the ambitions
of an honorable and high minded man. who
desired only the honors that he himself
won.
Because of these high qualities of man.
illness, faithfulness and loyalty to duty, the
people of this country do homage to Law
ton the man as much as to Lawton the
brilliant soldier and firing-line leader. In
citizen and in soldier the qualities which
General Lawton exemplified in his whole
career are those which are worthy of emu
lation. And it is a consolation to feel, al
NTH of his career. that the story of his life
of manliness and devotion will win thou
sands to emulate his conspicuous virtues.
In bronze, no more inspiring figure can
stand to tell the story and teach to gen.
Grafton after generation the lesson of man.
illness and devotion than that Of Henry w.