The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-14

to be wrong. He had not that cast Of mind
usually called genius. but if genius be cor
rectly defined as an infinite capacity for
taking pains then he was clearly a genius
of high order He was honest and fearless
in every sense of those great words, but he
was particularly distinguished for intel
lectual honesty and courage. The con-
clusions TO which his reason led him were
accepted fully with all their consequences
and made rules of action He did not trife
with anything and least of all with him.
self.
..In his earlier years he was not thought
10 have much Imagination and was not
often what is popularity called an eloquent
or entertaining speaker. He induged but
little in anecdote or any form of humorous
discussion. What was said of a great Eng
lish lawyer well describes his discourse:
His very statement was argument and his
differences were demonstration Later he
displayed faculty for graceful and deli
cately humorous speech that was as sur
!rising to his friends as it was delightful
to his hearers. Public life was with him
rather an avocation than vocation. He
was always and pre-eminently lawyer.
QUICK AND CLEAR.
sion he surpassed any man 1 have ever
known. In the actual contests of the pro-
fession he was courageous and rull of re-
sources. We have come TO Inc Cay of the
specialist, but General Harrison never be-
came one. He was singulaDly at home IN
every department of a lawyers work. In
the quiet Office there was no better adviser
and no more efficient worker, but the next
h.,,l roiC ind ho adv
great cause surprising the expectations
both of his adversaries and associates. The
whole range of the law from criminal 10
equity Jurisprudence, was his field. and he
won laurels in every part of it. The repu-
tation of a lawyer, however great Is
ephemeral A great book or great action
upon large stage is the only approach
to immortality. But General Harrison's
fame as a lawyer is more than national.
and it would be difficult to name any con-
temporary who reached higher place.
Whether the case was large or small,
no clients ever had a more devoted and
painstaking lawyer than his. He never
cared for many precedents and usually
cited only the few cases in which the prin-
ciples he contended for were most clearly
stated. But no man ever made more pro-
in hand. He never lost sight of the fact
that every case has it's own peculiar
features and that the case he was to try
was the one he should understand above
all others. He considered every fragment
of evidence in all its bearings and the vari-
Gus aspects the case might present to the
judge, jury and opposing counsel. When
the conflict was on. he was not apt to be
fnlr Ir--
dent. The strength and weakness of every
position was studied in advance.
EFFECTIVE PREPARATION.
His most effective preparation for
great trial was made while walking back
and forth in his office and further relieving
the nervous tension by occasionally rafting
bunch of keys or some like object carried
in his hand. In his success the element of
accident played little part.
1T need hardly be said that in all his
dealings with clients, lawyers, judges and
juries, he was honest, earnest and sincere
as no man attains to even q moderately
good position in the legal profession with
out these qualities. General Harrison has
had few equals among lawyers of any age
or country and If the practice of the law
must cease to be a great profession and be-
come the trade OF specialists, 1t is certain
that we shall not look upon his like again.
His public career belongs to history and
few regulations can better afford to await
its deliberate judgment. OF personal rela-
tions and the characteristics of his inner
life, l cannot now speak further than to
say that all who knew him will feel that
no soul Drawer and truer when confronted
by life's duties. has gone before and crossed
| the bar into the unknown"