The National tribune., 1903-05-21

within six months he had passed away.
One of his early official acts was to so
readjust the relations Of the Department
to the General-in-C Chief as to give Sher-
man q new status as Commander of the
Army. 1t is believed that this brief pc
riod witnessed the most harmonious &C
cord of function known to our military ad-
ministration. Another noteworthy fea-
ture marked this fragmentary term of
civil service. Rawlins was the energetic
champion of struggling Cuba. In the last
Cabinet meeting he attended he vehe-
mently supported the proposition to aid
her in the effort then making to throw OF
the yoke of Spanish tyranny. Unfor-
tunately, he was overruled. and to an
other generation was transmitted the duty
then neglected. His final utterance was
thus the prophecy of ultimate America.
his last official act a protest against moral
cowardice; his dying but deathess legacy
to us. brave summons to the propaganda
of freedom. The bugbear of Imperial
ism" had no terrors for him-he feared
no stain to the Republic from pursuing the
path of destiny and duty.
During the Summer of 1869. Secretary
Rawlins gradually succumbed to the pull
monary disease which had undermined his
once rugged health. Deprived of the min
istrations of relatives his sick bed was
| sympatheticaily attended by the compan-
ions of his war service. Five General
| Officers, fellow members of the Society of
the Army of the Tennessee, were present
when he died. He was buried with full
| Congressional Cemetery. The impressive
ceremonies conducted under direction of
the General of the Army, were attended
| by President Grant. the Cabinet, and all
the distinguished officials then present at
the Capital. An imposing monument was
erected at his grave by his son and daugh-
ters. His statue presented by army COM
paniOns, stands at the corner of Pennsyl-
vania Avenue and Ninth Street, in mod
est but sincere testimony to his splendid
services and his exalted worth.
In the 30 years that elapsed after his
death changes occurred which made Ar
lingtOn manifestly more appropriate site
for the final resting resting place of our
hero. Accordingly, on the motion of the
Post of the Grand Army of the Republic
in Washington which bears his name,
Congressional legislation was secured
which provided for the removal of his re-
mains and the re-erection of his monu-
ment on the brow of the beautiful hill in
front of the old Lee Mansion, near the
graves of Sheridan and Gresham and
Crook and Yeazie. The War Department
furnished suitable military escort, and
ON Feb. 8. 1899, with the flag at half-mast
on all public buildings by order of Presi-
dent Mckinley, an imposing cortege
passed down Pennsylvania Avenue from
the Capitol to the White House and on
through Georgetown to Arlington. Here,
in the Lee residence, there were apprO-
pirate memorial services, including an ad-
dress which the writer hereof was privil-
eyed to deliver, and thus fit tribute was
again paid to the memory of a devoted
patriot and gallant soldier.
THE FAMILY OF GEN. RAwLINs.
The children of Gen Rawlins were
James B. Rawlins; Emily S. Rawlins,
who married Wesley Wait, and died in
1897, leaving a daughter; and Jennie S.
Rawlins, who married e. W. Holman, jr.,
and now resides at Newburgh, N. Y.
James Il. Rawlins. the son (then blind),
with Mr.. and Mrs. &. w. Holman, jr.,
and their son and daughter. grandchildren
of Gen. Rawlins, came to Washington and
attended the services incident to the re-
| interment.
| Some pathetic circumstances connected
with the career of the Generals only son
are doubtless worthy of record here. On
May II, 1897, the writer entered upon the
duties of his present official position in
| Washington, and on the following day re-
ceived the following letter from Repre-
sentative Hit, of Illinois:
blouse of Representatives,, q. s..
| Washington, ID. c., May IS, 1897.
~. NUSIlt, IOE luC
| Post-Office Department.
Dear Sir: l write this to call your
attention to Mr.. James B. Rawlins, and
ask for his appointment to a position un-
der you. 1 understand there are a con-
siderable number of places which he could
very well fill, and to which there would
be no impediment to his immediate ap-
pointment. The reason l urge this strongly
upon you is not only the fact that he is
fit for the duty, but he is the only son
of Gen. John A. Rawlins, formerly Sec
retary of War, the Chief of Gen Grants
Staff, and one of the splendid names con-
nected with our great war history: who
served his country most loyalty; whom l
knew well from boyhOod, u:til the time of
his death, and who died very poor man.
As you know, his statue stands upon the
Avenue, and it seems a cruelty that his
| son. who is an amiable, excellent young
man. well qualified for clerical duties,
should not have some favorable cOnsid-
Grafton. He has had experience as a
right. Mrs. Grant has spoken to me
twice about him, feeling a kindly inter-
est, very naturally, in view of the past.
/ earnestly hope that you will see your
way Gear to give him suitable situ-
alton. Very truly yours, III. II. HIT"
The only position available in my bu-
reau, under civil service laws, was one in
| tfe uncldSSlneu service, WIFI small pay,
but agreeable duties l promptly recon-
mended Mr.. Rawins's appointment, which
was at once approved by the Treasury
Department, and he faithfully performed
his work until failing health and greatly
| impaired eyesight obliged him to resign,
March 4, 1898. He was handicapped in
the race of life by physical infirmities, but
he had an intelligent pride in Ills fathers
honorable record, and cherished the heir
looms of his service with fidelity that
| would be model to other sons of war
veterans. Returning from n visit to his
| sister. lie was stricken with temporary
blindness on the train, but kind strangers
guided him to his boarding place. His
first words on arriving were: "Lead me
to my fathers sword and sash; | must
touch them and know that they are safe
before | sit down." At the time of his
fathers reinterment he was totally and
hopelessly blind. and he is still living in
that condition with relatives in New Jer-
sey.
A MEMORY CHERISHED BY COMRADES.
/ The fame of John A. Rawlns has not
gone trumpet-tOngued over all the earth;
his achievements are not conSpicuously
recorded in history. 1t is one of the pen
alties- of his self-abnegating career that
honor and popularity could never come to
him. But with his contemporaries and