Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-03-26

writer IN the Hartford Times, has taken hold
OF The business, with determination to put a
quletus to the Academy. and in Justice to him,
we mnst say, that he writes with case, and ad-
dnccs many, and incontrovertibie arguments,
to sustain lis positions. His ESSAYS have cal
led forth writer, whose name is unknown to
! us, and who offers the following reply to the
I assumptions Of the Hartford writer:
FOR THE LITERARY CADET.
Mr.. Editorial communication has lately
appeared IN the Hartford Times and Adverti-
ser, addressed to "The People, - and purport-
ing 20 be q candid exposition Of facts, rela-
tive TO the U. ). Military Academy; which
facts are intended to prove u position of the
writer, THAT the advantages resulting from
that institution to the country, are by no
means equivalent to the evils consequent on
It's operation, and the expense attending its
support
We are utterly at loss to imagine, TO whom
Phho-llarold" can bo indebted for the IA cts
he has stated. If any such wero communica-
ted to him, he has been grossly deceived If
they originated with him, he has been guilty
oi wiliu mis-statcment 1t is, perhaps, a work
OF supererogation to come forward to refute
them; silence is all powerful when error is not
concealed. The U. S. Military Academy, ow.
ing as IT does its birth to our lamented Wash
lngton its progress and successful struggle
through lnnumerable difficulties 10 the imrnor-
tai Jefferson, and rs present maturity and per-
lection TO the fostering care OF the American
People will outlive each day, whole volumes
OF misrepresentation and calumny
The writer states, that 25O Cadets are edu
Gated at tho Academy, and that 62 graduated
yearly. To this we reply, that in the year
1919, 20 graduated in 1920, 30, in 1921, 25:
IN 1872, Al, IN 1923, 36; in 1924, 80; in 1925,
81; in 1926, AZ; in 1927, IS; and IN 1928, 33
at flrthost.
He states, that So 400 is paid for the edu-
cation of each Cadet. We reply that no Ca
det ever received during tho term Of four years,
more than 4 ,3iI that being the amount al
lowed him by his country, for preparing HIM
self tor her service.
IL would be IDLE to take I'D in detail all that
the writer has said in relation TO the conduct
OF the Academy and its capabilities. But we
VIII ask tho gentleman, whether he has over
visited West Pont--whether no has examined
the admirable economy of the National Insti- |
tu'lon: Has be witnessed the re ,ularity and
eXactness of al ITS internal movements Has
he behetd the young men Of his country en-
gagged in the highest intellectual pursuits gen
erousy .contendlng with each other in the strife
Vi HIiHu = -loIeSoHS tDe ehueafnlcnls of Trends
and fimily-forgctins for a season a II the joys |
of young existence; eXlcd and isolated as thew |
are from the world, and al! this to prepare |
themselves TO repel the foe who will sooner or |
later invade our liberties, or 10 shed his best |
blood for his country! If he answer no, then |
we must conclu Ie that he has been the dupe |
OF misrepresentation, and we assure him he |
cannot long remain in error.
The writer goes on to say, that "in the |
pure, abstract mathematics, natural phoso- |
ply and civil engineering, the course of in. |
struction at west Point Is on par with other |
semjnaries." Mr.. Editor, VIC are the cradu- |
ate Of the first University in America, and |
from ample experience can testify to the utter
ialsiiy Of tue above assertion. In our Cole
ges, the study of mathematics, 70. the most
part, is Il mere farce. At the time we in ma |
lrlcuiation, the amount of our course was AL |
gebra, as Tar as Quadratic Equations, and |
considerable PARTON Of Geometry TO this add |
a very little OF the application Of the most
common trioonometrica formulas TO naviga-
ton and nautical astronomy. And how was
tins small skeleton of course got through
with Was 1t at the black board, that grand
test of talent that ordeal, where all the petty
subterfuges and underhand tricks of College
Sophs avail nothing, and through which .MnL
alone can guide US Or was i. not rather,
(and to our eternal shame be it sad) by road |
ing the problems from the very booas them
selves, that we scamblcd through our Nathe-
matical Course at Cambridge
As to Natural Philosophy, we have attended
an examination OF Caucts IL this branch, and
can testify that they are in possession Of AZ
the facts and experiments with which that ex-
ccilen, Professor, Mr.. Farratused to regae. us.
But here tho Cadets appear to wonderful adj
yania age-for they are familiar with the prin-
MI with In Nv nd 4 ha, thnr
ters about which VIC troubled our heads as
little, at College, as about the man in the
moon. .....I .......
Civil Engineering is not part Of the course
at ouHpublic ssminaries--and the reason is evi-
dent IA knowledge Of it cannot be acquired
WtthoM an intimate acquaintance Ulh de-
sc5ipttre geometry and theoretical natural
phitosoPhy. ......
Finally. the writer says that "thc Institu-
ton at West Point Is inferior TO others in mills
tary science, chemistry, mneraogy, SC. A
TO the FIRST. II does not deserve a sober refuta-
zion. Military science is peculiar to West
Point alone--wo maintain that it Is not taught
any tohcre else ia .At,erica. II is said to bs
u nominal study at sundry private military
schools ia the United States. But 1t would be
doing the Cadets Of our National Institution,
manifest injustice, to bring them down to the
level those primary establishments. ..'
As to Chemistry and Minoralogy, there is q
worry groat deficiency OF apparatus. and an al
most total absence of II cabinet OF minerals. -.
Add TO this, there is not. ut present, Profess
sor in that Department. r .I..r. 90
We would moi refer 10 Phlo-H arod's min
ioture battalion, but we cannot resist the OPP
portunity OF adding our mite to the numberless
encomums, which the perfect discipline, and
the manly and military appearance of that
gallant corps have often received! IL was