The native American., 1840-09-19
U. S. MILITARY ACADEMY.
7atr@ci from PARKS Shctcl Of IFe1t Point. i

/ Eatr@ct from PARKS Sketch Of West Point
We proc ,ad finally TO state tn recent objections
which nave been made 10 the Military Academy, and
TO offer brief realY. On the Goth Of November 1893
the Legislature Of Tennessee passed resolutions in
/ favor of abclishiag the Academy saying, "a few
young men. Of distinguished and wealthy families
tiroaga the intervention Of members of Congress, are
educated at this institution at the expnls 81 the great
body OF the American people, which enttlc them 10
privileges, and elevate them above their fellow cit
Ians, who have not been ortnnate as 10 be educa
ed under The patronage of this arstocratical insu
tioh" On the Sd of March, 1884, saar resolutions
were passed by the Legislature OF Ohio, saying that
the Academy g is partial il its operations, and wholly
inconsistent with the spirit and genius Of our liberal
Institutions" It was in reply 10 these resolutions
that able report was made 10 the House OF Repre-
lsautatireS, May 18th, 1894, by Colonel Richard III
Johnson as Chairman OF the Committee on Military
Affairs: indicating The institution against these
charges showing how fully i has been approved by
ell our leading statesmen, from Washington down
wards and how substantially it has repaid the coun-
try for her maternal care and support. Bat this in
lstitution was destined to pass another ordeal, when,
on the LIST Of March 1887, arr,ent report against il
was presented 10 the House Of Representatives, by |
the Honorable +. O.. Smith, Of Maine Chairman
ui the Select Committee OF Nine appointed 10 inyes
tigate the condition of the United States Military
academy. This report concluded by recommending |
the abolition OF the Academy, and the establishment
Of School OF Practice IN its stead for reasons which
ii is our present purpose to examine.
1t is objected that the cadets at the Academy are
not part Of the efficient force Of the army In denial
of this assertion, we may quote the very language OF
the law of 1912, quoted by Mr., Writ, in proving
the cadets subject TO do duty, whenever the Plesi
dent shall direct; and they would at any time be fit
and ready for duty, even the battle field, like the
youthful P6lytechnsts Of Paris did occasion require
it, II they not an efficient part OF the army, il is
lin the same sense that soldiers newly recruited, or
citizen officers newly appointed, not efficient
til they have acquired the requisite knowledge and
experience. If the number Of cadets we're more than
the public service requires, as has been objected, the
remedy would be TO reduce the academy, not to de-
stroy it but this objection does not at present hold
good in point Of fact. The objection that the grad
yates are not under obligation to continue in the
vice, obviated in a reasonable degree by the law
Ja!y 5th 1888, requiring them to serve four years
after graduating and if this be not sufficient, il rests
with Congress to extend the period Of service, far
as the nation may see fit TO require.
The objection most relied Oh, against educating the
cadets ut the public expense, would apply equally
them any thing until they should be thoroughly drill
ed and completely efficient, This answers also the
constitutional objection against the right Of Congress
TO establish seminary OF education. The cadets are
not merely students, but grade Of officers duty,
las much if they dispersed through all the
posts and gaisons bat learning that duty ten times
as well as they could thus learn it, and at much less
expense than if instructed after being commissioned
as Iieucnants, when their pay would be more than
twice as great They learn il too far more thorough
" and uniiormly than if taught at private schools
military or civil as The result of more than one rival
institution abundantly testifes No fewer than thirty
one gentlemen, all but six Of whom are graduates of
! the Academy, are employed in instructing two hun
dred and sixty cadets What other institution in our
country could present any thing like the amount
Of suitable instruction to candidates for army promo
! ton?
This introduces another objection that the expense
of educating the cadets is exorbitan, especially as
compared with the expenses at best colleges. In
answer to this we have only TO state, that the current
expenses of the institution, including the pay and
rations Of the cadets amount to about 800 OO0 and
dividing this by $50, the average number of ca
diets have the annual expense OF each cadet equal
TO $lea per annuin; which, ccntrasted with college
expenses for travelling boarding, tuition, fuel books,
and clothing, is we think by means nnfavorabe to
the Military Academy, considering the number and
qualifications OF its instructors. We may add that
this expense is far less than would be that Of the
scheme recommended by the Hon. Mr.. Smith, Of or
dernr nearly third ofthe company officers OF the
army TO West Point when converted into School OF
Practices especially as those officers would not then
be part Of the efficient force Of the army, as the
phrase is understood by Mr.. Smith. But what are
few dollars more or less, compared with the impor-
lance Of having body Of select and thoroughly edu-
Gated officers totake the command of our armies, and
direct Notifications and national Improvements?
The objection that only the sons of influential and
wealthy men are admitted to the Academy, is far from
being true but it the case, the fault would
be not in the Academy, but in those who are vested
with the power OF making the appointments thereto.
Hence il would not be rcnedied by abolishing the
Academy; since the Executive would then appoint,
as lieutenants those who are appointed cadets
or rather, il would appoint more favored class of
young men, already tolerably educated. As regards |
the Academy itself. even its most violent opponents
on the successive Boards Of Nisitcrs have ADMITTED
that nothing could be just and impartial than lis
awards Of academic honors and censtres. II is not
strange that many OF those who discharged should
find fault with its stlIctness but it is surely Just that
the country should select those who deemed best
"a h. To a1lro
sion all who may be admitted on the recommendation
Of partial friends Though they may possess latent
talents, and may afterwards distinguish themselves,
stIl the Academic Staff must Judge them by theirpr
sent ministry and requirements without waiting for
the future.
Much has been said against the moral tendency of
the education acquired at West Point, but we think
with great Injustice. The argument drawn from the
conduct rolls is perfectly futile; where to appear on
parade with rusty gun lock- is charged, and properly
So as military crime. We appeal with confidence
to tie subsequent career OF great ma lorty OF the
graduates, as disproSirg this charge and we assert
that since the Academy became settled under the pre-
sent l,mc there harebsen fewer disturbances there
than al colleges, generally speaking. But nl
lstriclncss, the comparison should be made not with
the character Of our colleges but with the character
which young officers would be lilelyto acquire with
ont al education tthe Academy; and in this point
| OF view, tho result need not be stated.
Another Of the objections is, that the graduates oil
TIE Military Academy, being entitled 10 precedence
in filing vacancies III the army, all citizens above the
age of twcntyone virtually almost excluded from
entering the service and that inducement is left
ioI the general acquisition OF military knowledge,
t. for the institution Of military Schools" else
where But allowing that fifty appointments are to
be made annually in ;he army; we ask how many
private military schools this inducement would foster
and support; or if only one or two, we ask in what
respect these would be preferable to the National
Academy; and whether the appointment OF graduates
from such Institutions who would necessarily be sons
only Of the wealthy, would not be an act Of greater
;is oram than that which has been unjustly urged
against West Point?
L is said tlat the commanders Of orr army in cases