The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-02-28
A DEFENCE OF MILITARY INSTITU-
TIONS.
By Cadet B. r. Smith of the ~. G. Military Institute.
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/ TIONS.
BIZ Cadet B. r. Smith of the NJ C. Military Institute.
Published by request of the Superintendent
Before properly enter into a. defence Of any
Institution, enterprise is necessary hrs to know
the grounds of objection to it, or the charges preferred
against it, propose then in the first place, to enquire
into of the objections to Military lnstiutons-ln
second place of of the advantages
cuar these institutions for their best defence is to
be found in the merit which they possess. let 1t is
urged objection to Military Institutions, that they
foster spirit of chvalry and tend to the establishment
of military arstocracy subversve OF the peace and
harmony of society. If by chvalry the usages
and pertaining the order of Knighhood las
Worcester defines it, this might have been very valid
objection that oppressive system of knighhood which
hourished in the middle ages, to sustain which the
military despots often imposed exorbtant tax upon
their vassals, in some cases amounting to half in
others to the whole of their estate. But we do not
think that this objection apply to military institu
tons of the present day. for two reasons frs because
they do aim exclusively the education of
secondly that the times of feudal oppression have
long since passed away, and have such systems
that of Knight-errantry which history informs us,
destructive the peace and harmony of society
If the obector that they foster too great fond
for arms, and thus tend to military arstocracy,
| reply that individual thus educated has
tain pride in his profession and he certainly ought
have That thus educated is apt to think that he
possessed of qualifications for the performance of
military duties, which only be acquired by expe-
rienee and education, is very probable and he may
with justice claim them If this is the aristocracy
meant, their tendency to elevate the moral and nteec
tual character of the Cadet, to give him a thorough
knowledge of his profession, and render him more
eminently qualified for the service of his country
y it is greatly to be desired, and ought not to be OBJ
jected to. This objection, made by persons who
either envious jealous of those who "strut in mill
tary has arisen doubt from the fact that the man.
ners the dress, and habits of a educated at mill
tary institution, to some different from those
of the great of his fellow-czens. 1t is a very
common feeling for to object and to abuse, that
for which they either have taste, ability. We
admit that educated soldier has right than
educated citizen, to regard himself separate from
the mass of his feowcitzens either in interest
honors; and the only to prevent this isolation is in
the establishment of more Military Institutions Then
Cadets when they shall have completed their curricu-
lum will ciLizen-sodiers armed men, prepar
ed to engage the abors of husbandry the mechanic
arts the pulpit and the bar and in ca OF necessity
you have armed soldery springing into service, as
from "Dragons teeth under the gc influence of the
wand" While it may be true that some pedants go
forth from such institutions, pulled up with their
fconce this may be said institutions though
deny that it is equally military institutions
for the reason, that the discipline is such that every
Cadet is made to know his place. and obey his supe-
riors for must learn to obey before they
mand and in addition this the rigid daily examna-
tons to which they subjected all have the effect
to strip his mind of all foolish notions of SELF and
he loses his self-importance which is suffered to
grow to such disgusting magnitude many of our
Literary Colleges 1t is generally that those who
have the least merit make the greatest pretensions
True merit is like god it needs only be tested
to be known; while presumptuous pretensions when
tested, only show their naked deformty.
End 1t is commended, with considerable zeal, by a
certain class of Political Economists, that military
education units for the ordinary vocations of
life, and thus large amount of useful labor is lost to
the world. Let those who make this objection examine
for moment the of study pursued at of our
military institutions and they will that the
requires thorough knowledge of mahe ethics
natural and experimental philosophy, and chemistry
and in fact all the English studies usually taught in
any of our literary colleges. Would thorough knowl
edge of these, think you unfit for the ordinary
WI make
sight entirely Of the character of military nstit
tons; they forget that they mixed schools COM
bining the advantages of literary, scientific and mill
tary instruction Instead then of large amount of
useful labor being lost to the world they supply with
great deal, may be from the great number of
appca tions continually being received Older in
stutions such West Point for men to labor in the
various departments of learning and pursuits of life
We have but to look around us, and them fill
ing the responsible positions of Teachers and Profess
employ in the great United States Coast Survey
in the National Observatory Washington, in making
experiments and discoveries in Science in Engineering
and in making observations Western borders;
them in the halls of Congress and in the Cabinet
and filling the high Office of Chief Magistracy of these
United States, and them engaged in the honest
and honorable employment of tilling the soil. Who
them ask, will expose his ignorance by making
such objection to military Institutions
Sd. It is insisted by many of the present day that
the growing popularity of Military Institutions in our
midst is indicative of unhealthy condition of the
Republic and hence they regarded great politI
cal sores feeding upon the very entrails of our
StltutlOn, and sentiment with their
maarous Influences. In order to answer this objec-
ton which seems formidable at first view, will
inquire into the of the growing popularity of
military institutions and if it unhealthy
ditien of the Republic and see whetherthey the
spoken Of We think the of their
growing popularity to be owing entirely the merit
which they possess because they better meet the wants
of the Age means of discipline and education.
There men we know who are very nervous
and who grow pale whenever they hear of anything
"militarv and who almost go into commissions lest
they should be hurried instantly into the midst of clash
ing and roaring musketry. These phlegmatic
individuals ever insisting that they at great
distance ahead hideous forms and "horrible visions
which in truth nothing but the appaitions of their
diseased imaginatons. that vanish away at
approach. So think it is with this objection,
though frghtful at distance the approach
it the less of danger see in it. We may explain
think the of the growing popularity of military
institutions by comparison of their merits with those
of other institutions. The first thing notice is the
discipline. How seldom have heard if of
rebellion at military institution, while nothing is
more common at the present day in nearly all our liter
airy colleges This difference may explain upon the
ground of the severity and certainty of the punishment
which attaches to such offences Increase then the
number of military institutions and their influence
and in the proportion will you send forth salu
ary influence broadcast upon the country, and thus
you will scatter abroad the seeds of peace and pros
perty uprootng the poisonous weeds of disunion and
discord Some eminent man has well remarked that
the best way TO prevent is to be always ready TOT
it, In this respect military institutions Will be most
beneficial to the country Besides hls there is another
sufficient of itself to account for the growing
popularity of these Institutions and that Is the course