The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-28

was steady.
/ West Point Wanted In Every state.
The appropriation for the Military Academy
at West Point, now being considered by Con-
gress is q subject Of more than ordinary in
terest Congress ought to double the usual
appropriation instead of reducing it. One of
the great lessons Of this war, and also of the
Mexican war. is the necessity and the
value of such an institution. Indeed we
must take the proper measures as soon as the
war is over to open military academy upon
the plan OF that at West Point in every State
| of the Union.
The Romans owed their long existence and
| splendid success as military power to the
schools in which they educated the youth Of
the nation. Every government in Europe ac
knowledges the immense Importance Of mill
tary schools. During this war we should soon
have been overcome by the rebels had it not
been for our officers who had graduated at
West Point Our political generals have al
Washington have made blunder after blunder
| in tie management of the armies under
their control, until now. after three years hard
fighting, they are no nearer the rebel capital
than when the war first began. Contrast with
this treadmill strategy the glorious and endur-
ing victories of General Grant, and OF all the
other regularly educated officers who have
been left free to carry out their own plans in
their own way. and you may form some idea of
the value OF West Point TO the national cause
during this terrible civil conflict.
| Nor has our great military academy been less
| important to the rebels. They have been pre-
| pairing for secession for about quarter Of q
century, and chief among their preparations
was the establishment of State military schools
aud the crowding of West Point with Southern
cadets. This explains how the rebels. with
their comparatively small population and re-
sources, have been enabled to struggle so long
with the overwhelming strength Of the loyal
States. The rebels had the military skill and
science acquired at these schools, and these
gave them an important advantage 1t
seemed as il they had all the skill and
all the science until Providence brought
out General Mcclellan and followed him
up by developing General Grant. Both of
these great generals, and almost oil the others
who have made their mark upon either side Of
this conflict are West Point graduates. But
without adoruing our columns with long lists Of
brilliant names, 1t is sufficient to say that il
West Point had only educated Grant and
Mcclellan It would have more than repaid the
nation for all the money il has cost.
1t must be remembered, moreover, that West
Point educates statesmen as well as generals
No good military academy could do otherwise.
To be really great general one must also be
great statesmen. Napoleon, for example, was a
double man-half statesman, half general-and
his education at the French academy developed
his talents in both directions. Every line OF
General McClellans recent report shows how
superior lie was in true craftsmanship as we'll
Is in true generalship to the tricky, intriguing,
laundering, imbecile politicians at Washington,
who continually hampered, hindered and
thwarted him, because they envied his genius
and felt humbled and rebuked by his pure,
unsel6sh patriotism. Throughout the whole Of
General Grants career be has displayed the
| same admirable combination OF qualities He
always strikes at the best time and the best
| place to do the most benefit TO the cause Of the
Union-in other words, at the very time and
| place when statesman would have him strike.
President Lincoln confcsses this 10 his written
apology to General Grant when he says, "You
were right and l was wrong McClsllan's
craftsmanship is seen in his letters, which now
read like fulfilled prophecies. General Grants
craftsmanship is seen 10 all his operations; for,
more fortunate than Mcclellan. he had the op
portunity to put his ideas in practice. The
craftsmanship Of both these generals was cult
waited and improved by their studies at West
| Point.
Now, the reform which is 10 follow the resto-
ration Of the Union, and which is necessary TO
degenerate the country, is evidently change in
the governing classes. We must drive the poll
ticians from the high places they infest aud dis
grace, and put wiser and better and purer
men in their stead A system Of military
academies would supply US with such states
men, aud also with generals to lead our
armies in case OF war. One Of these
academies should be located la each
State. The best graduates Of the public schools
should be sent to II, and educated as the
cadets at West Point are educated now. AT
the close Of the course the cadets should be
compelled to serve for some time either In the
army or 10 some civil office connected with the
administration Of the government. Strange as
II may appear, we can learn something from
the Chinese in this regard For three thousand
years they have Gourishcd az great nation,
and il has been under system, founded by
Confucius, resembling that which we have just
suggested The dynastIes Of the empire have
often Changed but this system has remained
the same. The youth Of China attend govern
ment schools and academies, aud those pupils
who display remarkable Intelligence and tai
eat receive government Offices q soon as they
graduate. In this way China has Away. been