The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-26
mi,itorv Education in Colleges.

tbe present session of Congress- is that of a
nroposed system of national military eduoa-
tion. by means Of which all the leading col
leges of the country will be enabled to con-
tribute their quota of the officers Of our regular
army. The subject engaged the earnest
attention of Secretary Stanton and General
Grant last winter, and was also broached in
the Senate, but without coming fairly before
that body. After the adjournment, the Secre-
tary of War assigned to Major J, H. Whittlesey,
regular army officer on the retired list, the
investigation of the after, and the prepara-
tion of a scheme for carrying the proposition
into effect. Major Whittlesey visited the
West Point Academy and the principal educa-
tional institutions of the country, for the pur-
pose of consulting with their managers. In
conjunction with General Grant, he then drew
up plan embsdying the results of his in
quiries, in the form of bill for su omission to
Congress.
This bill provides that one college in each
State, and for every excess of one million of
population over the first million, an additional
institution, shall receive the benefits of the
measure. These colleges, however, are re-
cation of one hundred male students, and
grounds suitable for military exercises. The
President is directed to detail from time to
time one competent army officer to act as
Military Professor and another, of the rank of
lieutenant, to act as his assistant. The
course of military studies and exercises is to
be laid down by the President, as well as
general regulations for the government of the
officers so detailed. The Federal Government
is to furnish the necessary textbooks gratui
tously, and such ordnance and ordnance stores
and camp and garrison equipage as may
be required. An ordnance sergeant is
likewise to be detailed for duty at
each College, and two musicians are
to be enlisted for furnishing the necessary mar
tial music. Each college which establishes the
above military course is entitled to select from
its graduating class every year, in the proper
tion of one to ten of the whole number, such
students as exhibit the greatest general prof.
cheney, in combination with special military
attainments, good moral character, and sound
health. Their names will be published in the
regular army list for the year, and after the
assignment of the graduates of West Point for
the year, such vacancies as still exist in the
grade of Second Lieutenants will be filled from
the college lists. The general supervision of
the system is to be placed under a separate
Bureau of the War Department, presided over
by Director General of Military Education,
who is to be assisted by an Inspector and Ad-
iutant detailed for such service. The sum of
$4,000 is appropriated for the purchase of the
aud nIa is fOra ao1,
college, together with $4,000 for a suitable
armory and drill hall.
Such is a meagre outline of the plan sub
mitted to Congress- but in the bill attention
is paid to all the details, and as a whole the
system is perhaps the best that could
devised. We think however, that it con-
tains one radical defect. No assignment of
college graduate to a command is to be made
until the entire list of West Point graduates
is exhausted. 1t would appear more reason
able il the whole number Of graduates each
year from all the colleges, as well as from
the National Military Academy, were thrown
together into a general class, and subjected to
competitive examination, the appointments
to be then made, beginning at the head of the
list and following it to the close as fast as
vacancies shall occur. AS appoint
ments to West Point are at pre-
sent regulated, the best talent of
the country is by no means placed under
training at that institution, and among those
who pass the final examinations are found
some of the most veritable blockheads in the
nation. That the most talented and accom-
plished young man who receives diploma in
any college in the United States should be
obliged to wait for commission until all the
numbskulls of West Point have had the choice
OF the best positions is surely unjust, as it is
unWise for the good of the service. But we
trust that if the proposed plan is adopted, the
necessity Of remedying this defect will become
more and more apparent with the lapse of
time.
Notwithstanding the laudable effort of Gene
raj Grant to reduce the regular army to the
lowest footing compatible with the safety of the
country, the Military Academy will prove in
sufficient in capacity to furnish it hereafter
with properly educated officers. Secretary
Stanton, in his last report, stated that, as at
present organized, after supplying the require
ments of the Scientific Corps, it could not
furnish one new officer every two years to each
regiment in the service. Resort must there
fore be had to civil life, and it is essentially