The New York herald., 1868-06-07
WEST POINT.
The Record Of the Academy-Graduates and
Civil AppOintmcnts-Change of an Old Sys.
tem-Humors of the Examination.

Civil AppOintmcnts-Change Of an Old SyS.
tem-Humors Of the Exa amination.
WEST POINT, June 8, 1s8s
"A soldier" says an old writer, ''is one Of a law
ful, necessary, commendable and laudable profes
sion; yea, God himself may seem to be one full Of
the company of soldiers In that he styleh himself "a
man of war; Now though many hate soldiers as
the twigs OF the rod war wherewth God scourgeth
wanton countries into repentance yet is their calling
so needful that were not some soldiers we must be
all soldiers daily employed to defend own, and
the world would grow licentious." II the above be
faithful exposition OF the necessity Of somebody's
carrying q gun and making short work Of his
enemies by every lawful means in his power
as q soldier and the history Of the past
ages would seem to sustain the old writer's asser
tion It strikes that the education OF the soldier
should be a thing OF much necessity to himself as
he Is to others. To this end 1t would seem, judging
from the examinations which were begun here last
Wednesday, that all the efforts Of the authorities of
West Point are directed. To make of each cadet a
thorough in the military well in the moral
sense, that he may 60 forth, with the fragrance of
West Points freshness still upon him, perfectly ac-
quainted With the world to the alurements of which
he has been dead four long years-accomplshed In
every grace that makes Of the true soldier gentle
man OF honor, ready to die In battle for his
country, and, making the world his executor,
leave to 1t the rich inheritance OF his memory;
the government in It's munihcence has endowed this
institution 1t has endowed no other institute on
under It's fostering Now, with all these emo rts
made in Its behalf 1t is reasonable that the country
at large should expect it to be productive of great
results, and the question naturally arises has the
institution as yet made fitting response to the
promises made by the great men who first conceived
the idea OF establishing here government military
schOO9 There are indeed, those who contend that
1t has proved itself an utter failure and should be
abolished. But pe0ple-the friends of West Point
assert-who talk In this way happily OF that class
who talk for the mere sake OF talking or giving
M vent to an to
gave birth, and which truthful facts be found
to justify. The record of West Point s one which the
people know and OF which they have abundant
reason to be proud. The great soldier who
now sleeps the sleep that knows no waking with the
shadow OF crow nest thrown over his grave, once
gave his weighty opinion against its enemies as he
had given his strong arm against his countrys foes
port TO but for n1
cadets the war between the United States and
Mexico might, and probably would, have lasted
defeats than victories falling to our shares whereas
In less than two campaigns we conquered a great
battle Or ski sKirmishS So much for Winfield scott's
opinion. And what are the other facts that prove
eomy eos over the battle eds Of the rebellion where
fell so many graduates while victory pedfched
graves by the thousands. and who were led
like sheep into the slaughter pen because their COM
harbor along our great sea coasts and find that they
are defended by works as strong and indicative OF
waSe Earepe eor With sword in CENTURIES
| ere West Point was even name: or looking back
e e dfans aHa snsn ssr
cess Of their joint eIorts, untrammeiied by civilian
interference IL would not be pleasing to West
Points revers to bear these facts in mind perhaps,
but the people have borne them in . mind
lng." Its "hot bed Of treason" then, screeches,
in shrill tone Its persistent foe. WhyP Because
e reSson in @ We whn eg e
there remained 1872 steadfast to the Union, twenty
one Of whom were from the intensely secession
States. And was eghty-six to twenty-One greater
proportion of difference Of opinion among Southern
ers at West Point than It was among Southerners at
ces c wcn the south was The facts
answer with solid negative.
GRADUATES AND CIVIL APPOINTMENTS.
II the fact be true that man educated In the art
Of war be superior In that art to not edu.
Gated 1t naturally follows that graduate Is Of
graduate who has not had any experience as
soldier. Taking this thing in pecuniary point
indeed, it will be that the amount OF money 1t
costs the government to make thorough officer OF
fresh from cv IRE 0qt n as nos,ca weaE m
not small one. For instance fifty young men are
given second lieutenancies, supposipg that number
men for four years would amount to s252 200 FIFTY
young cadets would cost the government for
the the same same period, $4,000. Now, then, for the
application. At the end Of the four years the cadets
military engineering ordnance and ali that pertains
| to military art Each one has lived the life Of II
soldier under tent, has served In the ranks ana as
l On the contrary, the civilian who has not been in
the army enters totally destitute Of the first prn
cipes OF discipline and military study and even at
the end of four years. service It Is not reasonable to
suppose that he win be equal to even the cadet who
an anon ocer not not being forced to study or not having
the opportunity do that the cadet had In four
eay improve wen but Ii little While the cadet entering
the ocers grade is from the start fitted for all the
| duties Of q soldiers career
l A CHANGE OF AN OLD SYSTEM.
The advent OF General Pitcher here as Superintend
ent OF this post has made quite revolution In sys-
oicers at least as altogether too sacred to Sc dis.
turbed in any OF its spheres Of action much less be
regulations for the Academy made out by the secre
taTy Of War and approved by the President the com.
mandant Of the corps od engineers d was made % the
iations were so worded that no offlcer could
become Superintendent of Of the post unless
that II 10 say an engineer ocer. Up to the appoint
ment OF the present superintendent no oficer other
| downfall Of the old system, which was considered
| by many ilbera and unjust TO the ofncers Of the
s e Of nU IN
non.engneers. BY parity OF circumstances II caused
the latter to feel that distinctive mark OF honor be-
| longing to their corps had been ruthessly taken
away and predictions were made that II was all up
with the Academy and that everything would soon
| 20 to universal smash on the post but the smash
has not come yet, and the only visible change made
by the new state OF things Is that while
discipline In Its literal sense, Is Just as vigorous now
on the post as II ever was there prevails q greater
spirit OF liberality, which has created very good
feeling among all the cadets and with good reason
The change consists simply In the extension OF what
the boys call privileges" which were very limited
these are allowing smoking at specified times and
the formation OF boat and base ball clubs; also the
deemed advisable that no harm will come from 1t,
either TO the cadet himself the general discipline
Of the corps so far 10 is said this liberalty has
instead OF doing harm, made the cadets exert them
selves more energetcally In the pursuit OF tneir
regular duties In order to show the authorties tat
be" that they are men and not merv
boys to whom the slightest license VIII
be the cause OF future misconduct. The boat clubs
esnecallY seem To have Wonderful Attr0cUOn IOr