New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-07
HEST POINT.

The pubic attention Is again OnecUeu To-
ward the Military Academy at West Point 10y
reason of the annual examinations, and this
time with far more favorable impression
than that which resulted from the case OF
Cadet Smith and the disorders of the First
| Glass. 1t is perhaps inseparable from the
habit of simultaneously reading and discuss
| ing the same news all over the country,
that hasty and unjust judgments should
sometimes be formed and uttered in
regard to matters of general importance.
But the compensation is found in the
fact that these errors are sure to be redressed
by the same influences which created them
We have never shared in the indiScrmnate
abuse which has been poured upon the Acad-
envy by portion of the press, and we are,
| therefore, gratifed at the changed tone of
public comment now everywhere observable
Ii ia possible that to restore thoroughly the
equilibrium, the praise of the institution may
be for while as irrational as was the blame.
Unquestionably there was an ugly spirit of
| ostracism exhibited by many of the callow
warriors against Cadet Smith, but it does not
appear that his walk and conversation have
been of the most conciliating character The
conduct of the First Class was certa ny disOr
DERBY and subversive of discipline, but the
nranks of few ill-bred schOOlbOys were not of
enough serious importance to occupy the minds
and the time of the legislative body and of the
world of journalism, so long as they did, to
the exclusion of weightier matters The
charge SO freely launched against the Acad-
envy, that discipline had ceased to exist, was
entirely unwarranted by the facts. There has
not been an hour when justice has slept in
the face of any known transgression. 1t is
not reasonable to insist that the author
tiles shall redress Outrages that have
never been perpetrated, and ferret out
abuses that have never existed. One charge
has been repeatedly made, which was too evil
IDENTIFY founded in personal malice to merit
formal refutation. 1t accused the adminlstra-
ton of the Academy of favoritism, exerted to
screen the irregularities and incapacity of the
Presidents son. But the truth seems to be
that he has had his full share of disci-
pline, and that he has inherited brains
and persistence enough to enable him
to hold respectable place in his class with
out help from any quarter. The affair of the
lynchers has been settled by the infection OF
penalty which seemed sufficient to those who
had good means of Judging and will probably
serve as a sufficient lesson to those who want
to 90 on Illicit sprees, and those who feel
noble rage to infict upon such hayward lambs
an irregular and unlawful vengeance.
Altogether, in striking the balance of the
merits and the shortcomings of the Academy
this year as in former years, we have no doubt
the Judgment of the country at large will be
rs It has been in the past, decidedly favor
able to this time-honored institution We are
not at all enthusiastic about it. We do not
think that all the virtues, any more than all
the accomplishments, are acquired there in
four busy years. There is a very alb
surd conceit prevalent among young
army men that youth who comes
out of this particular college thereby becomes
possessed of finer and more delicate sense
of honor than other men, which is delusion
of the vealest kind. We are sorry to state
that there is flavor of priggishnesS about
most undergraduates, whose early training has
not been sufficient to teach Them
how large the world is and now
little is the Point The son of corner
grocery politician does not become u
gentleman and scholar by the assumption OIL