Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-04-02

The worst result Of the system by which the
appointments 70 the Military Academy At West
make them hereditary. Now, and for many
years past, q large number ofthe cadets 10 every
class have been the sons o. oneers 10 the army
or navy We notice, In the list Of cadets at
large appointed by the President for tho class
entering In lsT3 that eight Of tho ten sons Of
military msn. These young men will make as
good oficers as any other young men would, and
lfthis case were not Illustrative Of the system Of
West Point patronage we should not call atten.
sSs. Sf s,lasSs come az 10 rsaspd doyeESmssI a
Vors OF service as an hereditary right, aud while
We arc reforming the civil service We should
provide Tot some lor% Gd S1mpaIat,Se sNsmins an, "a
made entirely free from patriotism or patronage.
Tho quota from each State might bo chosen
In this way introduce here the system Of educa-
tiOnAl competition which we have admired so
Iauch In ChlnA"-SeV York EVSAiRg POIi.
The above editorial article contains an un-
usual amount Of Injustice and mlsstatement
for q well-iniormed journal. As amatter Of
fact seven clghths Of the number OF cadets
annually appointed to the military academy
are from the various Congressional districts
into which the country is divided, and IL Is
rarely that the choice of the Congressman
controlling the appointment falls upon the
son OF On Officer OF the army or navy, who Is
usually q nomad, without local influence.
When the present dlstrlbutiyo law OF appor-
tionmont was on Its passage through Con-
gress, General Scott, by dint Of personal effort
with Senators and Representatives on the
floors Of the two Houses, carried proylso by
which the President Is authorized 10 appoint
ten cadets at large, without reference TO Con-
gressloual districts, in each year. lie urged,
with his usual vehemence, that any exclusive
restriction OF appointments TO Congressional
districts would practically deprive the chill
dron OF officers Of the army and navy Of all
chance OF a military education at the public
institutions, Us their parents had no recog-
nlEed permanent abodes, and no interest with
the Representatives who had the cadet APP
pointments virtually 10 their gift. His argu-
ment was successful with Congress, but the
old warrior yearly complained that the small
privilege he had won for his officers were
generally bestowed on political fayOrltes OF
the Executive, who had, besides, excellent
opportunities Of securing Congressional ap-
polntmentS for their sons.
The EpsRing Post proiessos TO notice, in the
list Of cadets-at-large" appointed by the
President TO the Military Academy for the
entering class OF 1873, that eight OF the ten
appolntees are sons OF military men. Not
so. Tho distribution Is as follows Sons OF
regular army officers, three sous OF naval
Officers two sous Of volunteer officers killed
In battle, twoi sons of living volunteer
officers OF the late war, two; enlisted sol
dier OF the army, recommended by all the
officers Of his regiment and post, one. View
cd either with respect 10 Its classification, or
the names represented, tho list Of appoint
msnts does honor to the appointing power
the more 90 because unrestricted In It's chOice,
and with long line Of precedents to sane
ton the application Of that choice to political
and personal ends.