The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1873-01-31
THE GEORGIA MILITARY
" INSTITUTE.

Editors ofhe atlanta Herald:
The bill before our Legislature
providing for the revival of this in
stitution, and naming General Jo-
seph E. Johnston, John 2. Gordon,
A. II. Colquitt, II. l.. Benning, and
others-with the Governor, eC-oN-
clio, President as Board Of Trus-
tees, we regard of much greater i'm
portanee to the State and to the
South than cursory examination
would indicate. The purpose in>
tended and the results which will
be developed by this school would
be better expressed and more readi-
ly appreciated if it were named the
Georgia Military and Scientific In
stitute p; for it is well known that
the education impaired by these in
situations specially fits its graduates
for constructive engineering, mining,
surveying, chemistry, scientific
agriculture, and scientific pursuits
generally. In the revolution of
ideas and pursuits which is rapidly
taking place all over the South, we
begin to feel the want Of a profess
sional skill of high order in these
directions.
Much has been said of the advan-
tages Of military education per SC.
The development Of mind and body
go along pari passu. 1t requires a
robust constitution to stand the ten
sion which success in any pursuit
in this country now requires. The
arena is open to all men, and the
sharp professional rivalries require
that the candidate for their honors
shall be equipped, not only mem
tally with the weapons ofthc schools,
but with that robustness Of body
which will enable him to stand long
periods Of mental labor. The inter-
dependence Of mind and body il
truism. Strong health and the cons
sciousness Of physical vigor confirm
courage and impart strength to the
will. How often have We seen the
first honor man Of our colleges break
down early in life, because the in
tellect had been educated at the ex-
pense of the body. When the time
Of trial came, the abused and neg
lected servant broke down from in
ability to carry out the will Of its
master. The system Of a military
education not only recognizes the
truth of this great physiological fact
in theory, but carries it out in prac-
tice.
The place chosen for the school
showed the wisdom of those who
originally selected it. Marietta has
special reputation for salubrity OF
climate. Ii is sufficiently remote
from the Capital to be surrounded
with that academic atmosphere
which removes the student from the
formations Of the city, which envi>
rons him with influences that prompt
to a life Of mental labor and discip>
line yet near enough for the Fac
ulty 10 avail themselves Of the re-
sources Of q Capitol city. II is cen
trail in its position, with reference
to the Southern States, and 10 easily
accessible by many routs Of travel.
The views here expressed ami
mated Our fathers when they estab-
Iished this institution. Let us cars
ry out their views and re establish
| it in more than pristine vigor. 1t
we wish to recur to examples Of the
| results Of the teachings Of military
schools in the production Of men of
| varied accomplishments, united with
high character, serene courage,
| force Of will, and breadth Of under
standing, we need not go father than
recent examples among our own
| countrymen. General Robert F..
Lee, Joseph e. Johnston, Sidney
Johnston, q. T. Beauregard, Stone
| wall jackson, were graduates Of mil.
/ itary schools.