The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-14
THE MILITARY ACADEMY.
Lord Dundreary as a
Cadet Josh.
Thoughts on West Point as 1t Was
and as 1t Is.
What the Board Of Visitors
Will Recommend.
Larger Facilities for Training Officers
and More Cadets.
ARMY ORGANIZATION.
Reflections on the Present Condition Of
the Troops and q Word for
Enlisted Men.

bored by the daily examinations or the light
WASTED young gentlemen who expect to be officers
| and gentlemen. so slow, dull and uninteresting
are the sessions of the Board that but few OF the
! guests OF the hotels care to attend, except. Of
| course, those having relatives IN the graduating
| class. The first impression made on the mind of
the visitor who listens to the recitals of the cadets
is that he has made mistake In entering the class
| room; that 1t is not an American, but an English
| company assembled, and the next is that the
| cadets secretly worship Josh set up somewhere
| in the Academy, and that Josh Lord Dundreary.
! Wait and watch While candidate for
| admission into the American Army as an
| officer RISES and let your ear drink In the
words that flow from his drilled and regulated lips
| as he rccites He steps forward to the black
board as II treading upon eggs. with the jerky
! twsty gait that only scions OF the first families
| have and which Is seen in perfection in the walk
| OF English officers of the nobility as known to the
readers of servant "galn literature With wand
daintly held in his hand he begins In 'haw, ah"
almost indlstinct drawl, very fashionable and con-
sidering the circumstances very funny; continues
A STRAIN OF SLURRED ENGLISH
and ends his piece OF explanatory answer In
broken words. This is the model cadet, the cadet
Sin form,n the cadet most admired who ELECTS
from the ladies the conclusive judgment, GLOW
and reverend seignors" OF the Faculty, and on
whom, in a vacant, helpless way, the congressman
Of the Board OF Visitors smile. OF course
all the cadets are not so favored
There are some who prefer to be
American in everything, but greatly fear they are
IN the minority. The cadet who acts as adjutant
at the evening parades Is always high priest of
Josh Dundreary. He is very impressive when he
reads out the orders inasmuch as nobody compre-
bends him. The ladies delight In him, though, and
think him most engaging when least understood.
Perhaps they are right. 1t is mistake, though,
for these young men to think that the ridiculous
| drawl which Mr. Sothern makes so funny the
stage is soldierly or admirable. The English snobs
who affect that kind Of inanity not allowed to
practice it much in their army. cadet at Sand
4 hurst or an oficer In the field who would shaw,
haw, and dilute his words in that fashion, would
be very likely to hear disapproval OF 1t in very
PLAIN English from his superiors Sn0bbery is
pleasing 20 weak-minded young women and to the
snob family IN general; but it is very much out OF
place in an army, especially the army OF the United
| States.
have heard 1t said that this tendency to extray-
agant imitation OF the weakest foibes OF the Brit
a exgnseh s s more y d IN s tnan any
growing since the war. Formerly the cadets at
West Point were sons OF gentlemen that s, sons OF
persons who either got their dollars by the mean
robbery Of ignorant slaves whose ancestors were
fortunate in trade. THESE were very democratic;
at least they were Americans, and commanded the
affections as well the persons OF the troops when
appointed 10 commands. Provided with ample
means and well known, they never were in dread
OF having their social standing questioned. Cadets
oil West Point appointed to the army Of late years
have seen mostly from the bread making class OF
people, ana strange it is that they incline more to.
wards that which Is not republican. would not
notice this REGULARITY OF the West Point cadets OF
the present day did 1t not seem to me that the at
mosphere Of the Academy is, in a political sense,
extremely unwhoesome, and that the question
osff frrrn 10 rttntN
cultivatlng in this hotbed OF officers a useful or
pernicious growth OF public servants3
WHAT THE BOARD OF vIsITERS WILL RECOMMEND.
I am given to understand that the Board OF Wis
itors are so well pleased with the working OF the
its dement's Tor So well assured that thew have an
opportunity OF making large amount OF political
capital that they intend In their report to recon.
mend to Congress-Sherman and Shellabarger of
Ohio; Judge Poland, of Vermont, and Coburn of
Indiana, Gathering the project-to enlarge the ca
pacity OF the Academy; TO ''liberaze the institu.
tion by doubling or Guadrupling, the number
or cadets, and so afford the benefits of
military education to a larger number Of scions
OF noble houses. 1t is not expected that
congressman will vote against measure so well
their hands, and therefore its Introduction in the
senate and House early in the session OF the Forty
fourth Congress may be expected Last session,
congressional pickings and stealings. and I'M
timely charges OF corrupt and dishonorable prac-
skilled talent having this side game in charge
would have succeeded. AS 1t was the combina-
I
done but the formal display OF cards in the two
houses when they assemble in December.
THE ARMY ORGANIZATION.
II NAV SO happen, however, that before that time
the public voice will demand the why and the
wherefore, and It may be inquired, What do we
keep a standing army for Why do we have to
pay more for the luxury than other natioDsS Is it
as effective it might be Is II strengthening to
the nation or is 1t weakness Is II In its present
organization help or a hindrance in the perpetu-
alton Of the Republic These are questions i
think, that sooner or later VIII have 20 be an
|
organization. 1t is proper that those questions
should be put and answered here. The Board OF
Visitors will not satisfy the country, though they
may the military committees of Congress, by re.
porting concerning West Point IN its re-
West Point controls tic army ana is re.
sponsible for its effectiveness: This will not be
disputed think. by any officer not appointed
from Military Academy ana 50 recorded in the
army register. Admitting this, as they must, the
should recommend for the better government Of
the army when they propose to Congress, as they
intend TO do, scheme for educating larger num-
Der OF officers than the service demands
ASTAGONIsM BETWEEN OFFICERS AND MEN.
Let them understand, then, that there IS a wide
gull in interest and leeling-wider and more
anomalous than exists in any well organized
modern army-between our officers and soldiers
Under the colors there are masters ana servants
not officers and soldiers The officer Is here Taught
or, tf not taught, he Is led TO suppose, that he is
superior being; ms blood is redder his flesh finer
his veins bluer than the "ensted man." The
honors IN the field, the comforts In the barracks
the justice IN the courts are for The officers. No
nVhois b"J VAP,'NNu,, nv .vhSiusi"uoi' hVPtu
for, no remedy for injustice obtainabe where the
interests Of "0lcers' conflict Tor the 'peDcan en-
listed man, He may he o gentleman. His cdu-
cation will avail him nothing. Once enlisted &C.
cording to the unwfitcn law he is considered
being without sensibillty aud devoid OF feeling and
an au,omaton entirely at the mercy OF his su.
periors. Contrary 10 the army regulations he may
be sent to the guard house without proper cause,
tried by n jury OF Officers prejudiced against him,
ana his pay ($13 u month"; stopped The officer
may be IN fault, but that fact win not come out
cept the charge against the enlisted man IS
heavy one. The soldier has no redress. II his per-
secutor Is his captain he must appeal through him
TO the colOncl the captain sees the colonel Brst
and explains the matter, and generally the en-
listed man receives scyerer punishment i0t his
folly. And when restored to duty rom punish
ment the life OF that soldier IA hard indeed.
NAPOLEON AND TnE COMMON SOLDIER.
There was once a soldier in his young days
il.4LLAI ~