The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-30

l 1890
reuitcntiary according to the measure OF
their offences.
The Naval Officers we are 10 Have.
VoS MoLrKr. the greatest living author
ity in military affairs, has twice publicly
given his opinion that the reason why the
civil war in America had not produced n
very distinguished general. was that the
choice on both sides was restricted TO the
| graduates OF West POINT. lie SAID that IT
was perhaps fortunate for the North that
| the South also udonted the pcrniCiOus sys-
tom of Wcst Point cNclusivouc,s, and did
not seek for military talent among the
mass OF its people; ana added that "while
in the Prus.ian army every soldier may
aspire TO the supreme command, III the
American armies the line OF dcmarca,ion
between volunteers and West Pointers was
drawn rs deeply ~ between the former
slaves aud their masters" lie further sald
tnat ~ reading 4, -. - record OF the Ameri-
can civil war. II really appeared rs if the
whole contest was between few orficers
Of West Point. and the mighty heart OF
the nation had never thrcnned."
VoS MoLTKE's rnxin that the chance OF
obtainln- great general increases ~ the
he.d OF selection widens and diminshcs
lasit contracts IL Il sclf-evident truth. The
world has long known that the abandon
ment in 1913 by CARNor, the French war
Minister of the aristocratic system OF Off
cering an army, created those magnificent
fighting machines with which BoNAPARrE
conquered Europe; and that adherence to
the aristocrntic system destroyed the NIL
itary power of Austria, Prussia, and all
Germany. Our own country, yet bleeding
ani staggering under the consequences OF
adhering through the civil war TO the
aiistocratic system, stil persists in it, and
annually harvests its crop of future army
commanders from school which can edu-
cate cadets. but which cannot with GER
taintv produce soldiers. For great soldiers,
| like poets. are born and not made.
{ In our navy, as well rs in our army, We
are making ourselves the victims of this
orlstoclatic system. II is fastened on us
and when il shall bear its rlpened fruit the
l punishment of our folly will he terrible
Il This folly consists in trying TO make sail
&, ors ON shore instead Of At sea; in training
the officers who are TO sail and fight ON
" men Of war on land instead OF on water
II in commissioning ~ officers of the United
y states navy young men who have studied
n their profession only in books at an aclde
- nv. and whose fitness to command shi p
and sailors l. determined by the number o
" merit marks in recitation rooms ana ol
II, the roll Of correct department; in officer
ing our war ships with commuters VIII
- have not been brought mp with sailors, an
who do not know their hnbis, tastes, an
" passions, and who cannot sympathize wit
70 their crews. and therefore cannot eilectt
It ally control them nor win their love an
ls support
l. The Annapolis Academy Is prize inver
ton for filing the quarter decks and war
rooms OF our mcn-of-wir with incompC
te tent aristocrats, aud the berth decks wit
at care. and sullcn sailors. II is a prize in
Ky vcution for losing ships in battle and /
H.. gales of wind, and by wreck on reefs an
bars our naval school tends to divor'
Isl commanders from scamen, TO breed dl
con ont and desertion among crews, 10 d
he moralize the service from quarter deck
in waist. and to degrade il finally into boy
Yachting in pleasant weather on sa
ground, and into barnacle life OF spirl
ma less beggary from the public treasury.
ise On TINS point we nave tHe te,llluoiiy
am a naval officer of the old breed, and of Il
old saltwater education. Command
BREEsE, in June, 1874, took on board Il
co. practice ship Constellation, NJ Annapol
all one hundred ana twcnty-seven cadet mi
shipmen, TO give them "A practical know
Ia, edge Of their future profession. From q
2Olh of June 10 the "a day OF July, twel
''E DAYS. the cruising ground was between
be Gull StIeamand Moutauk Point. From Il
the time to sept. the cruise was in and abu
~ Long Island Sound, including six days
ANCHORAGE and frolic at Newport VIII
W. the shin left New London, on the 81 day
rs September, to return TO Annapolis,
ec- weather outside of Moutauk was hea'
,tv. and out OF an nexcusablc unwillingncss
,,., eXpose these delicate sailors 20 hard u
wet work aud sea sickness, Capt. BREE
'"R took the inside passage and crept throu
the the Sound with his big scholars, went Z
ut sandy llook one pleasant day, and sal
lint safely to Hampton Roads. Alter resti
49,, xix days there the Constellation orulsed
"' the lower Chesapeake bay on her way
OF Annapolis. Did the vikings who fought
VIII Ia Hogue, Finisterre, Gibraltar, st. V
III cent, AbOukr, aud Trafalgar, and "
ou smashed the Spanish armadai did PEI
=, and old ISAAC HULL and DECATUR {
W. FooTE and FARnAoUr learn seamanshI
the such babes playl
ing, But even this cruise. tempered ~ ii '