The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-15
YOUNG OFFICERS.

GENERAL sHERMAN's ADVICE TO THE oRADU-
ArINa CLASS AT THE MILITARY ACADEMY AND
CLOSE OF THE ANNUAL FESTIVITIES.
WEST PoNr, June IL, 1s7d
To-day's FIRST event OF importance was the award OF
diplomas TO the graduating cadets, wherein each OF
the new officers received from the hands OF tho
General OF the Army tho coveted document, to pro-
which four years of hard academic work
sidercd well bestowed.
General Devens, the chairman Of the Board OF
Visitors, delivered congraiulatory address TO the
graduates in which he praised their zeal and persc
verance, and complimented them on the successful
conclusion OF their acadsmca career after which tho
band played stirring air.
GENERAL sIIKRxAS's ADDRESS
A rustic OF expectation and curiosity passed over tho
asscmblage when General sherman's well known face
appeared in front OF tho table which lay the d.
pomas He said:-Younc gentlemen, am invited by
your Superintendent General Ringer to be present in
person when you receive the diplomas you have
earned by four years Of hard and patient duty and TO
say q few words by way OF advice and
welcome into tho family Of army officers
You have already had the advice Of men bet
ter qualified than am; all that you want, and moro
than you likely at this moment TO appreciate.
doubt not also that each and every OF you thinks
he has all tho inspiration required 10 attempt the
example of Washington or Napoleon and that you
have mnde election of tho corps regiment which
you propose to naugurato your army career. THIS IS
all natural and proper, and would justify me in cutting
short the few remarks | propose address to you,
IL Tor the peculiar circumstances in which
wc arc placed. You know that this Is the
Centennial year or our national history, that
hundred Fourth OF Juys VIII be crowded into this one
when orators and poets will sing the national rraises
from one end OF tho land 10 the other, and by tho
Uafh nra iul.A lNnxg m
than usual interest is attached to this occasion. You
are the Centennial class, and by the country AT large
will be expected carry into the next century ali that
il valuable OF the lessons and OF the last To
the patriot and especially TO the army, these
peculiarly valuable. During the revolutionary period
there OF gloom and depression which
alarmed men Of undoubted Intelligence, OF military
skull and great courage Some faltered, hesated and
yielded Their already forgotten, who those
who remained stcadfast preserve fame more
pure and bright than in their own day
and generation. The same or similar occurred during
| the OF 1912, in the Mexican war, and still
in the great civil war which shook this Continent
from centre TO circumference You, who stood not in
the dangers and drank not OF the bitter cup profit
by those lessons and will be held douhy condemned
you allow any specous reasoning any loose clamor
any possible shake your allegiance TO the
cause oil your country and OF your flag Stand BY your
country in sunshine and storm, revere the memories
of the past and, above ALL love that flag which now
| waves over you, the symbol OF all past gories
! and the harbncer OF greater yet TO come Tho pro-
claimed mission Of our government among tho nations
Of the earth was peace yet born in war, hap
tized in and have had wars Of aggression and de-
fence We have warred with our neighbors, with our
selves and have had eternal With the savage abo
rginal inhabitants yet ut each step oil our progress
good have denounced war as necessarily nhuman,
barbarous, to be abhorrcd BY God and man. This
cannot be. Wars only the means TO
an ond, to DO judged by the mo.
In nature we behold the cloud surcharged with eectr
ity, discharge surplus TO the earth IN thunderbol
striking the just and unjust alike, and So human CON-
munillcs flied with prejudice and passions, regain
condition OF peace and repose through tho instrumon-
tai W Of war; involving alike tho innocent and guilty
IA
scribe his experiences as prophet When steam and
| electricity had brought all nations into close
the lion and tho lamb would lie down together and
that wars on Garth would cease forever He then
vsntured tho prophecy that u any Christian nation
should dare to against another the whole world
would arise and cry ssshamel" But hardly mad the
sound Of his voice ceased when the boom Of cannon
heard on the plains OF Lombardy, and armed
battalons treading down tho ripcning grain
and desolatng the fair land OF Italy in tho
name OF liberty and unity. soon followed the
American civil war, with its fierce ana unnatural
passions, the almost unexampled destruction
OF life and property in tho name OF liberty and unity
Again comes the sound Of cannon from the distant
field Of Austria, soon followed by the FrancoPrussan
war; when the German legons swept across beautiful
France, leaving death and dcsoation IN their rear be-
scgng her capital and levying unexamped tribute
These wars involved the most refined and culti-
that our prophet ceased his calling and concluded
TO leave 10 Him who holds tho fate OF nations
in HIS hand TO bring forth the millennium ~ HIS own
fathers, who had landed ut Plymouth in midwlntcr,
that while busted with tho necessary labor OF building
huts in gathering rewood and food. they met In council
to frame sort of civil government for themselves
and successors and resolved TO DO governed by the
laws OF God TIL they had time 10 make better" Moro
than two hundred years passed and they have
found a better code, that may fairly infer that
war which usties and neccssitatcs profession is
OF divine origin that cannot escape It, and that at
best he can only allay It's horrors and rigors Every
civilized nation earth recognizes this fact and pro-
yIdes in advance for its defence and to vlnd
cate ITS manhood and threatened honor Ours Is no
exception, though our military establishment Is
the smallest Of all when compared with our popula-
ton, wealth and extent OF territory. For
this very reason II should DO the best In
organization ana substance, Dccan as wnen inc
OF larger which the may call for II
is not province but that OF Congress- TO provide
for the common defence and general wclfare Ills not
province but theirs TO make war and peace and 10
Judge OF the number and strength OF the forces
s ss,y ou obedience, s to their action and to
repose with confidence In thor wisdom and
generosity And here lot me say mat amer
OF Europe and examination oil their systems,
I believe this military academy compares we'll with
the BEST Is literally endowed and sustained and
surpasses all in respective, that here, al West
Point the officers Of all branches OF the service drink
bibc the same fidelity TO honor and princolc
and form those personal attachments which
must strengthen our common bond OF unity and ma
tonal respect From this common source forth tho
annual supply to replace those lost BY natural causes
thus adding lite to establishment subject 10 all
tho causes OF human decay. Therefore. my young
friends, let mo again remind you that you but
a single link the great chain; that war
is the normal condition for which you
have been trained by generous government;
that though long ygars OF peace may intervene, yet
when does you must be prepared for It's
great sacrifices ana exalted dutles else you will be ad-
judged TO the trust rcposed in you. How
VIC forsce and prepare for such an cventy
many OF you would, doubtless, ask /
answer do each day what is appointed,
preserve your natural characters and observe well
the actons OF those having more experience than
yourselves; follow no servic model for no two men
arc alike New events cali for new men, and those
who succeeded in tho last would fail IN the next
There Is Providence that shapes ends
Rough hew them may.
Tho strongest intellect peer but short distance
into tho future Mr.. Webster well knew that
slavery was inconsistent with tho spirit and
genus OF government yet he did not forcscc how
II to end, but cut tho gordan knot, and now
all men are FREQ 10 enjoy life, liberty and hap
pness ia thor way Though war is the normal
condition Of army when the profession rises
full dignity Of mob callng,s yet has her duties
also, which should be performed with the Same zeal
and sense OF responsibility when