New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-18
VEST POiNI.

The examinations of the boys in the national
school have become an object of national IN
terest this year more than any other, simply
because there is stagnatlOn OF other news.
While the public is waiting for an outbreak
from Kars or the new party, 1t has leisure to
look into the condition Of these lncipIent OH
GERS. Hence reporters have crowded TO West
Point. the Board of Visitors and cadets have
both been quickened to nwOnted zeal by the
consciousness of the blaze of notOriety upon
them. and the country has read with satisfaction
each morning of searching examinations and
sweeping cavalry charges, giving shrug,
however, at the enthusiastic recommendation OF
certain members OF the board that the number
Of yearly appointments should be doubled
or ouad11Iplcd. In this cold ague of economy
with which the nation is attacked just now,
and which leaves old army officers unpaid for
a disaareeably long time the chances of any
addition to the flock in the nest are exceed
ingly small. In fact, while the average Amer
lean i'm war time recognized the utility OF "A
trained band of tacticians, he IS apt to grum-
bic at their drain upon his pocket in piping
times of peace. Only last year he relieved
himself in Congress and elsewhere by n good
deal of portentous talking as to the expedi-
ency of doing away with the naval and mill
torv fee schools altogether. He has. in short,
pretty much the opinion Of the army officer
that Hodge has of his parish priest, useful
enough for Sundays and funerals but too
consumedly expensive luxury for week
DAYS"
This opinion, no doubt, appears simply
ludicrous and vulgar to the gallant young
fellows who are being trained for their c0un-
trv's service up the Hudson, and who already
look upon themselves as its supports and bull
warks, but there is a substratum of common
sense IN il which we commend TO their cOnSid-
Grafton. because if for no other reason, that
the average American is the man who pays
their bills and to whom they owe their educa-
ton and future livelihood. If they do not
accent his idea of the conduct and motives of
action by which they may properly repay him
the debt they owe, it certainly is fitting that
their own idea should be indisputably higher
one. We begin to doubt whether it is not
much lower The country, i'll establishing this
school, simply proposed to train baud Of men
skilled to serve it when needed as tacticians,
engineers or diScipnarians; the more these
men founded their conduct on the bases of good
sense, honor, and republican principles, the bet
ter and higher would be their service The idea
of the boys themselves, however, within later
years seems to be that they constitute an
aristocratic class (movcd by anything but
republican principles entitled to lay down their
own laws of good breeding and honor. Accounts
which reach us OF their hazing, etc, and
notably their treatment of the col0rcd cadets
show that these notions are quite different
from those accepted elsewhere. Now such
ideas would be natural in pupils of the great
French or Austrian military schools, where
admission testies to high rank by birth or to
long, patient achievement on the part of the
student. But really, Our boys at West Point
must remember that they belong to a nation
made up Of working and trades men that they
are the sons of just such people; that the
colorcd labOrer helps 20 pay for their support
as well as that OF the representative of his
race who sits beside them. Furthermore, they
have done nothing rs yet to entite them to
assume authority in such matters They have
recited certain lessons learned TO drill and
ride. and 10 wear their clothes with precision /;
but something more is needed, The knight of
old was skilled in gentleness and fine courtesy
to the weak and unfortunate as well as in
horsemanslip 1t was his manners, not his
trousers, which were beyond reproach.
1t is not as t1liing matter as it seems that