New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-13


feelings The great aud absorbing function OF the Army
T. the performance of duty.
the soldier this obligation Of duty; and whether
serving under those vino agreeable or disageeabe
loyalty TO his flag and his country. lApplause.l
Neither passion prejudice confidence nor dstrust
friendship enmity should should be suffered
to have. part any consideration when duty calls
the soldier 10 its performance His personal fidelity
aud his public fidelity not Interchangeable terms
The one Is the impulse of feeling the other the ruling
of pruripe BE careful never TO confound them T1ey
exist together but when separated as You Naine
your reputation aud sereseet ebng 70 the ruest ana
highest standard Thus aud thus only shall you stand
Justified In the Of your countrynen and III your own
BE mindful too that in leaving this INSTITUTION you
have completed your education. but have only be-
gun ~ You have here learned how 10 learn and you
indeed the Whole OF your edaeon here vii be useless
TO YOU Have no fear that industry and application VIII
be unnGtioed or dIsregarded. No tell when the
hour may that the results OF such conduct viii ma
Twice since myself have been In the service we have
suddenly and most Unexpectedly been confronted by
and IN each made plain that those who
had thus prepared themselves or were believed {" have
done so, stepped at once to the 'front.'
You have spent four years in this honorable school
learning to obey The far harder task Is before you OF
learning to commando and In beginning this Lesson II
will be wise preparation 70 md ont, as far as you can
zaton OF the Army and the laws OF the country have
It Is true now. and must in tue nature OF things
always be true, that free country AMI among nee
ranks; Damee-s perhaps. but men who have taken
arms with the sole purpose to serve their country
they dare the peris OF battle and disease. They have
neither the wish nor the hope OF personal gain or pre-
controversies 10 their descendants nor 10 I'M
pair the value of the glory OF then unsesh service
alive, they cherished In the memory OF their
countrymen 10 whose welfare their lives have been de-
should bus lmperfectIy have performed my task did
fail to invite your earnest attention to duty SUI
higher and nober than any 10 which have alluded
your duty citizens OF the Republic. Cast your eyes
here and there with noble structures built by grateful
who because OF their services In war; are Incapable OF
maintaining themselves Sti more numerous will You
dud the green and silent homes OF the dead, the final
restingplaces OF those who died in their eountry's
Why do We consecrate the graves of the dead
The answer Is not far to seek We meet on such oe,
soldiers. but rs citizens of common and
loved country not vauut ourselves because of the
valiant deeds done In war by our soldiers, living or
dead but to pay our tribute OF gratitude the citizens
who lie buried because their lives needed by their
country We honor them because they exhibited the
highest qualities citizens they stood ready
maintain In arms the principles OF civil government
which they held sacred IN peace aud because they has
welfare OF their countr
such considerations these teach us all. and espe
cally Of the regular Army lesson ought to lay
near hearts, the lesson that the highest and
greatest quality good soldier in this country that
be snail be good citizen also lAppiause.l ,
jet not be alarmed nor deferred by the ljudged
talk concerning politics and politicians, common
in times past than now In the Army Politics arc the
daily history Of Our country; the embodiment and the
expression of the wishes and purposes Of cotrymen
Politicians whatever they may be in their personal rea
tons are in Their corporate capacity the men who make
our laws ana upon whom largely depend the welfare
and prosperity OF the country is II wisdom or good
policy in us 10 keep ourselves ignorant of
the daily history OF the country; and OF the
So long the soldier remains one OF the people
long he shares their interests takes part in their
progress. and feels common sympathy with them in
their hopes and aspirations, 50 long viii the Army be
will the close ties which should bind together
the soldier and the citizen be perpeuated among u.s.
cease to highest and SENSE the
Army will deserve to lose VIII surely lose Its place
ally become an object Of suspicion aud dislike What
ever may DO to avert such misfortune, as great
graduates of to-day. representing the newest life and the
latest aspirations of the Army here strongly to resolve
pronounce a divorce between the Army and the people
Iapplausel; that those whom Gods providence, com
gether either time nor circumstance shall ever put
asunder prolonged applause.I
This address made marked impression on the cadets
who, when they withdrew from the chapel were heard
frequently to speak of it in the appreeiative
When General Pope had finished, General schOied
asked the graduating class TO rise and receive their
diplomas They called forward In the order OF their
merit Abbot led the class receiving shower OF ap
pause Nearly every cadet cheered but some more
than Others according TO their popularity with the
young ladies, for gl0yet hands and fans made most OF
the noise. and In many instances the young ladies re-
versed the decision OF the Academic Board giving the
most applause to some who were more proheent IN g
lantry than learning Thurston, VINO brought up the
received the wafmest consideration from the audi
cnee and smiled his acknowledgements Only one man
found deficient He will be Obliged TO remain at the
Point another year 10 obtain diploma. The class en-
tered the Academy with l21 members and graduated
siXtyslx There been deaths. The scholarship
OF first five the class Is better than thai OF
the first five OF last year Charles H. Grlerson OF i
nois belonged to the class OF 10 but sickness compelled
his absence for Notwithstanding that he was at
disadvantage, he entered the class or ~ ana was
graduated No. 80, the centre OF the class.
In taking leave OF them, General Schoheld said he
hoped Their future would be as glorious a. their hde
at West Point bad given fair promise or Ils ID 10 Ilst
O n