New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-13
WEST POINT GRADUATES.

THE EXERCISES OF THE LAST DAY.
A LARGE ATTENDANCE or yIsTTORs-sPEECnEs BY
GENERAL HORACE PORTER, SENATOR BENJAMIN
HARRISON, CONGRESSMAN BLACKBURN AID
GENERAL SHERMAN.
iFRoM SPECIAL coRREsPoSDEST OF TIE rRrBUNE.l
WEST POINT, June IA salute of seven
teen guns to General Sherman, review OF the corps OK
cadets, and nterminable speechmakng at the gradu-
ang exercises the features OF the day The
first cass received their diplomas under the maple trees
before the library where marquee had been stretched
They sat In front OF the platform for the dtgnitaes
while the other cadets stood parade rest behind
them General Horace Porter. president OF the Board
Of Yistors remarked that he thought himself talking to
sailors instead Of soldiers he had the wind in his
teeth but he had breath enough say that he had sup
posed the Board Of Visitors expected 70 exhibit the
wisdom Of the visitors Of Job. who sat for seven days.
and spake. Considering the number OF dplO-
matte applications received by the Board OF Visitors he
had concluded the class preferred dancing 70 speech
making. which nature had evidently intended as she
had endowed man with two legs and one tongue.
General Porter spoke OF education continuing through
life, and warned the class avoid petty rivaries
Ing that generous ambition when the path be
comes for two. lie alluded the interest Of
the professors the cadets and the tter Indebtedness
dwe the practical nature OF the and the practical
duties which a soldier must perform, and showed that
patriotism taught IL the life at the Academy. He
added ~ pernicous sentiment is growing up--a new
school OF mawkish sentmentality, whose disciples
threaten to unsex manhood. They are attacking the
whole line in the OF aesthetic culture anu with
their step-ladder words aud rope-waL sentences
they seek the beautiful. but find the hideous
They would suppaut the flag Of country with
q suunower if seemed to them transcend
emily UTTER and they would damn the most heroic solder
II his form dcviated from their arbitrary rules OF
beauty" He closed by reminding the cadets that sue
ccsses follow hard work and urging them to follow
the noble examples OF the past aud In turn hand down
hOnored name
General Howard read dipoma, and the cadets came
forward one by one and given their diplomas in
the OF the Government Of the United states" Mr.
Burr. the first IN his class, warmly opplauded so
Mr. Cronkllte. who thrown from his horse the
other night and hobbled forward crutchcs Mr
Treat, the popular leader o. the german,
received welcome from the ladies' bnt
the heartiest applause gained by Mr. Ahern,
the last IN his class Genera Ho4ard then introduced
Colonel Elwe T. Otis, the 2Oth Iafantry, who spoke
the duties Of the soldier in time Of peace Senator
Benjamin Harrisonof Indiana was introduced by General
Howard as both citizen and soldier lie said in parts
Trouble IN Congress about tie Army comes rom your
being an apart class. NJ man conquer unless he
subines himself, and on the Military Com
mlttee IN Congress have sad evidence
that all officers do do this. Watch
against the Zoe OF the soliior incompetence. There Ia
IL i-gustng sight than drunken man. except
drunken man who wears UNIFORM" Congressman
Joseph : g. BLACKBURN. OF Kentucky, made oloIuent
eiiloy OF the part playCl ~ West Point IN history.
General sherman, who warmly app.audcd, SAID, IN
part As General welcome yOu lnfO the brothcrhood
To meet the Senator VIII say Don't drink don't gam
bic. some Of u IN N.w-IorS and Washington are IN
cliucd look down officers away out "a Arizona, Dut
they can give us examples " ecutlemanIy bearing.
have visited nearly al the posts of the army ana hEd
the officers carry with them refinement educa ioh ana
s0brcty and the last f. what makes promotion so slow
am siXty-tWO am IN favor OF giving the young
men chance and am ready % retire. senator Harm
son spcass of officers cOurt-martiauyd aud aI-
Praliug 10 the Senate and most army OF
icers wOull favor the establishment OF a
court Of appeals TO cit o.! court-mar-
tiai ca.es whose decision should Doe final
/ notice 4 new thing In the LIST " this class
that the first three four men come nom the West
This the gro WITH OF this country You are mere ~
the Thcruopyl.p the gateway Of commerce. There VIII
bee plenty or Tor you. n there no ApAchcs and
sioux there sfage-robbcrs and cowboys iV4r work
Will not 10 done until al men are brothers
The Alumni Association held lts Dd-nc-s IleeI Ig Ut 8
when the list OF the neurology read Inc iolm OF
badge Was discussed ana General Tyler reelected pIesl
dent ana Adjuani Lusk secretary, and spec cn'' were
made by Generals Findlay and Tyler The Alumni d!u-
ncr was held N ScA0tcid Hal al O'Clock Tie president,
General TYLER of the cl-s or ID, the oldest living
graduate. presided There seventy members
present among whom General sherman, -, Cen
cral Greene, % General Findlay, -, GENERAL
Cass 81 General Buckingham, %, General
swords, 20, General NoSies, 81, General
80. Csdy, '29, Broe, % M0rrell 80 Arden 32,
Churchill 80, shepherd 40, Merrill, IS, ingalls,, ~
Viele A. Elliott, 80, Keadrtck, 3d. DOubeda ~.
Carr. 80. Patterson, 81, Hawkins, 81, uaLen %,
Lazellc %, Farragut -. Godfrey, 81
Genera Sherman left the post tonight.