New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-12
WEST POINTS aFATHER."
A STATUE OF GENERAL THAYER UNVEILED.
AN .ppREss by GENERAL GEORGE W. oUILUM--
Nt.ny ARMY oFFlcERs PREsENT-THE EXERCISES
TUE Static

Thayer superintendent OF the Military Academy from
July 2e 1917 July l, 1885, and the graduation Dali,
everything has been in whir OF excitement today
All day carriages and omnibuses have been running be-
tween Cranston's Hotel and the Point filled with DIS
tncuished strangers and Army officers OF high
and low degree. Among the arrivals at Cranston's
are Professor de Jansen, OF Washington; the
Rev. John Forsyth for many years chaplain at West
Point; A. Van Santyoord OF NewsYorki General ii. A.
Barnum and family, General Thomas Is. Dockery Alex
ander Barring John Bloodgood and T. A. McApine, OF
New-York; Mr.. aud Mrs. E. g. Fuller OF Boston;
ChiefJustice DAILY, Of NewYork; j. b. Moulton, of St.
Louis; General Alexander S. Webb OF NewYOrk; Gen
eral slocum, of Brooklyn; Colonel Gillespie, OF the
Engineers General Stone late chief Of STAFF TO the Khe-
dive Colonel william f. Church, Of The Army and Nory
Journal; Lieutenant Hi, Of the 5th Artillery, and
Thomas Mast, jr.
There are 223 guests at the West Point Hotel to.
day to attend the unveillnG Of the Thsyer
statue or the ball both. Among the guests
at the hotel the Academy grounds are
General William ID. Whppe, Captain and Mrs Green,
of Warrington; Mrs. Pruyn and daughters, OF Albany
Hemau Dowd. of New-YOr,i E. Berna and wife, OF the
United States OF Colombia; Captain o. B. Boyle, Major
Mckee Captain f. L. Hills, General Terry, A. A. Thoyer
OF New-York; General Benjamin Alvord. of Washing
ton; and and Mrs. Frederick Dieman, Of NewYorL
Secretary Lincoln arrived this afternoon, asaute being
fired i'm his honor and Is staying with General Merritt
superintendent of the Academy General Grant IL the
guest of Professor Larned Among the guests at Gram
sons Hotel are l. j. Austen of Newport r. l.. aud W.
Drayton OF South Carolina They graduated from the
Academy fifty years ago In the same class They were
warm friends at the Academy but never saw each other
after their graduation until they met yesterday the
hotel piazza Despite the changes which the years had
wrought their appearance they recognized each other
aud half century vanished they clasped hands with
tears 10 their eyes.
THE ADDRESS OF GENERAL cULLUM.
,,o nvefI,u or he
ton for the graduates piece this afternoon. The
under the auspices OF the Association OF
the Graduates Of the Military Academy. the
address beDg made by General George W.
Cullum. at o'clock. In the chapel The
chapel was filed TO fs utmost capacity by
distinguished assembly, Generals and statesmen prom
ineni business and learned professors JOsted men
and women who are leaders IN the gay world OF society
building. Near the orator OF the DAY sat SectetAry
Lincoln. General Grant and General Merritt Major
Mordeca the senior graduate OF the Academy intro
duced General Culum. A summary OF his address Is
given below
'This year." said the speaker, completes tho first
century OF our National existence on April IL. 1888
Congress issued ts proclamation for the cessation
OF hostntes with the mother country. after
eight years severe struggle and bloody battle"
General Culun then gave The early history OF the Acad
envy showing that Il accomplished very mule except Tor
brief period under tho administration OF Major iona
tbs snnerniepdent In isi7 that tho school really en-
tered upon anbroken existence OF usefulness
az Captan aud Brevet- Major Syvauus Tnayet," Haid
General Cullum "was thirty-two year, OF when
he assumed. July 20. 1917. his responsible rust When
youth Of he became the arDiter OF his own
fortune battling with poverty and adversity under
which less resoute boy would have sueeumbed sub,
segnenfly sustaining himself by school teaching and
buoycd MP by ns innate energy, he found time 10 master
The rud,%e1is OF ,ss Ltn seS mn, SeI @
Rm. In September. 80 20 eredtably enter Darimouth
intellect soon made their mara though such men a. |
George TickuOr aud DR. sbatuck we're his class eQmpet-
ors In bic sophomore year ho had the second honor.
he Greek Grafton and In his senior the yaledicory
assigned him; but, having been appointed cadet,
before commcncemen.day. At the Military Academy |
be was the most brilliant boy In his class, and !
1905. From thar date TIL called 10 the field In lsl2,
he was actively eHpioEed on engineer VT ,erslee n ~
IS here be also toe Adluiant OF the Academy |
OfhceF IN Army woo knew how TO make even |
a musket cartridge. During the war OF lslZll1 be |
and for his distinguished aud neritorious services
was brcvetted major Upon the Termination OF hostl-
ies be ana Colonel hokec were selected - accompany
Commodore Docaiurs expedition to chastlse the Aleer-
Inc pirates who had been preJ ing upon our IN
returned with his mind richly stored with useful knoW-
edge 20 enter upon his new career
A CHANGE FROM DARKNESS TO SUNLIGHT.
Major Thayer lad left West Point in 1903 under the
wise mana cement Of Colonel Williams. Upon his re-
turn" said the speaker "he found the Military Academy
In chaoic condition. without system or regularity In
its administration, any proper harmony among il
rfTgfr
The change from darkness TO sunlight at west font
was most magical. TIE Academy, whca hnd nodded |
through several eepy years OF comparative stagnation
,Vps suddenly metanurphOte1 from dr0Wsy school OF
.ipine students 10 the precocious homage OF great
new CarnOt moved over all educing strength ana sym
Iaetry from atuny and chaos. with heart SOU and
rssO,ntion giving himself rest and utilizing all
within his control he boldly ana undisnnyed entered
upon bis Augean iabors Of educational ref0rmiion'
General Culluin thon vent on 70 show bv what means
Major Tnayer elevated TIE tone and character or tie
Academy aud how quick he was 10 Discover the weak
IN ffa At
ttaudard OF education advanced aud with each
yoync year OF his supenntendency cass class Of
ocsr: Of waon the Nation may be jusily proud was
graduated. In the fiGen years OF his successful ad
July IS lsI7 10 July 1853 he gathered
around nm AN able BODY OF skilled officers who ma
tsriaIly aided him In his Hercnlean task. 49,.
But tic directing mind was the great superintendent
himself ripe scholar acquainted with every science
taught passionaiely fond Of military literature, aud
shguarly gifted for hiseleyated COMMAND 10 TIE dis
charge of his important functions lac broaght eminent
personal Dual caiions, uniting decision "itn courtesy,
for ignorance, strict discipline with pafer
nal admonid0n, unfalterng integrity 10 unniucning
hrmness fidelity 70 his trust aud loyalty 70 his
country, aud with restless energy ana an untirng
industry thai never left anything undDshed or TO the
hazard OF failure. Win such qualities ana accomplish
iaeDls II Is surprising that tno Academy. which lac
and Inferior In rs course OF training should raised
by knowledge Of it's wants aud devotion TO its
eonnry and, n1ge1 BY s fruits not surpassed in the
But "A change for the wOrse came soon after General
Jackson became President. Cadets who had court
fpe Prsidept and in the course Of time Jackson lnc
ceeded in making Thager mere auOmatOn Of power
West Point seeing that no could not continue 10 DO q
target for shafts which daily destroying hs author
ty the Superintendent asked 10 be relieved. His
quest was not granted but in 1888 his resignation rs
was accepted The last class gradu.
uuder his administration was the one 20 which Gen
eral Cullum belonged.
THE CLOSING YEARS OF GENERAL rHAYRRs LPE.
Five years later, when his successor was relieved
Thayer was invited by the Secretary Of War oinsetp
10 resume the superintendency With almost
absolute powers. Tho offer was not accepted.
Upon leaving West Point" General Cuum
said, "Thayer was made member Of the Board OF
ngineers also charged with the planning and
building vi Tie Notifications and other public works In
inc about Boston HatbOr, which, erected by him. will
endure ages models OF engineering skill stand
ards oi economy and stability OF construction These
srduous iabors. which he his whole time except
sick IN Europe occupied hin FOR thirty years.
Al Ila laatf