Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-02-16
THE RECENT mUrIsY AT ANNAPOLIS.

The recent mutiny among the cadets in
the Naval Academy at Annapolis needs to
be clearly understood, especially as in some
quarters where disposition is always
manifest to resist constituted authority,
the battle for the cadets has been taken
up. An order was promulgated under an
Act of Congress, tending TO unity. the
course of study pursued. That necessi.
tated the cadet Engineers and the cadet
Aidshipmen to do some additional and
hard labor for one term that they might
thereafter go forward in common grade.
/ As to the wisdom of the order, for the sake
of argument, it may be admitted there is
some doubt-but it is the law. In its en-
forcemeat student violated disciplinary
regulations and persisted in its course. He
was punished by deprivation of privileges
and reduction from the cadet rank. When
the rebellious cadet appeared at dinner
formation, he was loudly cheered by a
( large number of his fellows, in token Of
their approval Of his conduct and their
contempt for the Superintendent who lad
punished him. This was rank mutiny.
Captain Ramsay had but one course left
open to him, and that was to suppress it.
The cadets refused to admit their error and
were imprisoned by transfer to the train
ing ship Santee, and number were de-
prived of their cadet rank, of all special
privileges, and cadet shops" in which
they took delight, were forbidden. All the
cadet officers thereupon resigned their cadet
rank, and this was properly treated as an
additional act of characterization. The
Secretary Of the Navy and the President
support the Superintendent in his course.
The friends and parents of some of the
cadets, and such newspapers as they have
been able to influence, have taken positions
agains. Captain Ramsay. and have attempt
ed 60 awaken public sympathy for the
mutineer5. There can be no excuse for
such course. If self.denial, self.control,
and respect for authority cannot be incul.
Gated and enforced at the academy, how
viii these young men be fitted for positions
Of trust and command in the navy? The
Naval Academy is not an ordinary institu.
ton of learning, but military school,
where discipline is the foundation stone o.
the fabric. The cadets have no inherent
rights there ; they are pensioners at the
will of the government of the people OF
the United States. The administration a:
Annapolis has never been severe as com.
pared to that of other naval academies of the
world, and this may account for the recent
outbreak. Such regulations have been es.
tablished and enforced as necessity and
the good of the cadets demanded, and none
of these were oppressive. If, now, the
mutinous conduct of these students is to
be condoned, and they are to be upheld in
their rebellion by public sentiment, the
usefulness of the academy is at an end.
The mutinesrs have issued long and i'm.
pudent appeal TO the public, the tone Of
which can only be accounted for by youth
and hot blood. For instance. take this ex.
tract in reference to so much of an order
as referred to the establishment of econ.
drct grades, and hear what these "boys "
have TO sag:
"This might, and no doubt does answer very well
] where appiiHl to blua iaplatq Marines lint
dsts different class being young men possessed
OF honor aud intelligence, and it hardly seems fair
that they should be pisesd level with ignorant
| blue jackets and worthless marines"
II the complaints of the cadets were
well founded, they had remedy in the
form of petitions to the Secretary of the
Navy, gentleman who never fails to hesr
and respond to petition; or they could
have applied to the President himself a;
their chief or, having influential friend;
in Congress, as they all have, they could
have brought the matter before the public
through that channel. In any case they
might have made their grievances known
in a respectful way, devoid of the rebelliouE
spirit. As it is, they have affixed TO them
selves forever the stigma of mutineer,
and have proven their unftnesa for po
sitions OF trust and command. California
can be thankful that she has 10 repre-
sentatives among these young rebels. The
country is to be congratulated that Sscre.
tary Chandler had the courage necessary
to the putting down of characterization,
and to declare that he would enforce dis.
cipline at Annapolis il he had to dismiss
every cadet at the place, and shut up The
Academy until he could recruit new
corps of young men who are willing IN.
regervedly to commit themselves to the
privations and labors of the Academy, il
order that through its discipline as well a;
instruction they may become qualified to
command the naval vessels of the United
| States"