New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-05
THE WFST POINT REBELLION.

And now it is at the West Point Academy
that the authorities are displaying strange
| INSTRUMENTATION, and the students not only
have great difficulty in compelling proper
degree of obedience from their instructors,
but sometimes fail in the attempt. This
unruly tendency on the part of college
faculties and presidents has been observed
before. Evidently it is growing, so much so
that the average of discipline in college
faculty which the students are able to main
tain, even by the strictest exercise of their
authority, seems to be lessening every year.
| If this is to continue, we may see faculties,
| presidents, superintendent and other authori-
ties in institutions of learning growing holder
until they finally throw OF the yoke of the
students altogether, and actually take matters
into their own hands.
| 1t seems that few nights ago a "pleb"
went on sentry duty at West Point for the
first time at a certain lonely spot, and in ac-
cordance with the custom from time immemO-
rial, arrangements were made TO "devil
him. The term is comprehensive one. The
process in this case included surprise by a
large number of cadets dressed IN sheets, who
finally tumbed him down the slope into the
ditch beyond, without any serious injury,
however, though his bayOnet was so bent in
the fall that this led TO the discovery of the
whole affair. One o. the cadets, Hartigan,
had approached dressed like an officer
and after personatiug the officer of the
day to the new and inexperienced cadet,
gave the signal to seize him and hur him into
the ditch. The victim seems to have been
anxious, in the investigation, that followed not
lYtE llx, midi
positive orders from his superOrs, identified
Hartigdn, who was dismissed from the Acad-
envy, after refusing to answer questions about
the matter. Other cadets were sentenced TO
severe punishmenls. The superintendent
high-handed action in interfering with the
refined and innocent amuscments of the cadets
aroused great indignation. Two classes signed
a petition for co1rtsnartial for Hlrh IN, to
which the Superintendent was requested, in
peremptOry manner, to give his " earliest con-
sideraton,n and also "asked,n in the same
manner to forward his recommendation to
Washington by tee graph in order to reach
the President befOre he started West. Gen
eral Merritt instead of com plying with these
plain directions, exhibited the greatest
effrontery, and refused to recommend trial.
Hartigan appealed to the Secretary of War;
and General Merritt has just reported the evil
dence against Hartigan, whose record he says
is q" one OF habitual NEGLECT of the regulations,
apd as a ringleader" Tne Secretary of War,
who is young man and lianle to have his
head turned, has been seduced by General
Merritts example, and not only confirms his
acts but says that if the guilt of any other
cadets can be proved they shall suffer also.
The chain of INSTRUMENTATION Is complete.
But the cadets will assert their authority IN
time. No one kncws what is to happen, but
they say that they will do something"
Nothing exhibits General Merntts character
in a clearer light than the fact, triumphantly
revealed by the cadets, that it is said to be
his ambition to stop hazing at West Point.
This INSCRIPTIONS determination shows what
the cadets have to expect so long as he re-
mains at the head of the institution. II is
well known that "hazing" and "devillng"
are delightful sports to all concerned; that
there is no experience so agreeable 10 a sensl-
tive and hgh-spirited young man as that OF
being "hazed" or "devIlled,' as the case may
be, at the dead of night, by forty or fifty
other sensitive and high-spirited young men
that participation in his manly amusement is
favorable to intellectual development, growth
in courage, courtesy and good breeding, and,
above all. highly conducive to progress in
military discipline.
General Merritt must go.