New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-14
GOODBYE AT WEST POINT.
FROM CADET TO COMMISSIONED OFFICER.
THE GOVERNMENT OF 'S6 BEGUN-FATIIERLY ADJ
VICE TO THE YOUNG SOLDIERS.

THE GOVERNMENT OF 'S6 BEGUN-fATHERLY AID
VICE TO THE YOUNG SOLDIERS.
WEST PoINr June 13.-Everybody brcathed
sigh Of relief when lie opened his eyes this morning Oh
another of those beautiful days which have made glad
the hearts of the cadets and their friends during the
last two weeks, for rain to-day would have been
especially disastrous, since the commencement eNor
cises held in the open air before the
lib Yesterday stage erected and draped with
the American flag. An awning spread before IT, nut
it wasn't half large CROUCH TO cover the crowd tha' came
70 witness the exercises. At 1918 o'clock the cadets
formed of their barracks the first ciass men
wearing their side only, aud marched to the sland
where the members the Board Of Visitors with their
families and the officers of the post already seated
with Secretary Endicot and Major General David >
Stanley the midst of them General Merritt INTRO
duced General stanley Us ono who would deliver an
address Of welcome into the army to the class Ahe
orator spoke as follows:
Young genemen You have reached the point whore here
lives officers OF the army Tho super ntGni@h y yi
the members of the Academic Board suIroT"us oh o
viii not longer be your sponsors We cNtch' 10 o"
hearty wcicomc the new sphere OF commissioned OH
GERS.
lie gave quite an extended sketch of the history
of the Academy s trials and trbulations from It's first
convention by Washington in 1890 closing with the
usual advice to study hard ana never disgrace tAo name
of an officer aud a gentleman.
ON bclf Of the Board Of Visitors, Governor Ioadly
next addressed the class. calling attention to some
thoughts touching the dignity OF their high position AS
officers OF the law well as OF the army sFetchHS
the Incidents of a robbery by hishwaymln and his
capture by "A constable, he called attention To thelr
almost perfect similarity Yet one was crime the o'hor
Justice. The latter iusiiiabc because IL was u
short cut, violent means OF riShtnS the
wrongs society had suffered from tho criminal
In the same way war was a harsh but direct and at
times necessary method Ii should always be Means
however never an end The soldier rs much as the con
stable was an executor Of Law. Hence the wisdom OF
giving 50 time to the study Of law ~ the academic
course The three great through which this Nation
had passed were all fought decide legal questions
In the last and greatest of them the bcat an"
al,est sons OF the academy. men WHO cared
nothing FOR slavery, found themselves ~
arms one against tho other to settle
question Of constitutional law. ANY one OF the pres
ent class might ind himself some day IN position
where he would have to cou-rue forhims.f the aw ana
the Constitution. The ideal State was ih't Ia which the
solder dd cease TO be citizen aud the ciuzon Vas
ready to become soldier. Ia his closing remarks adj
dressed to the academic board, he referred eoIIcnty to
General Grant.
Secretary Eu0icott was then introduced and made
graceful speech ia tac ,o.rse % which Lc said
Young men 4 the graduating class; am
very happy Pc here and assist your -npcrlten 10
confer the diplomas whi' the authorities docla" you
TO De proficient 10 mi, day Is TO yon one %
pecuMlriucrc, Your ionr years OF discipline AMI see
cu>ou and suaorliuaiIun over and you 70 "uf {"
exercise authority aad to sunrr shat fierce leIi which
beat. upon every one who occupies onlcia. position
success depends moro ulon y'.-,ltr' ,'Au ur'. N'
li- been drilled ihto you. lic true o. yourselves
Ver g. no orc sion ihout its duty, anl 40 huy sn
small as 10 Doe unworthy OF your aticAilon- bll ].
e. rely Nlfilu the In4t 3D.! li-7..il! t'.
!ncaicl NJ yol ire and dedicated to your country yon
may lc called upon on SOM great occasion " y NV'
on yolr lives. bat those 81 yohr friends ana nri-I
.or' yes, }oHr country I"l' Il'' my Hl'- "tt ,.
and hope AMI trust, aua Ano" thht c'cIJ "y Nitnln
..4-f.,t mes NUu
Ihru each graduate walked up aud thc secretary
after which the happy reel -ut returned 9" l -rAi ti
occupied t.c next ton n-u ITS lHlfIH 10 i't ~ 90"
uniuN -nrelt-hu. MAcu iar beif'i','.n "t' l i'Y
uouucpd tlr battalion formed hi lu'ic"ci ''N u" "'
racks wn.r. Do the -uisc Of -oic- huf WIN hearts 'r
iu wildly VITA nope and expectation, thg boys listened
10 The N .r of on .'- Tor the st year lh7 dl.t! BIZ
class furnishing the commissioned o.',Ir' !n'
second the, ,e as cf i ine ioa G conn copan 1%
linen came She farewell scenes one cNu,tlhi graduate
and officer tuo, of MS clapcau nd s'ni Dc N>lh- Co.,. -
tho ara with 1isoi@ Irf. nun, ,ii,l 49,
Younger cad l. tud cl'l1eu'- CLOTHES t"inrl ""l'.'
quick time A. each fr-t clnssmHn lnl-h'd DIS olil,f
he went around 20 shake hands Win l- 'HIn- 4u'H'
stand Ing IN the doorway ~ called the battalion 10 81
tcuton" and amid tie absolute Silence that 'u'ucd san
..1nlnve boys with whatever else A- heart prompted
on tier way tu Nrw-l"Tk and 80 rcieucd supreme.
Tie three j. CHEST honor men lI ia" class, NiHh' "--
a Undergraduate course OF instruction iu the t"iprd'
schoo al W!ct, Point AL OF the class have IiIonAh
uuu September -, before reporting Ior lhoT nc"
duties.
TAirtv.rc folly West Pointers celebrated their relief
from their four years grind and tne somewhat severe
monotony of the bill Of fare affected by the conm's'ry
denarimcut Of that fnous LITTLE academy among the
,,rrta,,, bv a dinner a. BclmOucO- Last evening. II
was entirely spontaneous and informal, but none the
less enjoyable for that