Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-03

in battle, to speedy termination, which
would have certainly lasted two years
longer had been deprived of the services
of those trained officers"
One of the objections made against West
Point was its expense of maintenance. "
all should know how expensive domestic
WHY is; a foreign war far exceeds 1t in out
lay, especially with a country though not
distant, yet without harbors or means OF
communication, as existed during our war
with Mexico.
If General SCOTS statement be true that
the services of the graduates OF West Point
shortened the period of this war two years,
closing with the treaty OF Guadaloupe
Hidalgo, the stipulations OF which near
ly doubled our area in territory
yielding untold millions of wealth to our
country and people. repaying the money
appropriated for the support OF the acade-
my more than one tn, U sand fold.
Coming down to the warof the rebellion,
in which we or our fathers took a part it
would be hard to say what the result
would have been had West Point educa-
ton been eliminated as a factor from the
conflict.
Those of you who are familiar with the
work of organization in 1861 can under
stand with what anxiety and faith the new
men looked for care and direction 10 the
man who had been educated as a soldier.
After our first Bull Run defeat. the or
ganization of that glorious old army OF
the Potomac by Gen Geo. b. Mcclellan,
is an evidence of the usefulness of military
education. All Will admit that from newly
mustered regiments and batteries one OF
the best armies known TO the world was
soon organized, equipped and placed IN the
field. The same conditions obtained In
the armies CT the west, in fact with every
army that was placed in the field.
Can any American representative or cit
zen of this republic have become so sordid
as to compare the money expended for the
education of L. s. Grant at West Point 10
the unparalleled service rendered his
country in war?
| have a list of stars here in numbers
sufficient to make firmament-ail West
Point mems
Listen to the roll call:
Grant, Sherman. Sheridan, Mcclellan,
Burnside, Hooker, Meade, Thomas, How
Schofield, Stanley, Heintzleman, Hum
phreys, French, John +. Reynolds, Slocum,
Warren, Mansfield, Reno, Richardson,
Wright. Cook Griffin, Sykes, Gibbon,
Ayers, Badly Smith, Ord, Weitzel, Getty,
Hunt, Casey, Webb, Brooks, Burns, ID. a.
Russell, Upton, Woods, Hazen. Franklin,
Wood. johnson, Baird, Brannon, John j.
1.
ord, Pleasonton. Averill Mer-
rift, Custer, J. H Wilson, w. r. Terrill
and hundreds of other commanding regi-
ments and batteries throughout the army
for the Union.
Crossing Mason's and Dixon's line
whom did we encounter there during the
war?
Robert p Lee, Joseph F. Johnson, Al
bert Sidney Johnston, Bragg, Beaure-
garde Stonewall jackson, Longstreet, A.
z. Hill, Hardee. Polk, Hood, ID. III. Hill,
Ewell, Early, J. Z, b. Stuart, Wheeler,
Fitz Hugh Lee Wilcox, Buckner Pickett
Garnett, Pemberton. Gardner, f. X.
Smith, Magruder, and many other able
and earnest men. Even Jefferson Davis
was graduate of West point.
At this period of our country's history
what can we say of these erring brothers,
all West Pointers? They were capable
men, clean-handed, pure in character, EN-
bellishing the society surrounding them
No one at this time can deny that their
efforts were sadly nlisdirected. That they
did their utmost TO win Tor the cause they
espoused none can doubt; had they sue
ceeded, the brightest, the freest and best
government the world has known would
have persisted. But, God be praised they
| did not succeed, and here we are today, 8
nation recovered from the blight of war
uneGualed in progress, prosperity and IN
| telligence.
In the endeavor to strike the just bal
! ance with West Point as a factor in the
war we meet with many things to regret
| but far more abundant are the blessings
we encounter to make US proud of our his
| tory as people, enjoying the great salts
| faction that whatever of reverse sustained
| by the union armies it was accomplished
| by Americans, by our own people: there
was no foreign foe to Cypress us, or TO be
present to enjoy our temporary mlsfor-
| tunes.
What have said of the worth or service
| of West Point men in the war was not fol-
| the purpose of making contrast with The
great and glorious volunteer army, Off
cered by men as intelligent and brave as
ever drew blades upon any field. These
| volunteer armies, under the care and dl
rection of West Point men, soon became
veteran armies When they were at then
best they would compare more than favor
! ably with the veteran armies of the world
These armies were the pride of our coun
try in war, and i'll memory should be sc
now, and woe be unto the stay-at-homes
who now attempt to belittle the services
of the loyal soldier in war, whether he be
organizing victory out of defeat at Antie
tam, or, whilst pouring out his blood, was
adding new lustre and glory TO orr arms
at Gettysburg; or with knapsack and rifle
slung he trudges along through the rain
and cold of winter, or through the heat
and dust Of summer, that he may reach
the point of battle, and, if needs be, sacri
fee life itself that his country might live
Loyal soldier of this war, be you West
Point man, volunteer or regular, your
country's glory is your heritage, no one
can defraud you of that. Continue loya
and true to principal, that your example
in war, and living in peace, may be emu
lated by the generations 10 come, and 9
just God will bless you for it.
Capt. Geo. 7. Anthony was booked fol
''the press in the war;" but being absent
Gov. Martin assumed an inprompter role
and spoke concerning the great good the
press did during the war in formulating
public opinion and thus maintaining tbs
union He inspersed some apt stories anC
made his response very interesting.
THE PRIVATE SOLDIER.
JUDGE w. p. CAMPBELL
Mr. Commander and gentlemen:
To be permitted to address an assemb
lage so distinguished by rank and charac
ter is an honor seldom accorded TO one whC
was but an honorable soldier in the ranks
and compliment which Iduly appreciate
and take as good natured trib to th'
private soldier, not undeserved. save il
the person of his representative anC
spokesman.
have Olsen wondered how and why q
soldier without rank or title, happened Il
be called a private / have no difficulty
in catching on TO the idea of a private
way, or private apartment, or private pros
perity, or even private citizen.
IN these and other uses OF the term pr