New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-13
DIPLOMAS FOR THE CADETS.
LAST DAY OF THE WEST POINT EXERCISES
HANDED THEIR CERTIFICATES by GENERAL
SHERMAN, WHO GIVES THE YOUNG
sOLDIERs GOOD ADVICE.

EoLDIERs GOOD ADVICE.
Newburg, June 1.-THE final exercises attending
tho graduation OF the first class Of cadets At West
Point were held this morning The sky was black and
there were slight sprlnkles Of rain every few min
utes but over thousand persons met under the trees
IN front of the library where q platform had been
erected and canopy spread Tho graduates had
neon busy all the morning packing mp and settling &C
counts with Treasurer Spurgin. Some OF them had as
mOch as $50 coming To them but the majority
ehonBht they wero fortunate II they were on even
terms with their Uncle sam
NJ 10 O'Clock the rattle OF a drum brought the
cadets out OF the barracks with rush, and the band
came silently over The pla n. At 10 10 ranks ware
formed for the last time and 10 rs the band struck
up Aud Lang Syne7 and led the way 20 the desle
mated place Officers, visitors and others were con.
gregAted at this place. General Sherman Senator
Davis, General Stanley, General Parkes tho super.
intendent Colonel Dawkins, Adjutant Brown land
Chaplain PoSievaIte occupied the seats Of honor.
General sherman In hill uniform. The As.
sembiAgs stood with bowed heads as tho chaplain
ASKED the blessing OF the God OF the nations. Tho
hand played My Country, IT'S Of Thee and the
Zoology and then senator Cushman K Davis OF
the Board OF Visitors, read address 10 the gradual
Ing class. General sherman delivered the diplomas
Whom General sherman he was greeted with
lonscontnuod applause. lie said:
Young Gentlemen Nv the Partially OF your supern.
nhdent he has honored with the privilege delivering
Into your hands the diplomas you have fairly earned
have looked at one Of them. II looks exactly like
l got forty.nne years Now that diploma cer,iGes
that you quarei be officer the United
Army, In branch Of the service and Is uttssted by
the signatures OF your Superintendent ana Academic
Board II IL entitled sb.oute faith and will be received
In all faith wherever N" English lsnguR0e Il known II
u Just the ame mno-the plates the pictures
on it-eXrcp that the h9Vc looks II II had been
through sovero case Of smallpox. Hhughtar) took It
With me- down To FLORIDA, and tho big roscsss they have
down there began n
Now, young gentlemen, after ron get homo and have
had llttle vacation, which will slip by pretty fast
tell will another parchment and that will
b" your commission which should read carefully AMI
remember that Il Is pledge your part that you Will
serve with fidelity 70 N" Government Hue while
after you will military post and perhaps
be appointed quarierna.t"r and commsaty. Then
You have sharp and b. niT when your Superior
around and sHks how dollars you have in your
cssh.boN how many tenpenny nails you csn put 10
k"g That than any Of you tell, think.
but how IL 81 moro importance than como
the things you study the blackboard you have
for everything put into your carc.
There u IN old morse buried down South
shere that never ssw, that had to pay for.
General Stanley herr and have been all
through tho mill. boys. Tho Army 10 merely
s.hoo, but man may a Lesson when he Is
past seventy we'll ~ he seventeen, although
the young mans mcmo'y Il better. Whom left here
forty Yeas ago. n Just such peaceful tim" A.
having now AMI were complaining OF the slow
ness Of promotion but only short tim" sftsr yc wcrn
ordered to Florida night Indiana Then came the Mex
lean War and In 1891 the great RSbellon 1t ~ hard
Tor me 70 believe uOt John setFwick hero, but l
know he Was Just like Thomas sheridan. Reynolds and
other. We had IcsI It oil by h'rd knocks Don't
impatient. boys.
General sherman told Of what tho Army had done
In tho past and sad his belief that this
continent from Que ouh the other, Is destined 70
Le nlled with a rrhnCJ yirUOuE and Intelligent p"opNi
each OF whom shall NOT be Vcry nch, bur altogether
an Industrious anal happy people. lie thought eight
hours ought be fhr measure Of days WORK,
then eight hours for pleasure going 70 tho theatre the
circus ard thr bali games, and eight bonrS more for
sleap. In conclusion he said the american nag was
the emblem OF the best country, AMI The test Govern
nent on the FACE OF ihe earth, and hc urRrd IN"
alrts BE- tTlIs 10 inc hag a. the needle 10 the
pole.
Tue General then handed tho diplomas 70 the boys
aud said A frw kind words TO each The cAicts
marched back 10 tho barArkS to the music OF " Tho
GirI I lSfl Behind Me and hete. when drawn up IN
limo tho ahjutau' read The final onier, giving the
radu aieS leave Of absence uni september !, and the
ihrl class leave al alrrnCr until The Same time.