Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-12-25


speaker, and, if his life had been spared,
he would have been of great service to his
country.
Military Schools.
It is well enough, indeed it is highly
proper often, to recall the history of the
past, for the benefit of the present time
The suggestion for this article arose after
reading the Kansas University Courier, a
weekly publication issued under the
auspices of the students of the State Uni
versity of Kansas, located at Lawrence, in
that State. For many valuable considera-
lions that college journal proposes that
military education shall be engrafted into
the system of instruction at the State Uni
versity. Reference is made to several
States at this time adopting the policy
recommended, and among them are several
Southern States. Virginia stands out pre-
eminent, because our Military Institute was
the first established by any of the States,
founded upon the course of scientific and
practical instruction taught at West Point.
The fifty years of its history have been a
continuous contribution to high attain
ments, its distinguishing graduates in war
and in peace illustrating both spheres OF
ability and usefulpess-in the field and in
the prosecution of educational and other
civil pursuits.
Associated with the reliance of "Citizen
soldiers for soldierless Republic" to go
NO further in searching the history of this
or any other country than the registers OF
West Point and the Virginia Military In
stitute, the first offspring of the National
Military Academy, the force OF the reason
ing adopted, and that has prevailed in
several of the States of the Union, has
given to Virginia an eminent distinction,
along with the one that has been fostered
by the Nation.
Virginia mad no standing army to which
the graduates of her Institute could be as
signed as commissioned officers. 1h9 an
nual applications, however, which the
records will furnish, made for the prof.
clients in the graduating classes, both as it
relates to the regular and in the applied
scientific schools, have called to other
States scores Of educators who have been
instrumental in establishing State and
community schools, the wisest and the best,
and that reflect the greatest honors upon
the Institute and the Old Commonwealth
that founded it. Virginia opened the way
for the emulation of the other States anG
they are profting by her example,
Apart from the State institutions, nov
10 successful operation in several States
set to work ard directed by graduates O
the Virginia Military Institute, it would
aetonish those who have not observed, Il
see the vast number of classical schools il
Virginia and other States in which profes
sors both in military instruction and tactics
and in the classic and undercourses have
been preferred and chosen from our STATE
school.
AS much as has been said of the scien
tific attachments and culture of those wbt
go forth from cur Institutes as educator
the same can be applied to other profession
ard pursuits. The ministry, the lega
profession, agricultural, finance, and com
merce, and the specialties Of the grea
progress of our county, have called ant
will continue to call talents and attain
ments to the front fiom The balls Of tht
Virginia Military Institute.
Before closing this article, we had minC
to run cur thoughts over the country, anC
call up by name ihe'sors Of Virginia .anC
other STATES, graduates of the Institute
now filing prominent stations in tie ser
vice of the Federal and State ard city,
governments as well as those on the roll
of great usefulness, but that is not called
for at this time, nor would it be appropriate
without the addition of those names tina
sleep in death, but never will cease to liy'
in the affections of their countrymen.
The Virginia Military Institute ha
passed the half century Of its existence
and has made an impression that will liv'
and be cherished IS long as the memories
of the Old Commonwealth endure. Let
be nurtured in time to come, as it ha
been in the past, by the government and il
the affections of the people, that its futur
may be unclouded and as refulgent as 1t
past has been, and that it may continue II
be the bright particular star that has shet
its radiance over other States.
| -~-~-~----
r Ne TZ-r1