Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-06-25
MISSOURI TEACHERS.
Condensed Report of Opening
Address by Col. A. r. Fleet
at the State Association
Meeting at Pertle
Springs.

Springs.
PERTLE SPRINGS, Mo-, June "a
The annual session of the State
Teachers Association which con.
vened here to-day called together
the largest and most enthusiastic
assembly of the States leading edu-
Gators in its history. The meeting
is held in three sections, the general
department being presided over by
Colonel A. F. Fleet, of the Missouri
Military Academy, Mexico, Mo.
Colonel Fleet addressed the as
sociation on the theme "The
Place of the Military School in Our
System of Education.
In his brief, but mastery, out
line of a virtuous and noble educa-
ton Milton includes military edu-
cation as an important part of a
complete and generous culture that
is to fit a man to perform Justly,
skillfullY and magnanimously all the
offices, both public and private, OF
peace and war. and that these ex-
ercises will not only ''inspire them
with gallant and fearless courage"
but tempered with seasonable lect-
ures and precepts viii make them
"hate the cowardice of doing wrong
This view of Milton comes not from
any professional bias, but is the pro-
found Judgment Of a wise man who
in England's civil wars had seen
abundant need for all the military
cultivation he so warmly commends.
Cut off from all the warlike ma.
tions of the earth by the two oceans
east and west, with dolce far mseate
races south of US, and Slavonic races
too far removed Oh the north to be
a real menace, our only apprehen-
sion comes from Great Britain
when we undertake to contest with
her the supremacy of the sea, and
strive not only to regain our lost
commerce, but to feed the world and
supply them with our manufactures,
bringing back our ships laden with
the spoils of all the world. Of
course we should not be allowed to
carry out this policy with simply a
peaceful protest. In the commerce
Of the world the United States has
only one great rival, and although
the same blood flows in the veins of
the two great world-eonquering and
world-colonlzing. nations, each is
selfish, and each bent on having its
own way. With her great Atlantic,
Pacific, Mediterranean, Indian and
Australian lines of steamships-all
under government control and ready
to be turned into transports or ships
of war in twenty days-thirty tn
fifty army corps could be landed up
on our shores, thoroughly equipped
and provisioned. What have we to
meet a possible invasion ? An army
of 5000 men and an unorganized
militia. How shall this mass be
drilled and fitted for war =? West
Point would do much, but what would
the forty Or fifty annual graduates
from West Point accomplish in so
severe a stress ? Or should the pos
sible army be trained by actual field
service and active campaigning +? A
vast and reckless expense. Let it be
done by State military schools and
those established by private enter
prise. For fifty years Virginia has
literally supported her Military In
stitute, made immortal from the fact
that Stonewall Jackson marched
from her walls, and that one-tentl
of all the Confederate armies were
commanded by ier alumni.
But, laying aside possibilities OF
foreign or civil war. what are some
of the advantages of a military edu-
cation !?
1. Prompt and absolute obedi-
ence.
| 2. A high sense Of personal re-
sponsibility.
3. Habits of neatness of person
and dress.
4. System, exactness, order, which
the cadet carries into all his future
life.
5. Strengthening of muscles and
development Of whole physique.
6. A high sense of honor and
truthfulness.
Z. Military methods are effective
business methods.
8. Another idea is that of cour-
tesy and courage. The true soldier
is like Sir Philip Sidney, whose
lofty career suggested high tho'ts
seated in the heart of courtesy
8. Thus lifting the military idea
above the plane of the parade and
pomp and circumstance of war, we
make duty, self-control, justice
courtesy, courage, honor component
parts OF military discipline, and its
effect upon humanity is to strength
EN- the will, refine the manners, ele.
vate the moral nature and develop
a character graceful, robust, eff.
cient. This is the claim of the mil.
itary school in our system of educs'
ton.
Written for the LEDGER.
| A PTCTTTRE