New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-13
FAREWELL TO WEST POINT.
FINAL EXERCISES AT THE MILITARY
ACADEMY,
SECRETARY PROCTOR PRESENTS THEIR DIpLo-
MAS TO THE GRADUATEs-sPEEcHEs BY
THE SECRETARY, CONGRESSMAN BUR-
ROWS AND FATHER o'BuEN-
VETERANS IN ANNUAL.
2 Il I4Ikh " ~ n y y thL'
SESSION.

VETERANS IN ANNUAL.
SESSION.
West Point, June IL (speciall.-Sixty-four ca"o''
who entered the Military Academy four years ago TO
ceived their diplomas this morning, in the presen'
Of the Secretary Of War, the Board OF VISITORS anu
brilliant company of spectators. Tho siNS nun ' -,
Der of the class, Mr. Corray, was found oe,o'en' :.
Spanish. Major Carson, the secretary OF the Do"iu
Of Visitors has, however, prepared a le'Uer " "o
President which all the members VIII sish' I '1..
mending that he be appointed 10 the Army ~
losing his turn Several Of the graduates ha,o 90
cured special passports, and will spend ueir lea>o'
d. which lasts until september 80, IN EUROPE -s
veteran West Pointers came to the post to witness te
ceremonies Among them were Generals haruin'
George H. Stewart. J, II. Wilson ana fioSu 'oneo'
General George W. Cullum arrived Just a''er 1neS
were over having missed train Ims ai'eri,ooA
IN. aumni held their twenty second annual meeuhg
. in the historic chapel and tonight they ceieordVe
ano,.nt memories at a banquet In the cadets mess
hail. - o
The morning was warm and sunny The marquee
in which the ceremonies took place was pitcHeo vi
the green I'm front the gray library building Inc
sides of tho platform were swathed in an immense
National flag. The cadets, in skirtcd gray tunes
with white trousers white gloves and bayonets. sat
In the space below and about them crowded DeVeS Vi
sisters and sweethcars In ravishing toiles' anu NANNY
forms gllttering with gold aigulettes. In inc i'i'
of the platform behind the white waterpitchers ap
and gold eyeglasses and beside and around him were
prouped as picturesque thrOng often gathers in
n similar space There engineer officers Win
gilttpped and feathery chapeaus, arullerymeh WIFI
red facings cavarymen with yellow pumed helmets
and infantry leaders in white braid Among all these
were interspcrsed eager women's faces with req
sailor hats lace dresses cut low, pulled sleeves and
rows of waving fans In the centre spread
the ample folds of the chapains black s'upiee'
Colonel Wilson, who makes an excellent presiuihs
officer stiled the crowds chatter by rapplng on Tue
table and calling on the Rev. William NJ PostlethWae'
the chaplain, to pray. The audience stood during inc
invocation and Joined in the Lords Prayer that fol
iowed Tho hand whose instruments shone to the
left of the audience played the DoXoogy. Then Con-
pressman us c. Burrows, OF Michigan, member
OF the Board of Visitors stood up in gray morning
suit and delivered without notes, one OF the hsppesu
graduation addresses" ever heard here. secretary
Proctor in a black frock coat, with dangling eye
glass followed with a short but appropriate Speech
his references to General sherman ehciting cheers.
Mr. Burrows and Mr. Proctor both wore the Grand
Army button. The most important ceremony Oh Vne
day began when Colonel Wilson stood up with secre-
tay Proctor at his left and the tall ad,utant' DuSy
with pile Of parchments, at his right
cadet Cosby" called the Colonel
Amid general handclappng the champion OF
the graduating class made his way to the piaV
FORM His gray sleeve was covered Win
gilt stripes, at his vast were red SASH
and sword, and his shake was plumed with tle
black rooster feathers that denote the cadet oicer
Colonel Wilson took the diploma from tle au!udnl anu
handed 1t to Secretary Proctor
"Mr Crosby said the Secretary, smiling, as ne
passed II over TO the cadet the whole country knows
what it means to beat the class at West Pomt' VIC
all congratulate you"
Mr. Crosby bowed and retired.
To Mr.. Sewell, who ran him so closely Tor nrs'
place Secretary Proctor said You ran a gaining
of ite n WIN
titled to share in the honor"
To Mr.. sorley the last on the list OF sixty four.
he said: Mr.. Sorley, you doubtless understand Viae
the officer who holds the left of the line has great
possibilities before him." upon which Mr.. Burrows
declared that the speech was striking ana graceful
and the audience renewed its applause.
The cadets most cheered by their comrades were
Messrs Pierce Donovan and jerks. After the parch-
ments had all been delivered, Father OBrleh' ta'i'
porty and goOd-naurcd, read an address from manu-
script. The band played Hail Columbia" Coohei
Wilson in calling on Father OBrien for the benedc-
on made neat little speech that was well received
God bless the class of 1891" he said May the
life of every member be filled with happiness, sue
cess and prosperity" Ten minutes afterWaTu inc
cadets were line listening TO the reading OF the
list Of officers of the new first class. Ten minutes
after that tho graduates transformed by civilian sack
coats began pouring into the adtutants ONCE III
the headquarters building to receive leave Of absence
and ten minutes later they scurrying down the
hill with valises TO the steamboat and their lady friends
were rumbling away to CranstOn's in the stages.
signing over strings of brass babuttonS and bits OF
black cloth with gilt chevrons..
Mr. Burrows was appointed with Father O'Brien to
address the graduates behalf Of the Board of Wis
itors. He said among other things:
Go therefore to your posts of duty. Take with
you the strict discipline, the high Of honor the
patriotic ardor, the soderly demcanor the love OF
order which this Institution has sought inculcate
and not only treasure them as the priceless Jewels
their ACQUISITION in others Above ALL reverence the
flag of your country the altar of your religion That
YOUR life At morning and evening salute it Wherever
you may be- and as the rising and the setting t OF the
allegiance and perpetual fidelity TO the symbol OF
nations sovereignty Applausel senator Mander,
TO impress here, that the songs Of nation the music
OF military band, should ever be a soldiers pride
and soldiers 1t is said that when an English
band plays God save the Queen" every Englishman
se and ,g s When the band plays M
soldier uncover before the majesty Of those songs
After Mr. Burrows had hnisheh and everybody had
helped out the hearty applause. the band played the
"starSpangled Banner" The cadets recog
n5ed Its appropriateness and rose in body with
bare heads.
ave are honored today said Colonel Wilson, " with
the presence of the Secretary of War; who will pre-
sent to the young gentlemen about to leave the
diplomas they have won."
There was great cheering Mr. Proctor arose and
bowed. He stood with his hand in his breast and re
ferred Occaiionally 70 notes. lie said
Colonel Wilson, cadets, ladies and gentlemen: l an
sure thought occurs TO all Of us today. We mis-:
familiar face and voice from this platform, the face
and voice OF all respected, admired and loved
Ii rarely falls 10 the lot of any TO I'LL large
space In the minds and hearts of his countrymen d
did General Sherman (AppauseJ And i could no
by any elaborate speech say anything better e
YOU young soldiers than simply u commend tht
life of this great soldier ana citizen as ono IL
every way worthy OF study and imitation. His caree
as soldier Is TOO familiar TO you al lot any review
l,,t drnf~a tim Of ia
we may lose sight OF another side Of his character
1t may fairly be said OF him That he was grea
statesman and politician, IN the best sense Of tn
term and in support Of this statement need onl!
refer 10 the mastery manner In which he handles
the many questions which came before him, more o
less relating TO statecraft and politics, and often re
curing immediate acton The soldier is freed by Tn
Character and conditions Of the service from most o
the ordinary political obligations OF free men. Blu
you nevertheless citizens and soveelgns of fire.
country well as soldiers. You are not free. N