The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-06-13

Graduating Exercises st West Point
Military Academy.

Graduating Exercises st west Point
Military Academy.
WEST POINT, N. ", June 12.-The
graduation exercises at the Military
Academy were attended by . Large and
brilliant sssemblage.
Congressman Joseph II. Outhwaite o1
Ohio, delivered an address. Secretary OF
War Elkins also made an address, In the
course of which he said: "You are soon
to be officers OF the army Of the United
States, an organization whose past u Nti
tion Of whose members should 90 10
reach perfection In human organization.
Washington was It's first comspanoef-
in-chief, Grant its greatest general. One
helped TO found, the other helped to save
the Republic. In q hundred years tners
have been 10 Presidents Of the uniteo
States elected by the people, nine OF
whom were generals In the army. The
army stood by the cradle OF the Hepup-
lie and nursed into existence the best at
tempt at free government the world mas
yet seen. When threatened with division
and destruction, II came to the rescue
and saved the republic which II had done
80 much to establish. During 2 century
IL has defended the honor OF the nation
in four wars. At times 1t has been the
largest organized army known to the
world, and during its period OF greatest
success was commanded bY general oS-
ucated at West Point.
The army is a delicate machine; to
make 1t what IL IL today we have drawn
on the military usages and science OF
war OF all ages. 1t needs to be well un-
derstood to be managed In whole or In
part. Change 10 not reform, and any re-
form attempted in the army should be
long and carefully considered. The
army, however. is not perfect organiza-
ton; to claim this would be to discount
the centuries and leave you and those
tive to do something better than those
who have gone before you. In the march
Of ages and the progress OF development
In civilization the world gets ready for
results, and these are only reached in
their order. Each age can only attain
the results that fall to IL.
Civilization has not travelled far
enough away from barbarism to 60 for
ward without force, sometimes even to
preserve its own existence. IL seems that
It 10 still necessary, revolving AZ IL may
be, for nations to study the best means
of taking human life on a large scale In
the shortest time. II must be borne In
mind, however, that the military power
never initiates war. The civil power
through blood brings peace.
In choosing the profession OF arms you
became part of that machinery coun-
tries make use Of to keep the peace OF So
ciety, protect the honor of nations and
defend territorial rights. You engage
not only to assist In finding out the best
means Of taking life, but In certain con-
ditions not only to take but even to give
up your own. In entering the army you
turn your back on the chances and OPP
portunities civil life offers to win great
fortune; but you at once secure for your
self an Independence and high social po-
sition, as also relief from the uncertain
ties, anxieties and doubts that too often
follow q business career. Your life In
tho army should be life OF study and
improvement and yeaF aim and best AM
bition should be to make the army bet
ter and more efficient than you found 1t.