New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-12
PART II.
JUN e IL, 1892.
WEST POINT GRADUATES.
CLOSING EXERCISES AT THE ACADEMY
TUE CADETS LISTEN TO WORDS OF WHOLESOME
ADVICE FROM SECRETARY ELKINs AND
coNc p1sSAIAN OI,ruW ATE.
CONGRESSMAN CULTIVATE.

CONGRESSMAN OUTHwAITE
West Point. June LITTLE final day is over the
members 81 the class OF So have burst the o's ''
OF the cadet and have come forth ofhccrs' i"' 80
ary OF War arrived here at 10 80, ana was re'e',u
with a salute of fifteen guns. lie was met al '.'
landing nv co,nrc Wilson and driven ut once to the
space In front Of the library where the hna' er'u"s
EXERCISES were 20 take place. A temporary pa'orm
hod been erected and on II sat Gcneral Schoue'' ''
the Academic Board. When sec'c''r' '' 49,,
taken his seat the platform the mehociS u ",
graduating class marched in under 'hS '".N"N 'P
from tho trees In front of the platform a'' Wv"
ON camp. stools provided for them. crowd oil Spe'a
tors surrounded the place and over all came o'"h
tbe bright sunshine through the trees on tl' s'o'"
glpss below. Secretary Elkns although ne ""i ""'
elled all night to be present AT inc H'"i. rAs
class and deliver 10 the members with his own MINUS
their diplomas looked fresh as II he ho never ca
pcricnccd the inconvenience oi hiRht UNe"''e
t.s,cd NJ the cares OF u political campaign.
The exercises were opened with prayer By thap'""
rostclthwaIteJ who wore the black gown OF DOCTOR
OF divinity. After the prayer the band piaScu .nc
pixology. OUaonel Wilson then introducco te o'"'i
Of the day, Congressman 'Seph II. ou'hWa"c' VI
Ohio a member Of the Board OK Ni''o'S' 'i'' O"'"
waite said In part
Young soldiers: 1t may be said that you have
reached the END of your INST long campaign. lou
have fought already battles and In most OF them
You have won. sometimes You have almost yiedci
10 the dread despair of defeat. AT other uhlss the
thrilling Joy of success has srlrred You on 10 further
victories. some Of you have sAinef greater aiS'ihc-
ton than Others. and lave mcIitcd IT, Promotion
was open 10 all alikc-the fell free from the be-
ginning. Yet there be those among YOU who have not
risen. They need not he discouraged nor chagrih"u
unless they are conscious that they have wan'ohN
wasted the advantages before them. or faiel 10 40
their duty when IL was within their power to nave
done it, Even the exercise Of un1agginS determine
nndd To-
not always win promotion. But in the future VII
be many opportunities t. osc WHO have fallen below
Tho average - retrieve the pas. and possibly outstp
your more honoiei companions OF 10 uE' he Cono,a,
thoughts mere >hEec>i'u p ,'o"I'"l
Angus president of The Board OF NiItor- who hn'
AIMING lie late war IS yon receive the smiles Of
approval and the hand,hake Of Coz speed rom mos
Mo have come hitler 10 Join in the paudit YOU nave
Won. remember that a new era Orens before YOU.
You who have been under he strict neiPne El
commanders Of ana Of american Sldicr nj that
In semi barbarc countries tl' llie nas ~, So
commanders are opprcSsors Of their interiors in rank
But educated ~ yDu have been. carefully and ell,
snlicy ufe Won have doubles lear ed what treatment
should be given 10 those who NAV come unatr So,d
authority But let me remind You again Tat tho tho
ils wSors Of the men ,,c whom nnn nc cs isna.
to danger or lar.silps that IAN Ice ay9.ldi"d.
An officer be strict dSrlpnnr1n vet ,, h,n cn,
tho fagacs Of their marches the ptiyalions OF i'ir
camps and the dangers OF their confilcts IN SUN
way rs to win ihcir heart, forever Then when ,ne
siraln of approaching battle is upon hin ne may
appeal his troop, as ala me sI t6s srncf
Sis men: Sec yor this plume! When 1t advances
follow me. II II falls, avcnse me- but II turn Il"
retreat shoot me-
hfcr Mr. Ouhwaite's speech there was more music
BY the band Colonel Wilson then arose and intro
duced Secretary Elkins. Tie secretary VAS greeted
by enthusiastic applause as he rose to SPEAK III,
address was listened to with the closest attention. ana
was In part follows
Gentlemen OF the graduating class fou are soo'
10 be- officers of OF the United States an o.
ganiznton whose past is fun OF glory ana the "Sp
ration and ambition OF whose members shon'u oc "
reach perfection In human organization. "nsmne'o"
was its first commander chief; Grant Its greatest
general. One helped 10 fouhd the o'"V' "''p'N w
save the Republic.
In 100 years there have been nineteen i1cS'uelH
OF the United states elected bv the people nine OF
whom we're generals In the Army. Tie NrhN S'oou
bv IN, cradle OF the Republic. and nur'ed into cNS'
encc the best attempt at free government TIC "o''u
has vet seen When threatened with division ana
destruction IL came TO The and saved inc i'e
nu,,ic which I, Ind done 50 mnch to establish Dur
ing century II has defended the honor oil inc M
tion in fonr wars. At times 1t has been the iaise'
organized army known TO the world aha o"'"'s 10
period Of greatest success Was commanded Dy Se"'
eral educated ut West Point
The Army is a delicate machine: TO make IT "ha'
Il i to-day we have drawn on the military uSagcs ana
science of war Of all the II needs 10 De WEI"
understood 10 be managed In whole or IN part 'n"7'
Is not reform, and any reform at''np'cd III NV ."'
should be long and carefully considered. Inc arm,
however Is rot a perfect organization TO clalN' "''s
would be to dscont tho centuries and leave You 'u
those who come after yOu without INC I'cn'lsc ~
something b,cr tlidn those who lave gore Del9in wa,
In nc niarh II rs and Tie prostcss 0i drVeiop",v,
in cyili,siln the world gets ready for results. ana
,nese arc o4 aIc , ra i'm, In i , 70 SGo' ' 'S'
civilization has not travelled far enough away from
times even to preserve its own exl'tcnrc IL 500 G
that IL is sil necessary, revolving a. may DC 1
on n arrc scale in The shortest time. 1t must bo
bUnIe I'm mind, however that the military pow.
lie military ends it, and through bio n brings peace
When the civil power Is pros'iaie. whcI thrIc Is no
fnd IL in It's and most efficient form in organized
armies. In choosing the profession Of arms Won De
S tS kssp ana aSf defeS s territorial s rS
engage not only assist III finding ont the best mean;
OF taxing de, but In certain CONDITIONS, TO "Rc IL anu
even 10 give up your own
In entering the Army YOU turn your back on the
chauces and opportunities civil hfc Offers to win a
Independence aud high social position. as also relief
from the uncertainties. anXietes and doubts that too
10 BECOME mloralrcs in your profession. yon have
token bond OF fate asanst ever being drpenae ,,H
and Improvement. and yOur aim and best ambition
Should b. to make the Army better and more efficient
In he great Republic Il Is hoped and lelcved we
arc making substantial progress toward permanent
peace Int this IS not assured. Onr Indian wars. which
have begun with the landing OF The Pilgrims .o are
grown IcSs as civilization has marched west would
no longer exist-it gone forever. There Is now
no frontier In United States except that contiguous
10 fore On territory. -.
Apart from foreign war. the Army promises By rs
mere be of the guarantees of peace
and Older throughout the Nation. The future would
secm 10 hold within 1t GDcli har'slps for yOu ~
Those WHO lave gone before you endured, but II Is
within the possibilities greater ones come 10 yOn
Won may ie called upon 10 bear the flag OF yOnr
country and do duty within the tropics and nearer the
polar regions than any OF your predecessors. Inc
Nag 6oats over territory Of the United States
further west OF san Francisco that san
Tanclsco Is wcs, OF Ncw-Y0rk. and further
north on san FranciscO than Sao Francisco Is
north OF Texas The control Of the waterway across
the isthmrs that IS soon 10 marry the two great
ore,ns and omen ND n new and shorter highway for