The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-20
MAKE WEST POINT THE BEST OF
SCHOOLS.

Major Richard NJ NenaDle, "i NH5'"i"'
who made Baltimore his home after the
var. was appointed by President Cleve-
land one of the Board Of Visitors at west
Point. He has recently been attending
meeting Of the Board and we find in the
Baltimore Sun the follow ing Interesting
remarks by him upon the conoi'ion OF
that institution:
1T IS clear. from all 7oarces OF infor-
NATION. that the Military Academy mas,
I'm many respects. been greatlV lhpioNsu
IN recent years. The cOmmssaly ucPaIt
ment and food supply. "ow under the o.,
rection OF Major Sturgeon. are as soou
as could be desired. The hospital, no"
under control of Major Tcrney, a Mary
lander, is IN the Dest possible CONDITION.
and the Same may be SAID OF the quarter
masters department. There are number
Of additions and changes to be made
about the buildings.
1.-THE drill OF the cadets IN infantry,
cavalry. and In field ana heavy artillery
has always tCcn est thorough, but the
alli;icn Of advantageous. thorough
gymhastic instruction under competent
instructor and practice In feats OF horse
manship. have improved the physical
training OF the cadets. What is of stiil
more importance is the fact that the dis
cpline is probably less harsh than for
merry. although abundantly severe. The
treatment the cadets receive from their
fellows is certainly less harsh than for
merly.
1T seems TO me that, so far as the in
struction is concerned, West Point has
reached a crisis. The standard OF admis-
sion is low. 1t was fixed early in the cen
fury, when the standard of admission was
low in all of the colleges. Yet IL is expect
ed that West Point graduate will. in
training, be on an equality at least with
the graduates of the best colleges In the
country. These colleges, however. have all
rf.Nr hot
student entering one Of them must be
from one to two years In advance OF
cadet entering West Point.
IF. therefore, the position Of West
Point is 10 be maintained in comparison
with other schools the cadet must accom-
plish i'm four years what student IN
Harvard, Yale. or Princeton has TO ac-
cOmplish in five or six. The attempt is
made 10 do this. The result is that every
thing Is cOmpacted into these tour years
that can be put into them, and the stu
dent is kept at too high a degree OF ten
sion. lie has to rely too much on mem
orzing. and the tendency Of the course
is TO exact too much memorizing and To
make information rather than faculty the
end sought
'Of course IL may be said that the OBJ
lect Is 10 make soldiers. and that the
training necessary TO that end Is different
from that required for civilians But war
fare is becoming more and more scientific.
ana the culture demanded Of the soldier
must be broader and fuller than formerly.
An examination Of the training in the
stan colleges of Europe shows that mil
itary training there. in breadth and thor
oughness Is keeping fully abreast with
the training Of laymen. In a sense in
America west Point is our stan college
In case of war 1t would furnish gen
erais ana stan officers TO our volunteer
armies, and the training should be I'D 10
the best standard anywhere
i saw no one at West Point who did
not think the standard OF admission
should be raised. This done. there will be
remedy Tor any deficiencies In the scope
and nature Of the training"
There is not much probability that this
country will be engaged in war for long
time. II ever. The jingoisis occasionally
raise ripple Of excitement over the
"'Mcnroe doctrine" but the common
sense of the country values peace ana
prosperity too highly to allow this coun-
try to become involved in foreign brawls
that have no concern for II. We are too
strong for any foreign power to think
OF attacking us. and our common sense is
not going to allow us TO make unneces-
sary attacks upon foreigners.
Nevertheless we should keep ourselves
always prepared for war. Ii may befall
us. ana II 1t does VIC want 10 be ready for
IT, The surest ana most certain prepare
ton that We can make tor il is 10 edu-
cate regularly considerable number OF
young men in the most improved arts or
war. both by land and sea, We can al |
ways MI our ranks at once with the pest
material. but good officers cannot be :in- |
proviscd. They must be educated and |
trained 10 their duties. For this reason |
the popular mind has always looked most /
iavorably upon our military ana naval |
schools. The people desire to see both or |
them kept up TO the highest state OF eifi-
cheney.
There IS a great deal OF sound sense
IN what Major Venable says, and we hope
10 see his suggestions put INTO force.
Make West Point and Annapolis the very
best schools of their kind in the world.
We want our soldiers and sailors TO have
lhe very best scientific training that cal
be given TO them.