The record-union., 1897-07-13
OF UNITED STATES CADETS.

When a youth is accepted at the An
napolis Naval Academy, he pledges
himself and his guardians pledge for
him that in return for the free edu-
cation, and the special training which
the United States Government binds it
self to give him, he will serve it faith
fully for eight years. unless the Gov
ernment shall of it's own motion choose
to give him leave to enter civic life
again.
Recently at the graduation of the
class of 81 two of the cadets rendered
their designations, forgetful Of their
promise to their Government, or else
assuming that some of the class would
not be needed in the new navy, and
that those who first applied would be
first to secure release. But the Sec
retary of the Navy had his attention
specially drawn to these cases, because
it is usual for all the cadets to go to
sea for two years Immediately upon
graduation.
His inquiry revealed the fact that
the two young men had very flattering
offers in business, and that these offers
were in large part due to the high
scholarship record of the cadets made
in the Government school. Thereupon
the Secretary declined to accept the
designations, and the youths have been
sent to their two years service at sea
on ships of the new navy.
Evidently the Navy Department con-
cluded that it could not afford to set
the example these cases would have
constituted. The Government is not
educating young men for business, but
for the purpose of serving it to its pres
ent need, and to instruct a large num-
Der of men in military and naval mat
ters that will make them specially use
ful to the Government, if, in time of
trial, it needs to call it's citizens to
arms.
There ought to be strict refusal to
permit resignation, because it is true
that a considerable number of young
men are entered at the Government
schools, with no other intention than
OF securing for them a liberal eduea-
tion at the expense of the Government,
that they may be in a position to Sc
cure lucrative employment or positions
in business, for the technical education
secured at West Point and at Annapo-
lis is of the first order; the physical
training lis of the best; the care taken
TO insure the best state of health and
the highest degree of physical vigor is
great.
The thought of an Eastern contempo-
rary is especially pointed when it says
that if, because of oversupply of ca
diets, some are permitted to resign. the
designations should begin always with
the lowest school record for scholar
ship and general capacity. otherwise
the Government will be setting a pre-
ulium upon avoidance of service. This.
however, it seems to us, cuts both
ways. The lad who after a year or
two at the school of the Government
takes distaste to naval life, would
nave but u run MS SGnOIdfS NIP record
down to improve his chances of escape
from duty. The better rule is to keep
all the cadets, and keep on building up
a navy that room may be found for
all Of them. Certainly this should be
the rule until they have served their
two years of sea training after gradu-
alton. 1t may then turn out, as it does
now, that we will have an overplus of
cadets to become ensigns. In such
cases a given number is honorably dis
charged. and the young men are given
$1,000 each for their two years ser
vice at sea.
But the rule, no designations on grad
uation, ought to be the invariabIe and
inevitable one for the cadet to look
forward to. 1t has been suggested by
the New York Times that still bet
ter would be the discovery of some
means for ascertaining whether when a
youth applies for a cadetship. he is sin
cere in the intention to enter the navy