The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-22

Haunted now that 70 meet inc requirements
~ new conditions the army must necessarily
be strengthened considerably. That fact. to-
u.,ber with new national inspirations and
so,ioiss the outRrowth of our successful war
ar snain. he's Unexpectedly given the Mill
w.. Icademy at West Point increased impor-
.oaos an adjunct OF the military establish
mi Jus, previous 10 the sudden widening
- Tho publlc's military views rs the outcome
a,,h,t war, there had sprung up q very gen.
81 jmpression. which had penetrated mill
-. circles even. that the Academy had out
.rovn the demand Tor its finished product.
rho extraordinary conditions growing out
=, the civil war having abated gradually 1t was
s,ooyered that West Point was graduating
-o,. cadets than the army was absorbing on
normal basis. Because OF our Increasing
nonulation. and the military impulse gener-
90 nv the civil war. there has been a grow
,nc nressure OF late years for admission tn the
,oojsmv. 40 much so that an examination OF
IN. roster az graduates shows a marked per-
.,n,,oe Of increase In the size OF the classes
Sov annually turned out. Tho average num-
ho,o, graduates since the foundation OF the In
.,,tution at the beginning OF this century has
b.en a fraction over 80 per snnum the average
Tor n series OF ten years past has been 90 per
,lass. or2O graduates per class above the general
.yerape, This has occurred in spite OF the
AFnETtN mHInNhl5 IOb ~ W NthS NJ
p%oard-uithin the law and the regulations. of
.nnr.e-to keep down the limit to the lowest
POSSIBLE minimum.
a result of this increase. at the begin
ming of 1873 there yet remained Bome As OF
tho previous June graduates awaiting assign
ment to the army as Second Lieutenants.
This WAS an excessive number to remain over
an long without assignment. and naturally was
considered a serious matter by the authori-
ties having TO do with tho institution. because
prerious to that time the annual graduates OF
the Academy had found their way into vacan-
eies without much delay. so that against next
graduation day the old slate was generally
viped OF clean. This plethora OF West Point
es had brought to a complete standstil APP
no,ntments into the regular army from civil
IMs and the ranks. as permitted by law and en-
eouraged as a matter Of policy by the military
authorities.
Thus apparently new condition confronted
the Academy. and although but little was open
~ said about the matter. its well-informed
friends uere OF opinion that an appeal must be
made to Congress to somehow relieve the sit
uation by legislation. but no plan OF relief was
formulated or even suggested. Then came
the Spanish war. followed quickly by the I'M
expected Increase in the regular army. calling
for a large number OF additional officers. and
presto. change! The surplus graduates OF 97
were swallowed up at once. besides $50 addi-
tional appointments from civil life and the
ranks and also the June class Of 1893. Fear OF
n redundancy Of graduates is felt no longer in
any quarter, and the screws" applied by the
Academic Board to limit the output may now
be dismissed. There are far moro likely to be
too few than too many graduates.
Even the proposition largely to increase the
number OF West Points graduates under some
regime by which q surplus not needed imme-
diately for the service may 60 into civil ON
ployments until thescall of.their country comes.
looks to the future only. for with a largely in
creased army the supply would be exhausted by
present needs. A plan to extend the advanta-
res Of the institution would undoubtedly be pop
ular and successful. A free education would in
duce large numbers OF lads to apply for admis-
sion, we're the door opened. even II they had no
certainty OF becoming officers upon gradua-
ton. A scheme OF the kind could be formu-
lated. / am positive. which would result in
turning out annually u bundled or more thor-
oughly educated military mon. ready for ser
vice in the emergency OF war. yet who need
not be carried upon the Government payrolls
beyond the day OF their graduation.
West Point has been denounced as a curse
to the country by exasperated controversial
lists. but such wild vaporlngs meet with no
countenance from enlightened mon who are
keenly alive to the necessity of military science
and art and power in times OF national peril.
Education Is always superior TO ignorance. and
10 no walk OF life more conspicuously than in
the military profe 'sion. Most OF the surriv-
ing civilian soldiers and statesmen OF the revo-
luton admitted the necessity and usefulness
of national institution for military education.
II was from the impulse Of the men who had
warred eight years for freedom against Eng
land under great disadvantages that the West
Point Academy had it's origin. One Of the re-
rubIic's greatest heroes. Winfield Scott. not a
West Point graduate. as is popularity supposed.
firmly believed in the efficacy of a technical
military education and was always the friend
Of the Military Academy. Said Gen. Scott In
1890:
| give 1t as my fixed opinion that but for our
graduated cadets the war between the United States
and Mexico might and probably would have lasted
Aome four or FIVE years. with. in its hrst half. more de-
feats than victories falling to our share; whereas in
less than two campaigns We conquered a great coun-
try and a peace without tho loss OF q single battle or
skirmish.
A distinguished civilian statesman. the Hon.
James q Blaine. never a soldier. has left this
estimate Of the military education for purposes
Of war in a discussion OF the civil war in his
Twenty Years Of Congress-:
The value of strict military training was shown
BY the superior prominence attained in proportion
to their numbers by the officers who had been edu-
Gated at the West Point Military Academy. The wis
dom of maintaining that institution was abundantly
indicated by the results OF the war.
Such testimony could be multiplied. There
is practically no disagreement upon the ques-
ton OF the advantages Of military training for
the man who intends to become q soldier.
West Point has already done a great work for
the country, and it's career OF usefulness has
only lust begun. Already some Of the great
est names in our hlstory-weIe it's children.
The events Of the great civil war put the
stamp OF fame and permanence upon 1t. Grant
and Lee, Sherman and Johnston. Sheridan and
Jackson. and Thomas and Bragg. are military
names hat will live forever In American his
tory. Jefferson Davis, tho President of the
southern Confederacy. was also a graduate OF
the Military Academy, These were the most
conspicuous and successful. but the army rolls
Of both North and South TEEN with the names
OF Other brilliant graduates Of the Academy.
is graduates at the close of the war were In
practical direction of military affairs both