The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-26
DIsCIPLINE At WEST POINT.
Is There a Wrong to he Righted9


To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sir: I have
read with great interest the letter upon 'Haz-
ing at West Point" contained in your issue Of
last sunday. Assuming the facts to be as re-
ported and free from eSaRGeration. they indi-
cate a state OF affairs in the great national
school that seems to call for prompt and Wig
orous action on the part OF those charged with
thu duty OF maintaining the discipline OF that
institution. and preserving its good name be-
fore the world.
The great majority Of the American people.
however. feel an affectionate pride in West
Point. Its name has been n synonym for chiv-
alric honor and for tho highest attributes OF
noble young manhood Tho graduates OF the
Military Academy have been received without
question everywhere az men who have been
educated in an atm osphere where things that
are dastardy low and m can cannot possibly
thrive where lie, whether spoken or acted. re-
eeives federation under no circumstances;
where moral courage goes hand in hand with
physical bravery that dares anything; where.
in a WORD. oil that is finest and best in the
American character finds fullest exempliilca-
ton and truest e1ponepts.
But, alas! this revelation dispeis for many Of
usa pleasing Illus. 9 lat 80 have consid-
cred the citadel OF p .'.- would appear. II this
story be true. to DO ,ae abode Of tyrannica
cruelty. OF selfish brutality. OF unmany false
hood aud Of disregard for the plainest obliga-
lions OF military duty. The acts that have been
30 definitely described by your correspondent
are far moro serious than what people gener-
ally understand by "hazing." Most OF us have
heard tho word and think OF it lightly as moth
ing moro than a little youthful fun, a
kind OF horse play that may perhaps
bring discomfort or Temporary mortiica-
ton to its victim, but which he bears
Inn l1t- ila IL nd
laughs over in the retrospect. But the wrongs.
humiliations and tortures inflicted upon the
fourth-class man OF the Point as the letter
specifies. must leave n sting while life lasts.
and to the end OF his days he will hate the men
who forced them upon him. More than this
the perpetrators of these shameful deeds are
the men into whose hands Is to be committed
the unfolding OF the national honor in the
years to follow. and 1t is impossible to over
estimate the deteriorating effect upon their
own characters. and the consequent lowering
OF our high standard which will certainly come
from continued indulgence in mean and cow
ardly actions. The cruel, brutal cadet will
surely be the more cruel. more brutal officer.
No lesson Of history is palmer to read than
that which teaches how the greatness OF Spain
has been sapped and brought to naught by tho
national vice OF cruelty; surely it is not for tho
picked youth OF America to lead the way to IA
like decline.
do not believe that the entire corps OF cadets
approves of hazing as 1t seems to be practced 4;
there must be many among them to whom 1t
10 revolving. Yet to an outsider IL looks as
though an erroneous sense of honor prevails
| among the lads. What they consider LOYALTY to
each other Il noble sentiment in itself leads
them to shield and give countenance to actions
that genuine manhood everywhere must view
with reprobation.
How to end these practices is OF course, a
problem. though scarcely one to be considered
insolube by authorities having almost I'M
limited power. 1t is a sad thing II cadet sentl-
nsls posted in the company streets are not to
be Trusted to do their duty. but, should that
be the case there are other sentnels at the
disposal OF the War Department upon whom
reliance may be placed. Undoubtedly it would
be disgrace to the corps to be placed under
guard OF private soldiers Of the army. but bet
ter that than the reproach which attaches to
''hazing" as now conducted
Drastic and bitter emedies are as necessary
to restore moral tone when lost as they are to
lift the body from sickness to health. and
there should be no hesitation in using them
There Is much senseless clamor in certain
quarters against the increase in the army
made advisable by changed national conditions
and It IL quite sure that there will be no abate-
ment In this so long as the cadets themselves
military establishment as your correspondent
records FRIEND OF WEST POINT
NEW YORK. Aug. %.