The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-22
CENTENNIAL OF WEST POINT.
Oldest and Rest Military school -
the World.

Chicago Chronicle May H.
The United States military academy
was 100 years old last Monday. Tho
school seems to have taken no special
notice OF the anniversary. for its rules
require cadets to give their whole atten-
ton to the learning of soidiershlp. and
It's traditions may be summarized I'm thu
words, do your duty and don't talk"
Yet academic discipline might well have
been relaxed, for West Point IL the old
est military school In the world Every
day since II opened the sunrise and sun
set guns have Numbered across the Hud-
son and the cadet guard has been noun
ed. OF course there are military schools
OF older foundation. notably I'm France.
but revolutions. have suspended their ac-
tivities. while West Point has gone on
increasingly with it's work OF training
young men to lead the soldiers of tho
United States.
West Point owes its foundation TO
George Washington. In his annual mes
sage Of 1893 he called attention to tho
need OF military education. and con-
gress provided for cadets In the artillery
and engineering hattailona. In the spring
Of 1890 these cadets were ordered 10 West
Point for instruction. The honor Of sug-
costing the site belongs TO General Kos
ciusko. on May the school was or
gained. and Cadets Joseph g. Swift and
Simon VI. Levy were the FIRST graduates.
Congress paid little attention to the
school until 1910. when President Madi-
son urged it's needs. Provision was then
made for system OF instruction whose
thorouwhness n unsurpassed,
West Point has heen criticised as Gre
ating an aristocracy. when u IL con-
sidersd that the cadets come from fam
lies 81 every variety Of worldly condi-
ton that its rules compel every student
90 stand strictly on his own merits, and
thar the life Of the school il OF the most
rigid and spartan simplicity. the absurd
ity 81 such q charge IN apparent The
fact that during the ciyll war some
West Point graduates went with the xo-
cedinE states has also been made ground
81 ccnsure. Only One-nfth OF the West
Point Officers cast their lot with seees-
sion. while one-han Of thoEs appointed
from clyii life forgot their oathE and
only one senator and three Representa-
tiyes from the seeding states remained
loyal. The surroundings Of tho academy.
with their memories Of the struggle for
Independence. are perpetual lessons In
loyalty, while on the memorial tablet IN
the chapel the blank when stands for
ATnold's maine IL "a constant reminder
of the eternal penalties of treason.
Winfield Seott WAS probably the frat
West Point graduate 10 sin internal
tionAl rcnown. Since then the mau whom
the old school has trained have led our
blue battaliona across the continent. 20
Cuba. Puerto Rico and the PHILIPPINES.
and always with success and honor. In
the nations need splendid officers Rave
sprung from the ranks - civil lie. hut
tho men 81 West Point have always sci
the example ~ soldierly duty and spirit
and have commanded our armies N most
81 their decisive battles. This Is hat
natural for special training II bound 10
coun, In any profession. Had West Point
done nothing but train Grant for the re-
public's necessity 1t would have justified
It's existence.
May glory gid thy honord age, thy sans
e'er worthy be
To guard Thy name With loving care. and,
dying. honor thee
SO runs the old West Point song. ON
a thousand battleheids. from Lunlys
Lane 70 far Luzon. it's sons have an
swered the prayer. May the Oldest MILL
tary school In the world forever continue
to train defenders Of the Stars and
Stripes, now the oldest unchanged flag
in the world and ever inspire them with
that devotion to duty and that loyalty
to country which they have 80 magniii-
Gently eXempliied in the past.