The state herald., 1901-06-07
REBELLION AT WEST POINT

The Warrington Post Says Some Hard
Things of Insipient Oficers.
Since the recent West Point episode
has been closed for the present by the
dismissal of Ave Of the cadets and the
suspension and punishment Of many
others, 1t is interesting to note the at
titude Of the papers published at the
seat of government. Before the action
mentioned the Washington Post said:
The country will await with grave
solicitude the outcome Of the present
ominous situation at West Point.
From all accounts, 1t appears that the
cadets, or majority Of them, are In
open mutiny against the superintend-
ent. Within the past few days, mere
ly because he ordained certain disci-
pline in the case of one Of the cadets
who had committed serious offense.
the whole body of the students rose in
revolt, and even went to the extrem-
ity of training a gun on the superin-
tendent's residence. Moreover, they
behaved In other ways like set Of ir-
responsible hoodlums, and generally
insulted and disgraced the academy Of
which they should, by every obligation
of loyalty and gratitude, be the most
resolute defenders. 1t is now given
men are determined to secure the dis
missal of Superintendent Mills, and
that, accordingly, they are bringing in
fiuence to bear through their repre-
sentatives and senators in Congress"
We have had our misgivings ever
since the close of the congressional In
vestigation of the hazing scandals.
The fact that the upper class men
were then permitted to pose as max
ing gracious concessions to the United
States government. and the further
fact that this lordly condescension
was hailed on all sides as q miracle Of
noble self-abnegation, warned us that
the trouble was not over by any means.
1t seemed to US that. on the contrary,
such overtures should have been rigor-
ously snubbed and the cadets attitude
treated as demonstration Of inso-
lence. The spectacle of the United
States government petting. thanking,
and applauding a lot OF It's own de-
pendents and beneficiaries because
the latter had finally assented to the
laws governing the academy, struck
us as an exhibition OF weakness and
servility which must sooner or later
invoke appropriate punishment. That
punishment now appears to be on the
way. So far from having been reduced
to discipline or improved In any re-
spect by the Investigations already re-
ferred to. the cadets are really more
demoralized and uncomfortable to-day
than they were a year ago. They not
only claim the right to create. or at
least amend to suit themselves, the
laws and regulations relating to the
academy, they take the further step OF
appealing to political influences to Sc
cure. the removal of their superior Of
fcers!
In the face of such a condition.
condition SO grotesque and SO astound-
ing that we can hardly discuss 1t with
patience-there can be no possible op-
portunity for Weighing the merits or
demerits Of Superintendent Mills.
Whether he be efiicient or derelict;
whether he be the man for the place
or q palpable and sorry blunder-the =
secretary Of war has no alternative
save that of upholding him at any
cost. We do not believe that any I'm.
portant men in Congress can be In.
duced to encourage the cadets In the
amazing policy they have adopted. for
to do that would be to destroy forever
the usefulness Of the academy; but
however that may be. the secretary's
course lies plainly defined before him.
He must suppress this impudent re-
bellion II he has to dismiss fourhfths,
or even all. Of the students at West
Point. Better make clean sweep and
begin anew than have the government
run by its wards. In our opinion, the
department could throw out drag
net almost anywhere and capture bet
ter material for the service than West
Point seems to have at its disposal
now.