The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-13
DIPLOMAS FOR THE NEW ARMY OFFICERS Roosevelt Presents SheepSkinS
 to West Pointers GEN. DICK ONE OF SPEAKERS Says West Point Will Last as Long as the Nation Needs an Army.
 General Miles Was Loudly
 AppIauded as He Arose.
GEN. DICK ONE OF SPEAKERS

West Point, N. r., June 12.-The cen- tennial celebration of the West Point mill itary academy was ended today with the presentation of diplomas to the graduat- ing class
 The weather was fine and the ceremony took place out of doors on that part Of the parade grounds known as Cavalry Plain" An open tent over platform had been erected for the speakers and officials and standing at the front of the platform President Roosevelt presented each new officer with his diploma. The President made no remarks simply shak- ing hands with each cadet.
 The audience, comprising ladies In fash ionable summer costume and the entire cadet corps and several hundred visitors, occupied chairs on the lawn under trees and the clear sky and beautiful scenery about West Point gave the exercises picturesque setting.
 The speakers were General Dick, Of the board of visitors; General Root, for the government, and General Miles, for the army.
 General Dick said in part, after giv- ing advice to the cadets:
 General Dicks Speech.
 "The wars conducted by the United States never have been for conquest, Cuba is now a sister republic and Porto Rico has more freedom an contentment than ever. The war with Spain was un- avoidable and we came into the pos session of the Philippines as result. Our authority there must be as absolute as our responsibility. That we will sue ceed gloriously in the work we have taken up in the Philippines the world now knows"
 He said that West Point would last as long as the nation needed an army. Secretary Root said 1t was a funda- mental principal that the military branch of the government should be subject to the control of the civil. He told the ca- dets to bear in mind that their education was by no means complete and that they could go on learning to be good soldiers until they retired. if they were lucky enough to live until the age of GA. The regular army in time of war, he said, was a nucleus of a greater organization, in cluding the militia and national guard and he advised the cadets to get the good will of these boys and citizens inter ested in the army.
 q Chaffee a Good Soldier. The 6ecpStaIy VOlu HOW dn oio olhSei h the late war happened to come under the command of young volunteer officer and yet continued to do his duty without giv- ing any sign of the feelings he must have had as an old and faithful soldier. His conduct attracted attention and the Pres ident said the speaker. picked him out to lead the American army to Pekin, Gen. A R. Chaffee It was because he ruled his own spirit that the President thought he could take city.
 The President left West Point this af- ternoon on the dispatch boat Dolphin for Oyster Bay. His party left by special train for New York.
 The two most talked of incidents of the celebration are the speech of Gen. Hor- ace Porter who made a deep impression and the defense of the army in different speeches General Miles remarks today were chiefly those of an older to a young CT officer, and referred almost wholly to the business of the war. He said there were supreme moments in the life of a soldier, one when an officer knows he Is doing just what the enemy thinks he is not, and when he feels one more victory has been added to American glory. Gen eral Miles was loudly cheered and ap- plauded when he arose to speak.