The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-13
END OF THE CELEBRATION
CENTENNIAL EXERCISES AT WEST
POINT ACADEMY CONCLUDED.
Graduating Class Presented with Di-
pIOmas by the President-Dick,
Root and Miles Speak.

WEST POINT. n. Y. June l2-The CEN
tennial celebration OF the West Point Mil
starry Academy was ended to-day with the
presentation of diplomas 10 the graduating
class The weather was fine and the cere-
mony took place out OF doors that part
OF the parade grounds known as cavalry
plat" An open tent over the platform had
been erected for the speakers and officials
and standing at the front OF the platform
President Roosevelt presented each new Of
ficer with his diploma. Ii was expected
the President would make "A few remarks.
but he simply shock hands with each
cadet
on the platform besides the President
were Gen. Horace Porter. General Miles.
Sc rotary Root. Secretary Moody, Post
master General Payne the Chinese min
lister. WI Tingfang. Senator Pettus of
Alabama. Senator Quarles of Wisconsin,
Governor Odell the Italian ambassador.
Des Planchez. Generals Corbin. Young,
Schofeld. McCook. Brooke, the Rt. Rev.
Or. Conaty. the academic board of the
academy. Chekib Bey and Congressman
Dick. of Ohio.
Ladies In fashionable summer costume,
the entire cadet corps in uniform and sew
eral hundred visitors occupying chairs on
the lawn under trees. and the clear sky and
beautiful scenery about West Point gave
the exercise a picturesque setting.
The speakers were General Dick for the
board Of visitors. Secretary Root for the
government and General Miles for the
army. General Dick said in part, after CIV
Ing advice 10 the cadets:
The wars conducted by the United
States never have been for conquest Cuba
now is a sister republic and Porto Rico has
more freedom and contentment than ever.
me war with Spain was unavoidable and
we came into the possession or the Philip
pines as a result. Our authority there must
be as absolute as our responsibility That
We VIII succeed glOriously in the work we
have taken up IN the Philippines the world
now knows lie said that West Point
would last as long as the Nation needed an
army.
Secretary Root said II was a fundamental
principle that the military branch OF the
government should be subject 10 the con-
troll OF the civil lie told the cadets TO bear
in mind that their education was not by
any means complete, and that they could
go on learning 10 be good soldiers until
they retired. IL they were lucky enough to
live until the age OF siNty-fOur The reC1l-
lar army la time or war. he said was a
nuc3eus OF a greater organiza ton including
the militia and National Guard. and he ad-
vised the cadets 10 get the good will Of
these bodies and or citizens interested in
the army. The secretary told how an old
oficer IN the late war happened 10 come
under tie command OF a young volunteer
oficer and vet continued TO do his duty
without giving any sign or the feeling ne
must have had as an old and faithful sol
6ier. Ills conduct attracted attention and
the President. said the speaker, picked
him ont 10 lead tho American army to
Peking-Gen. A. r. Chanee. Ii was be-
cause he ruled his own spirit that the Pres
ident thought ne could take city.
General Miles's remarks were chiefly
those OF an older 10 a younger officer. and
referred almost wholly 20 the business Of
war He said there were supreme moments
he soldier. when officer
knows he Is doing just what the enemy
thinks be Is not. and when he feels one
more victory has been added 20 American
glory. General Miles was loudly cheered
and applauded.
The President left this afternoon. The
crowd OF visitors gradually left early in the
afternoon and after ;he President had gone
there were few left on the academy
grounds.