The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-08-22

it." which is the one thing that the
service never does
The "plebe's" origin has nothing to
do with the case, except that distin-
guished origin is an exceptionally in
viting mark. The son of a famous gen.
eral-young Grant, Sheridan and Nc
Arthur, at present cadets, can testify TO
this--will be required TO explain at
length why he Is a greater man than
his father, and the son Of millionaire
to explain why he ought to do his
drill with a carriage and pair. Be-
hind this there Is the principle that
no one At the Point Is any bigger than
his merit marks, and no amount OF
merit marks permit him to give him
self airs, II for no other reason than
that las is always the case in the army
there Is somebody above him.
In fact, the custom Is a most thorough
expression of that national sentiment
and method which Judge man by what
he Is There is no jealousy OF the class
mate who rises by merit. At the men,
tion at the alumni meeting of the name
OF Brigadier General Franklin Bell, a
first lieutenant of cavalry at the outset
OF the Spanish war, men who had once
ranked him cheered with whole
heart They knew the man and knew
that he bad worthily won hisstar. The
most unpopular brigadiership OF recent
times was not that of either Wood or
Funston. non graduates, but Of a grad
uate who was honored for a name and
not for the work he had done. Work
That Is the gospel of West Point.
Once he is through the four years.
drill, the cadets pride in it begins and
grows from year to year., until it is a
memory more precious than all his
honors. At eighty 1t surpasses de-
scription by an outsider, who can only
refer you to Gen. Longstreet and 9TH
ers. The alumni, as is the custom at
commencement time, slept in the cadet
quarters, each sharing his old room
with his old mate where possible. AT
2 q. M, when. one who was past seventy
was still playing boyish pranks, he was
asked by a younger man If he did not
intend TO take any sleep.
"Sleep" he replied, "sleep now:
III have time enough TO sleep during
West Points next centennial"
There is a cause for West Point to
rejoice over more than the lapse of a
hundred years Of existence. Its ami.
versary also celebrates, for one thing,
the establishment of the War College,
which is q supplement to the academy
Of the same kind as postgraduate
course to Q physician who intends tc
become q specialist; for another thing
the appropriation of s6,5Oo, 900 for new
buildings and improvements which
have long been needed.
No investment has brought the ma.
tion better returns for the money 1t has
spent than the academy. Gen. Scott
said that had 1t not been for the West
Point graduates the Mexican war would
have lasted four or five years longer
In the civil war all Of the great com
manders and most OF the important
commanders were West Pointers. Mer
with q natural talent for war may be
'found" at the academy, but history
provesrhat many more pass. The rol
OF those who have left the army anG
have risen to high places in civil life
compares favorably with that OF an,
other college, and proves that II there
Is never another war we cannot have
too many West Point graduates. 1t /.
worth the effort to be an alumnus o
the same. institutions Grant, Lee
Sherman, Sheridan, Jackson, Hancock
Humphreys, Sedgwick and Mcpherson