The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-13

cial Pacific Cable Company are entirely
responsible. and as they promise TO have a
cable in operation 10 Hawaii by November
1902. and to Manila during the year 1904
the government can well afford 10 wait.
THE WEST POINT CENTENNIAL.
The centennial celebration Of the estab-
lishment OF the United States Military
Academy at West Point was an event of
national interest There are few educa-
tional institutions in the country whose
origin dates back as far. and there is none
to which the country owes more than It
does to the one At West Point. Not to
speak of its invaluable service in supplying
the Nation with educated military officers,
it has contributed its full share toward
establishing and maintaining a high stand
ard OF patriotism and citizenship among
those Of its graduates who have retired to
private life. 1t is not the least Of Wash
ingtons claims to national gratitude that
he was one of the first to foresee the ad-
vantages of such institution. He called
the attention of Congress TO the matter In
1885, and in 1896 he recommended the es-
Enlistment Of the academy. In his annual
message of that year. his last. he said:
The institution of a military academy is
recommended by cogent reasons. However
pacific the general policy OF a nation may
be, II ought never to be without an ade-
quate stock of military knowledge for
emergencies. The first would impair the
energy of its character, and both would
hazard its safety or expose ii TO greater
evils when war could not be avoided; be,
sides that war might often not depend
upon its own choice. In proportion as the
observance of pacific maxims might exempt
a nation from the necessity of practicinS
the rules OF the military art ought to be
its care in preserving and transmitting, by
proper establishments, the knowledge OF
that art. This ought to be a serious care
of every government, and for this purpose
an academy where regular course OF IN
structiOn is given is an obvious expedient
which different nations have successfully
employed
In 1902 these suggestions took root in the
establishment of the military school at
West Point, which has proved of such i'm
mense value to the country. In his very
practical and appreciative address at the
exercises on Wednesday President Roose-
welt said: During the century no other
educational institution in the land has con-
tributed as many names as West Point
has contributed TO the honor roll of the Ma
tons citizens" He might have added that
no other educational institution has con-
tributed in a larger degree to the develop
ment and advancement of the national
character in private life.
The centennial exercises of Tuesday and
Wednesday embraced other interesting fea-
lures besides the stirring address of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. Among others, Colonel
McClernand. of the class of 1870 and a
veteran of the Spanish-American war. said:
You may pick flaws. gentlemen, here and
there; army OF 5000 men would not be
human If that were not possible. but those
of US who have served in the Philip
pines know we'll the grand and good work
accomplished by our army. We know it
has not only conducted successfully one
of the most trying guerrilla wars known to
the annals Of history, but that while doing
this ii laid the foundations for civil gov
eminent in that country, and the time will
come when the people of the Philippine
islands, living under the flag planted by our
regulars and volunteers, all honor to both.
will bless the day when the first American
soldier set his foot Luzon to engage in
that long, trying and often disheartenng
conflict which i'm the end will give the Fill
pinos good government and make them a
happy, prosperous and self-respecting race.
Gen. E. p. Alexander, of the class of 81.
and Confederate veteran. eulogized the
bravery of the Confederate soldiers and
rejoiced in preserved Union, saying:
Whose vision is now so dull that he does
not recognize the blessing il is TO himself
and 10 his children 10 live in an undivided
country? Who would to-day relegate his
own State to the position it would hold In
the world were II declared a sovereign, as
are the States of Central and South Amer
! lea? To ask these questions is to answer
/ them. And the answer is the acknowled
| ment that it was best for the South that
| the stake for which we fought so desper-
/ ately ii now offered us as a gift we
would reject as We would a proposition of
suicide.
1t is a remarkable tribute to the justice of
the Northern cause to find an officer who
fought on the other side admitting that for
them to have succeeded would have been
their ruin. OF course, there are many 9TH
ers of the same way OF thinking. 1t takes
brave soldier to stand up before an in
tenigent audience and admit he is glad he
was whipped. General Horace Porter, an
| other graduate of the academy and now
United States ambassador TO France told
the cadets that in talking with officers OF
the military schools in Europe, when he
had told them the requirements of cadet
life here. the long term of service, the
cxacting course of study. the number OF
drills. the few hours of recreation, the one
furlough only in the four long years. those
| officers had been free to confess that the
youth of their lands could never be brought
TO undergo it, This shows that American
supremacy begins early in life
The centennial celebration at West Point
was an event of national interest The in.
stitution is one in which every American
citizen is stakeholder and CT which al
have common cause to be proud. Happily
the Nation is not entirely dependent OF
West Point for furnishing capable military
officers, but ii should be a cause of pride
to feel that we have the best military
/ school in the world.
PROTECTION IN GREAT BRITAIN.
Several years ago Mr.. Chamberlain. sec.