Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-16
DIPLOMAS ARE
CONFERRED
BY TEDDY
PRESIDENT PRESENTS GRADU-
ATESAT WEST POINT WITH A
SMILE, A. HANDSHAKE AND A
DIPLOMA.

WEST POINT, N. Y.,June 13.-The CEN
tennial celebration of the West Point mil
itary academy was ended yesterday with
presentation of diplomas to the gradual
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 a 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 shaking 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 giving
advice to the cadets:
THE wars conducted by the United
States never have been for conquest Gu
ba is now sister republic and Porto Rico
has more freedom and contentment tEan
ever. The war with Spain was unavoida-
BILE and we came into the possession of the,
Philippines as a result. Our authority
there must be as absolute as our RESPONSE
bility. That we will succeed 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 funda-
mental principal that the military branch
of the government should be subject to
the control of the civil. He told the ga
diets to bear in mind that their education
was by no means compete and that they
could go on learning to be good soldiers
until they retired If lney were lucky
enough to live until the age of 81. The
regular army in time of war, he said, was
a nucleus of a greater organization. in
GLIDING 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.
The secretary told how an old officer in
the late war happened to come under the
command of a young volunteer officer and
yet continued to do his duty without CIV
ing any sign Of the feelings he must have
had as an old and faithful soldier. His
conduct attracted attention and the presi-
dent, said the speaker. picked him out to
lead the American army to Pekin, Gen.
A. r. Chaffee. 1t was because he ruled
his own spirit that the president thought
he could take city.
The president left here yesterday 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. Horace
Porter. who made a deep impression. and
the defense OF the army in different
speeches. Gen. Miles remarks yesterday
were chiefly those of an older to a young
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. General Miles
was loudly cheered and applauded when
he arose to speak.