New-York tribune., 1902-06-13
DIPLOMAS FOR CADETS.
PRESIDENT GREETs WEST POINT GRAD
uATFs-GENEaAL MILEsS SPEECH

West Point " y June 12.-West POINT
centennial celebration wac ended TO-DAY "i'h
the presentation OF diplomas TO the graduating
class The weather was fine. snd the ceremony
took place out Of doors Cavalry Plain. An
anen tent oyer a r,istfarrn had been erected for
the speakers and officials, and. standing at the
front of the platform President Roosevelt pre-
scented to each new officer his diploma
It was expected that the President would
make a few remarks but he simply shook hands
with each cadet on The platform besides the
President were General Horace Porter. Generai
Miles Secretary Root Secretary Moody, POST
master General Payne. the Chinese Minister
WI Ting-fang; Senator Pettus, OF Alabama
Senator Quarles of Wisconsin: Governor oaeii'
the Italian Ambassador. Mr.. Des Planehes, Gen
erals Young, Schofield, McCook, Brooke the
Right Rev DR.. Conaty. the academic board OF
the Academy. Chekib Bey, General Corbin, Mr.
Pulido and General Dick of Ohio
The audience, comprising the entire cadet
corps and several hundred visitors, occupied
chairs on the lawn under the trees
The speakers were General Dick for the board
of visitors Secretary Root for the government
end 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. Cuba is a sister
Republic. and Porto Rico has more freedom
and contentnent than ever. The war with
Spain unavoidable. and we came into the
possession of the Philippines as q result. our
authority there must be as absolute as our re-
sponsibility That we will succeed gloriously
in the work we have taken up in the Philippines
the world now knows.
He added that West Point would last as long
as the nation needed an army.
Secretary Root said it was a fundamental
principle that the military branch Of the gov
eminent should be subject TO the control of the
civil. He told the cadets TO bear in mind that
their education was not by any means COM
plete, and that they could go on learning to be
good soldiers until their retired If they were
lucky enough to i've until the age of sixty-four-
The regular army, he said, in time of war was
nucleus Of greater organization including
the militia and National Guard. and he advised
The cadets to get the goodwill of these bodies
and Of citizens interested 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 giving any sign OF the
feelings he must have had as an cid and faith
full Soldier. His conduct attracted attention,
and the President said the speaker. picked
him out to lead the American army in Peking.
General A. 2. Chaffee. L was because he ruled
his own Spirit that the President thought ne
could take city.
The President started for Washington in the
afternoon.
The two most talked of incidents of the cele-
bratfon the speech Of Generai horace foi-
ter which made a deep impression, and the 0e-
fence of the army in different speeches. Gen
eral Miles's remarks to-day were chiefly those
of an older TO Younger officers. and referred
almost wholly 10 the business of war. He SAID
there were supreme moments in the HE OF
soldier one when officer knows he is DONG
Just what the enemy thinks he is not ana "Ileil @
American glory. General Miles was louulS
cheered when he rose TO speak