New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-06-14

Will be the duty to live with him. teach him.
raise him. the volunteer, for defence. Gentle
men, my experience in lfe-and 1T must be get
ting to be a long one, for my military book was
returned to me the other day-has taught me
that duty, which once thought when 1 was
soldier TO be boring, is in reality not boring at
all-is the salt Of the earth.
Secretary Taft was the last speaker. He said
in part:
1t is a sincere pleasure to have with US the
French Ambassador. One cannot come hero
without feeling q yelling gratitude for that
nation which did so much for US when we needed
q friend so badly. But with all due Difference TO
the distinguished foreign representatives, think
you present a unique interest to an American
audience. because. for nation of nearly ninety
millions now under this government, you repro
sent trust which so small number IN any
other nation does not represent. These ninety
millions look to you trustees OF military skill
and education. who when the emergency arises
are to teach not only the soldiers OF an army
numbering a million, but also the officers, for
we are so constituted that we cannot have
large standing army of officers.
I never such a graduating class without
thinking how fully you have consecrated your
selves to something the extent or Wh1ch you
have not realized, perhaps. You are the soldiers
of a republic, of a people which is essentially
civil. You are therefore consecrated TIC life:
not of command, but of obedience, for you will
always be subordinate to the civil government
By becoming soldiers you have chosen TO remain
poor men all your lives. You are indeed per
rnitted to marry without the consent OF the Sec
rotary of War, but you are not permitted TO
marry except under the SHADOW or a 1uture
which will make the lady who shares 1t with you
a counter of pennies and niekels to pay your
tffes expenses You are in sense-and not IN
4 bad sense-entering caste; you are members
of a body of which the public will not ask that u
An IFS duty but will assume that you do. You
will expect that severity of Judgment for tnat
west Point graduate who disgraces his UNIFORM
which is visited on the woman who loses hef
honor I congratulate you upon entering IRE
the restraints of which are so hard the RESPONSE
hi1ities of such Importance to this great country
Secretary Taft then distributed the diplomas,
shaking each cadet by the hand as he marcheo
RI the platforn This last ceremony is the most
interesting of all to the graduate as ne comes
forward at the call of his name, for his popu-
1arity is attested by the applause OF the auoi
ence and his comrades. The diplomas are ols-
trib1ted with strict reference to the order OF
general merit of the cadets and Dewitt Z. Jones
This wear won the honor of first place. "hiio
Ernest Graves, the football player teoh secolu
.ant To Calvin Titus. the trunpeter' VINO
scaled the walls of Peking and earned MS @p-
continent under fire, belonged the first rank IN
applause. $1,000 ..,r,-
Sherman Miles, the son OF the Ioriher CON-
roan6er In chief. was cordially applauaed' Dut
tba most generous greeting. as is the custom ON
fgJ1 10 the cadet whose name was lasS Oh tno
iiet-sthe goat" is the cadet term Fof MIN N'i0
applause sweIIed to q football eheer