Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-13
BONlPARTE TO GRADUATES
Secretary Of Navy Talks to Glass Of Mid
shipmsn at Annapolis.
NsIsIs tHAf OFFICERS DC etN1LtMtN


ANNAPOIsle. Sept H. - Secretary of
the Navy eBonapsTte today delivered
to eightyfve fnidzhpmen Of the FIRST
class the diplomas which they have
earned by q special summer course in
stead of waiting 70 graduate with their
classmates next February. Secretary Bon
aparte, in his address, said in part:
Young qeHtiemen: You begin today the
work Of your profession; Tor three years
YOU have tried TO learn how to do this
work; with what success the days before
you VIII show. Hereafter you belong to
your profession and in my trespass On
your attention this morning, shall say but
a few words as to what, that profession u.s.
man; TO- say this IN kour case ls not an
ebullition Of snobbishhess, but the stale-
I,I. Of , z matter tier OF Law For each Of you
man, and each of you may be tried and
punished as for a crime, II he fail in this
duty. Some little time since l had no
examining board that that officer. who
had not the sentiments, habits and man
disqualified for promotion.
Now, what Is gentleman? The ques-
ton may, well be asked, for the word is
sometimes much and sometimes little and
often lees than nothing. AS used in the
laws and regulations governing our navy.
It's essential meaning is that you and your
brother officers have duties beyond tho
duties Of others; that you have obligations
SGn not that Sr you S sre fes III
measure Of self-control, a readiness for
self-sacrihce, sensitiveness IN honor
which II might be neither reasonable to ex.
pect nor Charitable to exact of all Of
your fellow citizens.
Must Comman nd Respect.
Moreover. since whatever else a gentle
man may or may not be. he is and is
man entitled to respect; 1T is a part of
your professional duty, part of the serv-
Ice due your country at your hands hands a part G5
FOUR oaths. that as officers you be known
for such simplicity and truth, such mod
as will earn for YOU the respect of good
men. From others, these things may he
demanded by religion or philosophy. from
you they are but the fulhllment OF your
promise; without them. you will not be
gentlemen In that sense wherein every
good officer must also be gentleman;
sion Of arms; you have chosen military
life. Your profession is a school, a lifelong
school of .seif-sserifice and obedience, ana
ness and honor than it is today.
End of war Not in sight.
| l saw not long ago the prediction that
in forty; years war would be lost art rti,,
never become a lost art for l am not
gifted with that confidence IN my. own
on1niscierce which has been vouchsa fed TO
some among my countrymen, but am
quite ready to say that this happy con-
summation will not be attained In forty
years or eighty, or until men have become
| either better or worse, than men.
The old English Chronicle, In noting the
| death of an early Norman king says
piously: May God grant him peace for
he loved peaoett.i The king in question
loved peace so well that he fought dur
| ing well nigh his whole life to get aud
keep it, AS with this medieval sovereign
so Il is with the great nations OF modern
/ times; IL they. love. peace as, after all,
! every wise man does they must night when
| needful and be ready to fight whenever
! needful to get and keep peace founded
on justice and good faith, honorable TO
| themselves and useful to mankind No
4 man loved peace, such as this, more
truly than Geo5gs Washington, ana l,,s none
4 and frequently ythst only adequate prepare
ton for war al; any time and at all time, times
| And in YOU and your comrades. young
gentlemen I greet with confidence those
1 who will see that America enjoys such peace
| and only such peace as Washington could
! wish IL to have. -f