Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-13

West Point, n. Y, June To-day
was the most eventful one of the whole
year TO cadet life at West Point 1t
marked the graduation of the first
class and the beginning of two months
leave of absence for the third class.
The first notable event of the day was
the arrival Of Secretary of War Taft.
the secretary under escort of the
military staff and detachment of
cavalry was conducted 20 General
Mills quarters where a brief reception
was held. The graduation exercises
were held under Il massive canopy of
canvass in front of the library. The
exercises opened with music by the
academy band followed with prayer
by Chaplain TraverS. General Mills
then introduced General Horace Por
ter. who as president of the board of
visitors, delivered the address to the
graduates. He congratulated the class
upon the success attending its four
years course as cadets and welcomed
the members 70 lhe commissioned
ranks of the army. He said in part:
This hour marks an important
crisis in your lives. A diploma from
this devoted child of the state is the
greatest honor that can be conferred
upon man. About this place clusters
memories that will be cherished as
long as life shall last From yonder
plains is echoed the footballs of your
i!lustrious predecessors. This institu-
ton is the most democratic in the
land. Your Names do not count here,
your fathers name does not count
here, il is your conduct that counts"
Lieut.. General Corbn was next in
truduced and delivered an address
from manuscript.
To-day you cease to be cadets and
become officers 1t is my pleasing duty
to present you to the army-an army
worthy the great republic we love SO
well to call our own. You can conSid-
erer yourselves fortunate i'll becoming
companions and comrades of the Off
GERS and soldiers of that army. Under
the law and articles Of war. you are
the superior officers of every enlisted
man-more than 60, 900 of your country
men.
While the law fixes your rank, you
by your conduct and efforts fix your
standing. This great academy has
equipped you for the race. 1t is for
you to do the running. To be superior
in rank only, you Will find empty pos
session-one that will appeal neither to
you nor the service. You must be su
perior in the routine and details of
the service in barracks as Well as in
battle; IN morals as yell as in man
ners; IN patience. as web a. epdarance:
in endurance as wen Is, in initiative;
in cleanliness; in song; and in good hu-
NOR. Song, story, and hsIrnof are most
becoming. Intelligence, good morals.
and good manners make the gentleman
the gentleman makes the best off
Ger.
In every phase Of the life ahead of
you, strive To be more ready for every
call than any soldier about you. Bear
in mind that. with our soldiers more
than with any Other nan, example is
more effective than precoDt. You a"e
now more than any others into. eSted
in the good name Of the service. 1t -
the conduct of the officers toWar their
men that does more 10 determine the
standing of the army with the people
than any other one thing. The enlist
ed strength of the army is MAZE W.
largely of young men of yniIr own age
intelligent and discriminating to q de-
gree. ready to acknowledge worth and
quick to detect those in whom worth is
lacking"