Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-09-13
new M|DD|ES.
Are Given Their Diplomas
by Secretary Bonaparte.
Graduate Ahead Of Glass, Hav-
ing Taken Extra Work.
Sec. Bonaparte Makes Eloquent Address d
Future Naval Heroes.

Annapolis. Md, Sept. 12.-Secretary
OF the Navy Bonaparte today delivered
to S5 midshipment of the First class.
the diplomas which they have earned
by special summer course, instead OF
waiting to graduate with their class
mates next February. Secretary Bona
parte said i'll part:
Young gentlemen: You begin to-
day the work Of your profession; for
three years you have tried to learn how
to do this work; with what success the
days before you will 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 is.
First, it is the profession of a gen
tlenan; to say this in your case is not
an ebuiitiOn of snobbishness but the
statement of Il matter of law. For each
one of you it is a legal duty to behave
as. Il gentleman and each of you may
he tried and punished as for crime
if he fail in this duty. Some little time
since l had no difficulty i'm sustaining
the findings Of en- examining board
that an officer, who had not the senti-
tleman was professionally Disqualified
for promotion. Now what is a gentle
mani The question may well be asked.
for the word is grossly abused; in com
mon usage it means sometimes much
and sometimes little and often less
than nothing. As used i'm the laws and
regulations governing our navy. it's es-
Scntial meaning is that you and your
brother officers have duties beyond the
duties of others; that you have obli
cations which do not rest on Ill mem
hers of this community; that of you are
required a measure Of Self-control. n
readiness for self-sacrifice. a sensitive
ness in honor which il might be Meth
or reasonable to expect nor charitable
{" exact Of all your fellow citizens.
Moreover. since what else a gentleman
may or may not be. he is and is
thought of always and everywhere as
Il man entitled to respect, it is a part
of your professional duty. a part Of the
service due your country at your hands,
a part OF the solemn and eternal obliga-
ton of your oaths, that as officers you
be known for such simplicity and
truth, such modesty of demeanor and
such purity OF life as will earn for you
the respect Of good men. From others.
these things may be demanded by re-
lieion or philosophy; from you they are
but the fultilllnent of your promise,
without them you will not be gentle
men in that sense wherein every good
officer must also be 4 gentleman.
Second. your profession is the pro-
fession Of arms; you have chosen
military life When the President re-
viewed onr fleet, some persons saw, or
affected to see some incOnSruity in
his choice of Labor day for the pur-
pose Why? He saw aligned on the
ships he passed some $4,000 American
citizens, all of them. whether officers
or men, fairly entitled to be called
.workingmen:' why should not such
workingmen pass in review before the
chief officer of our nation or apprOprl-
ately on Labor day as on any other.
or as any other workingmen on any
day? The distinction really lies. not in
the laborS but in the methods and mo-
tives of laborers. Men who serve their
country in arms work not for their
good, but for ours. that they or those
dear to them be better for their toll,
but that she be safe and peaceful and
honored
4 saw not long ago the prediction
that IN 40 years war would be lost
art This sapent deliverance rolled
along in that flood of talk about the
beauties Of peace and the horrors Of
war. which ripples around us just
now, as it has from time to time dur
ing all the history of the civilized
mankind. too often as prelude I"
bloody and disastrous wars. / am not
prepared to say that war will never
become a lost art for | am not gifted
with that confidence in my own con-
science which has been vouchsafed to
some among my countrymen but am
,luite ready to say that this happy con-
summation will not be attained in 40
wears or so or until men have became
either better or worse than men. Mr..
John Stuart Mill thought there might
be a planet wherein two and two made
five. and q day may come when we
shall have no need of policemen or
jails of lawyers or courts. of physi-
clans or nurses or even undertakerS,
when that day comes it will. perhaps,
be time to think whether we could
do without soldiers and sailors, but not
before