New-York tribune., 1907-02-17
THE MOTIVE POWER.

To secure these ends the motive power as I
have said, is control, and, will add. reward.
At the period Of adolescence. when character is
plastic and impulse wayward. before the stereo-
type has set control and reward are the essen
tial forces for impressing permanent character
upon young manhood. If the material can be
removed from concentrating impurities, fused
In the furnace Of hard work and kept in the
mould until II has set the best has been done
that education do for character, provided
the mould is a noble one. What West Point
does for its cadets is precisely this: 1t takes
Its youth at the critical period Of growth; 1t
isolstes them completely for nearly four years
from the atmosphere Of commercialSm; Il pro-
vides absorbing employment for both mental
and physical activities: It surrounds them with
exacting responsibilities. high standards and
uncom mpromislng traditions Of honor and In
tegrity, and II demands q rigid accountability
for every moment of their time and every vol
untary action: 1t offers them the inducement
of an honorable career and sut1cient compe-
tence as a reward Of success, and 1t has i'm
perative authority for the enforcement Of its
conditions and restraints.
It is urged by many that the best environ
naent for character development Is free
posure to normal influences and social tempta-
tions. I absolutely dsbeeve it. If 1t is pur-
posed that q Sapling shall grow straight, well
proportioned, healthy and bear abundant. high
grade fruit Of fits kind. it is not stuck at ran
dom In gravel slime and left without prop,
exposed TO strong winds. If this is its culture
there is apt to result distorted tree with small
bitter fruit Keep the adolescent soul clean and
free from temptation as long possible. and
build up character, mind and body in an at
rnosphere as exempt from poison 1t can be
made The full grown then faces life with
all three vitalities vigorous and healthy as
human conditions can assure with right habits
ACQUIRED and personality crystallized.
West Point machinery produces type OF a
man of quality and temper altogether distinct
with habits Of thought and action and views OF
personal responsibility free from the bias Of
either political commercial interests; a subal-
tern officer we'll grounded in the elements OF nll
branches Of the military profession, possessing
character trained to see straight, mind trained
TO think straight; body, physically sound dis
ciplined TO live straight; with high ideas Of per-
sonal integrity and truth; with respect for law
and authority. and habits Of life that clean,
simple and regular
Unlike other institutions OF higher education,
West Point cannot be Indifferent TO the general
performance OF its students. It exacts from
every individual rigid conformity 20 it's standard,
and its minimum standard is proficiency IN
every branch of study taught in its curriculum.
It stands in loco PARENTS not only over the
mental but the moral, physical and official man.
II dominates every phase OF his development.
comes responsible for his physical. social and
Official being There is practically nothing of
his time over which it does not exercise O close
scrutiny and for which 1t does not demand a
rigid accountability. II Is all this that makes q
''West Pointer" and probably other instttu-
ton IN the world has strongly impressed its
stamp upon the whole body OF its alumni as the
have by their diplomas endowed the mass OF
| their graduates with a guarantee 80 universally
| accepted as prima facie evidence OF character
| and ability.
ALL KINDS OF MATERIAL.