Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-03-10
Gen. J. F. Bell Pays Tribute TO
v. Nj. i. Cadets -


The following dispatch from
Washington under date of March
3rd gives report of the visit OF
the Virginia Military Institute ca
diets to that city to participate In
the inaugural parade incident to
the Induction into office OF Presi-
dept Taft 49, - ~
va striking episode of 'Inaugu-
ration Week today marked the ar
rival in Washington of the bt ttsl-
ion of cadets of the Virginia NIL
itary Institute. They were greet
ed by neny admirers, including
the local alumni. and their precise
alignment and soldierly bearing
excited admiration all along their
march from the railway station to
their quarters in the Masonic
Temple. The cold. pouring rain
put out of question the drill and
cereu onies of welcome which were
to have occurred at 4 O'Clock on
the Mall. =;
"a flag like that borne by the
corps of cadets at toe battle OF
New Marie ct, the gift of Virginia
Military Institute residents OF
New York, was presented to the
CORDS in the large audience
cham Der OF the Masonic Temple.
The battalion was ranged, company
front. around. the walls of the
chamber, and a large crowd OF
spectators saw an incident which
thrilled the audience to extraordi-
nary enthusiasm.
"Former COngressmen John ..
Wise, formerly of Virginia, now OF
New York, and himself Virginia
Military Institute graduate and
mem Der of the battalion which
foup bit at New Market, in bril-
lisnt speech Introduced Gen. j.
franklin Bell, of the Urited Stnles
Amy, hv- presented the dag.
! General Bell stepped 20 front Gear
ing the beautiful silken barrer.
general Bell assured the cadets
that as SoUtherper-=a son OF
! kentucky and Q grundson Of Hir
9inia-he was proud of the vir'
gfnia Military Institute. Refer
ring to the part borne by the ca
dsts at the battle of New Market
On the 18th of May, 1864, be said
twas an incident OF youthful
valor rever equaled, and perhaps
Lever to be equsled, by any td~ca'
tional institution in all history.
General Bell congratulated the
alumni and the young men OF the
corps upon the fame of Virginia
Military Institute, and he said
they maintained her fair name.
"When he entered the United
States Military Academy, at West
Point, thereafter to wear the uni
, form of Uncle Sam, he said ne
went there the son of Southerner
End the nephew of Confederate
soldier who secured him his APP
pointment to West Point. 'When
L, was graduated he continued,
the unfortunate partisan ana
|, sectional feeling which had divided
our country still in a me- sure ex'
listed, When l was South L was
chafPed for wearing a Yankee uni
form end defended the North
when 1 went North, | heard things
which made me defend the South.
. Thank God, now wherever 60,
under the Stars and Stripes,
lave to defend no section of my
, country. 49,.
"The sentiment was greeted with
enthusiastic cheers.
. The Virginia Military lnsti
tute is second TO but one military
school in the country, General Bel
y said, land that is because the lrsl
enjoys the unbounded resources c
the Government of the Unitec
. States, while the resources Of TIT
Virginia Military Institute arr
, limited
y SIN the course of his high tribut'
= to the training, discipline and de
% served excellent reputation of TIT
Institution General Bell said:
1--WE have a way in the arm.
of arriving at classification o
young officers by discussing thei
~ education and training. or course
y we look for the West Point grad
g uate, but when it comes tc rickinI
10 ont one from the othe: West Point
e or Virginia Military Institute, l
~ makes no difference.
i t"This generous sentiment tn
. veteran alumni cheered as tn
81 great II tribute the Virginia Mill
tafy Institute had ever had fror
d a'West Point graduate and dit
= tinguished officer of the army
Concluding, General Bell unfurle
s' the flag, a beautiful banner @
, white silk, on one side of which
y, fine portrait Of George Washing
- ton and on the other the coat
g arms of Virginia.
- NsThe flag was accepted by Ger
&c eral K. w Nichols, superinter
dent of the Institute, in gracef,
y speech, in which he eloquent
~ acknowledged General Bells tr
butte. He ssid that the same al
. naunflnn IN 0nt