The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-11
To the Graduating Glass AT An
napOlis.

To the Graduating CLASS AT An-
napoIis.
In addressing the graduating class
ut the Naval Academy the Commander
in chief handed down II doctrine which
officers of experience cannot but con
denim severely. though duty may com
pei them tn be silent AMI leave the pain.
ful words to men in civil life He is
reported as saying:
Tho idea Of America is to serve hui
mainly
1T ought to he one OF your thoughts
all the. time that YOU have
the point Of view of America with re-
gard to her navy and her army
so far President WILSON perhaps is
merely mistaken The idea Of Amer
lea" is. expressed in her Constitution.
Mr.. WILSON'S duty Is to know that In.
strument. II il simply an imperii.
hence to alter in any manner the sub
stnntiai meaning of the Constitution.
ON the other hand. 1t Is gross offence
to assert an idea exactly opposite ~
the idea Of America"
The "idca of America" about "A navy
and army" maintained by taxes is de-
clared in the eighth section of the first
article of that instrument to be ~
follows: 10 provide for
the common defence and general well
fare of the United States moi that
Of Mexico nor thai of humanity IN
general. President WILSON has sworn
10 "praServa, protect AMI defend the
CONSTITUTIONS"
Very. very different from President
WILSON'S teaching has been that which
these young officers. have had from
their Superiors: in part by prccept hun
chiefly 10y tone and Icy silent example.
According to the teaching at the Naval
Academy. AMI likewise at the Military
Academy. their country ami HOt "hn-
mainly" is what they are to serve.
They are To serve il by Instant AMI
thorough Obedience to orders Also
they are Instructed In the Constitution.
of which the very preamble excludes Al
such designs as those of President WILL
SON. No upright officer will entertain
Mt the worst he will resign from the
service.
The course at The Naval academy IL
too far practical ana technical Ia take
IN much Of history. What these young
Americans have learned of history.
however. has taught them thai the
same sentiments expressed 10y Presi-
dent WILSON have ever been expressed
by men who are regarded a> the pest
Of the human race. and rs having
brought their respective countries INTO
terrible disaster. all under cover of In
/ tended benefit 10 the world. II Is stale
1 talk. this abont giving the blessings
! of liberty" To other nations. None now
can be misled 10y 1t except simple, wei
/ meaning people IN the bnckwools.
/ Mr.. WILSON told the nOvitiate officers
/ about "the things that show the mora
compul sions Of the human conscience,
/ Things that are divorced from force.
Would that he himself could have "eN
ercised self.control'' as lac declared the
boys at Vera Cruz exercised 1t ii,
would then not bave undertaken an net
/ Of war permissible to Congress only
resulting In the death Of nineteen Amer
lean senuen and marines. besides some
hundred or hundreds of MeNicans. EX
uerience shows that "the human con
science" must become enlightened an,
yet thoroughly subjected To the contro
OF law before II sane person can per
nit II To guide his actions. Otlferwiss
the law will usually have 10 lay hoi,
of him ut the last. Conscience withou
law is an india rubber fabric
Mr.. WILSON'S closing words, as re
ported. We're these:
You must bear in mind that
IL is for what Is right and fair fand''
for public welfare that you are ready t
fight. and not merely on the drop of {
hat. or upon some slight punctilo'
We may hope the last expression re
fers 10 the marter of the refused salute
In addition To the express ana formn
apology actually given. hut what ii
the words public welfare" mean ID
they mean the welfare of the tnite'
States" as required by the Constitu
ton: If 80. why leave that unsaid
II not 50. they are lawless and impos
sihla 10 Justify