The Alaska daily empire., 1917-10-06
ARMY OFFICERS SPEECH
 BREATHES PATRIOTISM


 sage of April End met with instant and almost universal approval through out the country. Congress had been reconvened This was not to be an idle boast or mere indulgence in high sounding phrases. Steps be- gan to be taken immediately to put the purpose of the Government into effect, while France and England, hard pressed on the Western front, turned grateful eyes, with renewed hope in their hearts, toward their new and powerful ally.
 Enthusiasm counts for much, and high resolve prepares people for self sacrifice, but the vast labor of or ganizng, training and equpping a great army, with all it's accessories, embrac ing an almost endless variety of de- tail, calls for a patience in effort, and devotion to duty, not commonly demanded in usual vacations of life.
 The country was not prepared for war True we were far better off than at the outbreak of the Spanish war in 1898. The beneficial effects of that experience and of the later work of the Army in the Philippines and more recently on the Mexican border. have helped much. while the militia of the various states had shared in this last service and had been placed upon a basis to be made readily avail able as a part of the federal forces. Many munition plants had been estab- lished in various parts of the country to supply the nations already at war.
 It has never been the policy of our country to be prepared for war. For years we have chosen to believe that arbitra tion would secure to us peace without dishonor, and, with a protect ing ocean on each side, we gazed with complacency upon the increasing arma- ment of other nations. From this dream we have been awakened. New thoughts are coming into the nations mind with a realization that after all, human nature is much the same the world over, and, that where interests clash and wrongs are committed men will fight, they become dishonored. As Agnes Repplier says: Nothing sacred and dear could have survived upon the earth had men not fought for their women, their homes, their individual honor, and their material life. And while men stay men they must give up their lives when the hour strikes.
 Military service is the most ancient of our public institutions and no free people have ever existed without it. Where the liberties of the people have the one aspiration of the government, the people must be trained and ready to defend these liberties. And that Dem ocracy alone may hope to thrive whose hn nh of ctizenship; whose citizens seek not what they may get out of the State, but rather .Ait themselves to render service to the state.
 It is plea sing and comforting to call to mind at this time some of the words of that great and wise man, and noble character so truly the Fath- CT of His Country, whose brave and undaunted spirit and whose public ut terances charged with paternal soli citude for the future welfare of his country, founded on deep contempla tion and vast knowledge of men and governments, have ever been piration and faithful guide. He was not misled by any illusions as to the character and ambitions of men and of nations He earnestly enjoyed due preparation TOT the ueIenSe ana Sdlely of the country he had done so much to bring into existence a nation honored among the nations of the earth. He stated: That every man of the proper age, and ability of body. is firmly bound, by the social compact, to perform personally, his proportion of military duty for the defense of the State,' and that all men, of the legal military age, should be armed enrolled and held responsible for different de- grees of military service"
 He caused the establishment of the Military Academy at West Point whose watchwords are duty" honor and love of country; words which. in the mad rush for wealth--with growing ease and sense of security seemed at times to have been almost forgotten elsewhere in the country. This institution can not make character. but it can. and does. do much toward shaping and maturing it, and implanting the sense of duty and obligation to country and to ones fellow man This academy is situated in a beautiful and picturesque spot on the banks of the Hudson. 49 miles above the city of New York. sur rounded by the traditions and memories of '76 and of the years of struggle that followed
 It may be of interest to my hearers to know the present authorized strength of the student body. or corps of cadets. at West Point. 1t consists of two from each Congressional District. two from each Territory, four from the Dis trict of Columbia. two from Porto Rico. four from each state at large and eighty from the United States at large twenty of whom shall be from the honor graduates of institutions having officers of the Army as in- structors. These are appointed by the President. upon recommendation of the Congressman Delegate or Senator from the State. and the President is alsc authorized to appoint not to exceed 1S0. Gin the Academy at one time) from the enlisted men of the regular army and national guard between the ages of 19 and 22 years. who have served as enlisted men not less than one year. The maximum number Of cadets now authorized is 1882. The total number of graduates from the establishment of the Academy in 1S0? to 1916. inclusive. is 5601.