The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-03-15
WEST POINT AND THE COMING CADET

On the banks of noble river, in the
midst of the most picturesque scenery our
land can show, surrounded by wealth of
glorious memories, and made sacred by
thrilling legends of the revolution, stands
the military academy of West Point. A
lovelier spot it would indeed be difficult to
find, one whose situation and associations
are better calculated to teach the young
American idea how to shoot, and how to be
shot. Both the mind and the manners are
here cultivated, and while Vauban Jomiri
are signed due prominence, Chesterfield
and D'Orsay, are by no means forgotten.
Awkward youths from the country speedily
have every remnant of uncouthuess aud
verdancy drilled out of them, become as
straight as their own ram-rods, as unexcep-
tionsbe as their own linen, rs glittering and
gallant as their own swords, and fit eth
er to confront Mars in tented Fl Id or romp
with Cupid in the boudoir of Venus.
1t is not singular that the gentlemen who
receive their education at West Point should
cherish warm affection for tine place, and
guard its honor and reputation with jealous
watchfulness. Nor is it possible, even if it
were desirable, to prevent certain pride
and arIstocracy from gaining foothold there.
Military discipline is used to prepare one
class to control and direct another, always
tends TO the cultivation Of strict etiquette
and those forms and ceremonies of the so
cial code which prevail to the greatest
extent among the more refined and
elevated circles. These peculiarities, or
rather, these natural consequences of West
Point culture, have long been employed by
Rrtful demsgogues as a weapon against the
institution itself, and, during the later years
Of the Radical party, the luminosity thus
manufactured has been deepened and i'll
tensifed By the belief that the graduates of
the academy are not remarkably fond of
those colored troops who covered themselves
with glory and dust in the late war; and,
moreover, are not disposed to affiliate with
Africa on terms Of equality and fraternity.
Senator Sumner never misses an opportuBi
ty to level blow at West Point, and we are
inclined to credit him vita the authorship
of q scheme whose cstensible father is Mr..
Prosser, member of Congress from Tennes
see. Prosser announces that he contem-
plates nominating q negro to a cade.ship
and we sincerely hope Prosser will be as
good as his word With negro in the
Senate, negroes on the bench, negroes III
the Legislature, negroes In camp and court,
negroes everywhere, why should we not
have one sable representative at West Point
Nowhere, perhaps, is 1.-THE prejudice of
caste" more strongly en,renched than there,
nowhere is there fairer opportunity to
push the Fifteenth amendment to its logical
conclusion, and test the practical workings
Of the theory which it embodies, and no.
where will the unfettered genius Of a pro.
gressive race find ampler space to rise and
shine. Let Prosser appoint his black ca
Diet, let him pass the examination if he can
and let the black cadet enter upon his nov;
tiate at once. 1t is safe to predict, how
ever. that the first few month of that cadets
career will be decidedly lively.