New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-21
INDICNITIES HEAPED UPON THE CADETS
A FATHER WHO PEELs A TwrrCHING AT HIS FIN
GERS ENDS.

INDICNIIIES HEAPED UPON lHE CADElc'
A FATHER WHO FEELS A TwrrCuING AT HIS FIN
GERS ENDS
! rome Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: feel exceedingly glad that you are ex-
posin the cadet outrage the Pacific Mail steamship
COMPANY II is a foul subject and needs light and air
Born up0n the coast have always loved the sea- ma my
boys inherit my Ny Oldest son passed through the
Engineering Department OF the Naval Academy ar An
napolis He star boy received there the trea'-
ment and education OF gentleman. and Is now occupy
ing a post Of honor and emoument IN one " or
pational sldps His brother. stout. manly youth
! Of L. had similar predictions. and when
the cadet system OF the Pacific Mail COMPANY was nist
brought my attention. thought Il presented me
opportunity my to obtain thorough Theoretical!
and practical training in seamansp ana chance lot
employnent and promotion II he proved worthy. 80
wrote az, once to the Managing Director at New-Iork
and received courteous reply, ncosing printed slip
in which were made known the moral, intellectual, ana
physical qualifications required the 0utht OF DOORS ihsu-
ments and clothing necessary and the Obligations OF the
Company to give them thorough instruction, to treA
the m as gentlemen, TO impose on them - no mental
. service" TO allow them 10 mess with the officers,
and TO give them remuneration SEQ IN gold for the
first year the second aud $40 II beiievc orthe
third The requirements and outfit were similar to those
Of the Naval Academy and though tile Latter was some
what expensive, it cheerfuly submitted TO- as
believed that would shut out unworthy applicants and
4
son received notice to NewYork and pass exam
nation This proved 10 be success and he was duly
enrolled IA a cadet OF the Company soon official notice
came OF his appointment 10 the TOXIC, ana Win Soi
counsels with fond wishes. with sincere pray ersaAd
with high hopes the lad left his home for his pcrou yet
honorable career as "a sailor
ACCOMPANIED him 10 New-YOrk, and my high hopes for
the boy and my faith in the Company received chill on
finding in the office OF the Company delegation OF cadets
from the Toxic protesting against the n usage they
were receiving board the ship Their complaint was
that they had been kept IN The lower hod o, hr vsse
FOR nearly hours baing out mud ana water inns was
not gng but the boy felt mat he was IN
for the expense OF his outfit mad been incurred ana
he would 20 and try ii anyhow. ON proceeding to the
ship applied the purser 10 designate MS staroO
Re reoneted s TO step into the -rnokin GROOM Of the
cabin until he should have time 10 do So Here left my
son as had to attend To in the city soon after
te captaiu came and seeing NY there in his cadet
1it cme p 10 him and said, Who the deyil yOui'
Az politely he could 10 40 rude salute my son gave
his name and residence and in reor the captain roughly
- We Won have no business in here; get Of
herew AZ il ne dog This first sanitation was the
keynote OF the SUBSEQUENT treatment , .. 49,
The officers n body seemed 10 he opposed 10 me
Whole cadet system. and Systematically united 10
cadets and to break down their spirits degIad' them and
break up the system There was no degradation to which
they not subjected Their chet WORK was that OF
ships scuOn :" the most mental OF all the ships work
gwen them as constant employ ment aud - for
instruction, 1t was utterly lghor,u; IN rrcAing win
ATTITUDES da they ordered To dress ID TIER nee
they appeared they were ordered lor%ar 10
rigging such dirty work as out OF sneir
deNillshLcss, 10 degrade tntln DciOfc cIN"
ruin their fine clothes. or course. perseveung pur-
-it Of this policy worked 10 charm and by tie lime
the shin reached Aspinwal most of them ready
accent the captains generous offer send them home,
which evidently part of his scheme
Now sir, although am preacher or peace ana Tor
bearnnce and try practice what pr211, confess
that when my boy returned and reported the ndignes
TO which he had been subjected my sense OF the outrage
and injustice keen that felt nervous twitchng
my finger ends to get at the throats OF the dasry
COW ards had vented their hatred or system adopted
bv the Company upon these innocent and deuded boys
In conclusion would ask Is there legal redress for
the parents who have had their feelings outraged, vEb
have been put this needless and heavy expense and
whose sons have thus robbed OF their time
lee and had indgny aud abuse heaped upon fo mi
, Yours truly, A A WILLIS.
Pastor OF the West Arch-st. Presbyterian Church Phil
adelphia
Phladelph.d May L. 1870
wish The parents who Interested in THIS mat
ter would communicate with in regard 20
z u.fLll