The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-02-07
From the n. Y, Times.
Colored Cadet Minnie.

Colored Cadet Minnie. the gradute Of
Grammar School No 90 in Greenwich
Street, who last year passed the compet-
tive examination for the West Point ca
detship. offered by Congressman Muller,
of the Fifth District, has returned to this
city, having failed to pass the January
examination for advancement. Minnie
is an intelligent, we'll built, and rather
od.looking young fellow, n slight dusky
hue Of his complexion being the only
thing that would suggest that he was not
of the white race. He said to Times
reporter yesterday that he felt confident
that he could have passed in mathemat-
les. the study in which he failed, had he
made any effort to prepare himself for
the examination. He had neglected the
study however, being fairly discouraged
with the uninviting prospect before him
if he remained at the academy He
would have resigned long ago had not
his fellow students of his own race pre-
vailed upon him at the time to abandon
his resolution to leave. The treatment
to which colored students were subjected,
he said, were enough TO sicken the heart
and drown the ambition of any one whose
feelings were at all sensitive If, like
Flipper, the colored graduate, he had
been born in the South, and had been
used TO hardship and ill-treatm ent, he
might have smothered his pain and in
dignation, and remained to complete the
course but, born and brought up, as he
was in the North. and accustomed to
kind treatment and social recognition he
was unable to bear the unprovoked in
suits that were offered him daily In the
public school in this city from which he
had graduated he had associated with
his school fellows freely and as an equal,
but in the academy, from the very mo-
ment he entered he was "cut dead" and
subjected constantly to CALLING ostra-
cism OF the 800 white cadets in the
institution there were but three or four
that would speak to a colored student
outside Of official communication The
others never opened their lips to one ex-
cept to curse or revile him Even when
the few to whom he alluded as being
willing to address colored student, were
seen by their fellows in conversation with
a coloTed cadet, they were demonstrated
with. and every precaution taken to pre-
vent their repeating the offense. The
only relief from this social persecution
was the considerate and gentlemanly
treatment OF the Professors and officers,
who, Minnie said, allowed no distinction
OF race or color to 1ter their bearing
toward any student But notwithstand-
ing the teachers and officers were thus
invariably-kind to him, he could not bear
the grievous annoyances that surrounded
him on all sides, and so. while he ostens-
IDLY yielded to the opportunities of his
friends 10 abandon his resolution to re
sign, he nevertheless made up his mind
TO let his cadetship 20 by default
In speaking of his future intentions
fYl
had been to see President Webb, of the
City College, on several occasions since
his return from the academy, TO ascer-
tain If he could not join the class Of which
he would now have been member had
he not happened to be successful in COM
peting for a cadetship. lie had passed
the examination for admission last year,
but President Webb while expressing his
willingness to admit him at the present
time, had told him that it might be bet
ter for him to wait until the Fall, as he
could then start fresh with a new class,
and not have to undertake the task of
catching up with the present class. Pres
ident Webb had told him. however that
il he thought he could catch up, he might
90 to the college to day, and books would
be issued TO him. lie had not yet lac
said, quite made up his mind whether to
begin now or TO wait until Fall, as Mr.
Webb bad suggested lie felt sure. how
ever that when he did enter the college
he would not enter to be subjected to the
same unjust and unkind treatment he
had experienced at West Point. His
studies there, he said would be prelimi-
nary to a study of law, he being anxious
to become lawyer ultimately if he could
In concluding his story, Minnie inquired
anxiously as to the health of Senator
Morrissey, who, he said, bad although a
perfect stranger, most generously furn-
ished him money with which to procure
a cadet outfit.