Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-16
WEST POINT.

his official report, Gen. Schofeld
saws: The fraudulent character OF
tho outrage was fully demonstrated
within twcnty-four hours OF It's DIS
covery. Indeed the fraud was SO ap-
parent that it could not have possibly
escaped almost immediate detection
The investigation made by COL
Laselle showed to all who knew the
facts and were qualified to Judge,
that there was no ground for even
the suspicion that any other cadet
than Whitaker participated in or had
any knowledge of the outrage.
The report then reviews the pro-
cccdipgs of the Court Of Inquiry III
the Whitaker case, and then the re-
suit. and makes the following re-
marks with regard to the treatment
If colorcd cadets at West Point in
general : Every lawful right ofcolor-
cd cadets has been securely guarded
nv the officers of the academy, and
they have invariably been treated
With great kindness and indulgence.
Their social relations with their
fellow cadets however, have not been
what they appear to have been fed to
expect. Military discipline is not an
effective means Of promoting social
intercourse, or Of overcoming social
prejudice. On thc contrary it en-
forces association of white cadets
with their colorcd companions, to
which they had never been accusto'n-
cd before they came from home, ana
aprHals to have destroyed any dis
position, which before existed to in
dulge in such association.
l' Dolibtlcss this was due in part to
the bad personal character OF some OF
Tie young cdorcd men sent to west
Point, and in part to the natlliai re-
action against IN attempt to govern
social intercourse by military regula-
tons. The Military Academy cannot
be made a favorable place at which
to first Introduce social intercourse
between tic white and black man.
West Point win, at most, only follow
the example Of tile country at large
in this respect. .,r.,f ..,..,r.., -s.l
It does not seem Il reasonable Gx-
pectation that young men Of the race
50 recently emerged from state OF
slavery, could compete successfully
with those who have Inherited
strength gained N many generations
Of freedom, enjoyed by their ances-
tors, and it was an act OF doubtful
kindness to the colored race to force
them into such unequal competition.
The authorities of the military
academy cannot even attempt to es-
tablish social rules different from
those which prevail among tile peo-
ple of the United States whose sons
arc sent to West Point for military
education. The difficulty surround
ing this subject is aggravated by the
somewhat common error of ascribing
it toAnreasonable prejudice against
race or color. z. ... ..r vs. s5aH
The prevailing prejudice is rather
a lust aversion to qualities which the
people of the United States have long
been accustomed to associate with
the state OF slavery and intercourse,
without legal marriage, ana OF winch
color and its various shades are only
external signs that the feeling could
not be removed by the simple act OF
enfranchising the slave. j.. Y..u
1T GILL only be done by The educa-
ton aud moral elevation OF the race.
The great work lms, only been coln-
menced, and it must Of necessity, re-
quirc much time. To send to West
Point for four years competition, a
young man who was borll in slavery,
is to assume that half u generation
has been sufficient to raise colored
man to the social, moral and intellcc-
alal level which the average white
man has reached in several hundred
years. 0ut nn5 !'I ui.1..f '... aa-
As well might Il common farm
horse be entered in four mile race
against the best blood inherited from
d long line Of English racers. The
-....Il 4 I.....l. r, g,l.n ..,,,..,ss