Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-05-17
lancaster fntellige1lrer.
MONDAY EVENING, NAY II, 1880.
The Negro Cadet.

The Negro Cadet.
The dramatic developments of the
negro cadet trial on Saturday hardly
leave room for the most pronounced ne
grophobist to dispute that Whitaker was
theauthor of the "outrage" on himself.
This was: evident enough, beforehand,
upon the general features of the case.
There was absolutely nothing to point to
anyone else as the negro's assailant
there was much to implicate him. The
fact of the extreme lightness of his
wounds, his failurel to cry out, and the
calm state of his pulse when found,
added to the obvious motive he had for
the trick, sufficiently pointed him out as
its author. The confirmation of this
deduction from the facts afforded
by the combined judgment of the five
experts as to the handwriting of the note
of warning is very strong; and the
surprising discovery of one of them
that the paper on which the note was
written was Whittaker's leaves nothing
to hang doubt upon. There is a posi-
bility, of course, that somebody got that
piece of Whittaker's paper and had skill
and cunning enough to initiate Whit
takers handwriting, but it is so remote
a possibility as to be entitled to no con-
sideration and moreover, the experts
find that the handwriting of the note
was natural and not forged writing.
To all this proof of Whittaker's guilt
must be added several important varia-
tiOns in his narrative of the occurrences,
which c'.uld not have been made if they
were real.
The result of the inquiry must be very
satisfactory to the friends of the military
academy, not that they have any feeling
against the negro cadet, but because it
shows that whatever may be the natural
feeling of aversion among officers and
cadets to social association with the
negro, it does not lead to his abuse or to
any unmanliness of behavior towards
him. He is avoided, not maltreated.
The thOroughness of the inquiry which
has taken place into this matter shows
the people the exact status of the negro
cadet. Because of his ostracism he is
officially treated with especial leniency.
This affair has been fairly investigated
and it is the fault of the facts alone that
Whitaker falls. He has had an officer
assigned to his defense, and has had
moreover, the counsel of his champion,
Greener, and the aid of the United States
District Attorney Townsend, who was
sent to aid the recorder of the court in
presenting the testimony to it, but who
acted as the counsel of the cadet until he
found the case getting too black against
him to be lightened by his skill.
The general conclusion drawn from the
denouement :willj naturally be unfavor-
able to the policy of admitting the negro
to West Point. No good is done by
keeping him there rs a source of irrita-
ton to the white cadets. The degrade
tion of his race units him for the assOci.
alton. In all the history of the academy
no such baseness as this negro has shown
has ever before been exhibited by cadet
or even mild degree of it. No one who
had any self-respect could have been sc
mean. 1t can hardly be said that this is
sporadic case and that it is Whitaker
the individual, and not Whitaker the
negro, who is TO be condemned. The
possibility of his crime came to him will
his race and its condition among men.
The people of Lancaster never die
themselves more credit and perhaps never
experienced more real satisfaction in do
ing highly creditable thing, than il
their prompt and liberal response to tht
call for aid from the sufferers by thu
Milton fire. The meeting called on sucl
short notice was well attended and thos'
participating in its deliberations gav'
the object in which it was convened :
good " send-off - by liberal subscriptions
The cause was kindly and sympatheti
cally remembered in the prayers and ser
mons of the city pastors yesterday, ant
the general public most happily improv
ed the intervening Sabbath by resolving
upon the free exercise of the noblest o
Christian virtues toward their strickel
fellow citizens of a common state. A
this writing it is not known exactly wha
Lancaster's total contribution will
amount to, but enough has already besl
secured to demonstrate the unstintet
generosity CT our people and to do grea
good to the givers and to those who's
Affections are sought to be alleviated
To be of most service the amount raiSet
will be forwarded at once to thorough.
reliable persons, who can be relied on t.
distribute it judiciously and impartially
but the books will remain open for al
who may desire further opportunity t.
add their mickle or muckle to it. Fol
the present the local relief measures hav'
been limited to the collection of money
Should it be determined to procure ant
forward stores of clothing, provision!
and household goods, for which there is
great demand, there will be equally
ready response, and in that event
our country friends will no doubt be glat
to give freely of their abundance in stor,
and basket to the needy sufferers.
THE Republican county committee fol
this county resolved that, at the primar!
70 IN I,oIl x,oyk Co&,,rIo~ ~.