Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-20
WEST POINT.

COVcry. lnuccu Iuc Iduu "so ~ oP
parent that it could not have possibly
escaped almost immediate detection.
The investigation made by Col.
Lasellc 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-
ceedings of the Court OF Inquiry in
the Whitaker case, and then tho re-
suit, and makes the following re-
marks with regard to the treatment
of eolored cadets at West Point in
general: Every lawful right ofcolor-
ed cadets has been securely guarded
by 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 led to
expect. Military discipline is not an
effective means OF promoting social
intercourse, or of overcoming social
prejudice. On the contrary it on
forces association of white cadets
with their colored companions, to
which they had never been accustom-
cd before they came from homo, and
appears to have destroyed any dis
position, which before existed to in
dulge in such association.
Doubtless this was due in part to
the bad personal character of some of
the young colored men sent to West
Point, and in part to the natural re-
action against an attempt to govern
social intercourse by military regnla-
tons. The Military Academy cannot
be made o favorable place at which
to first introduce social intercourse
between the white and black man.
West Point will, at most, only follow
the example of the country at large
in this respect.
1t does not seem reasonable ex-
pectation that young men OF the race
50 recently emerged from q state of
slavery, could compete successfully
with those who have inherited
strength gained In 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 tho peo-
ple of the United States whose sons
are sent to West Point for military
education. The difficulty surround
ing this subject is aggravated by the
somewhat common error of assembling
it to unreasonable prejudice against
race or color.
The prevailing prejudice is rather
q Just 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, and OF which
color and its various shades are Only
external signs that the feeling could
not be removed by the simple act ~ol
enfranchising the slave.
1t can only be done by the educa,
ton and moral elevation of the race
The great work has only been COM
menced, and it must of necessity, re-
ouire much time. TO send to West
Point for four years competition, q
voupc man who was born in slavery
is to assume that half a generation
has been sufficient to raise a oolored
man to the social, moral and intellec-
tual level which the average white
man has reached in several hundred
years.
AS well might common farm
horse be entered in a four mile race
against the best blood inherited fran
long line OF English racers. The
natural result of such a false assump-
ton was fairly illustrated in the re-
cent unfortunate case Of colored
Cadet Whitaker.
The education and elevation of the
,o,rI,- onfro pcbica1 rora 10 q Wnrk