National Republican., 1880-05-18
THE CoLoRED CADET CASE.

There are shadows falling upon the case
Of young WHITAKER which may produce
the conviction that he was his own mutila-
tor, and may not. At tho present time the
case wears an unfortunate aspect so far as
the colored cadet is concerned. The reports
of the experts are TO the effect that the
warning note was written by WHITAKER
himself, and if this shall be established as
fact, then the theory that he committed the
Outrage on himself, by himself or through
coadiutors, will inevitably follow. II he is
guilty let his guilt be shown, that no inno-
cent person shall be made to suffer for his
doubly iniquitous offense. A hasty judg-
ment should not be rendered in the case,
but just Judgment should be reached if
such II thing be possible, so that the offense
shall be fastened where it legitimately be-
longs. 1t will no doubt be contended that
the writing which so strongly resembles
that of WHITAKER is a forgery, and
it is presumable that such theory will
take hold on the public mind in greater
or less degree with tenacity that cannot
be broken. This theory will be strength
ened by q widespread belief that the haste
with which General SCHoFIELD advanced
the idea that WHITAKER might be the
guilty party indicated something like
conspiracy to ruin the colored cadet to an
swer the demands of prejudice. We thought
at the time that the haste with which General
ScHoFIELD advanced the idea that WHIT
rAKER was himself in some degree guilty
of the outrage which had been perpetrated
was unfortunate. If such theory had been
entertained it should have been concealed
in the interest of fairness until the bottom
facts of the case could be reached.
The effect of General ScHoFIELD's hastily
uttered theory was to put the sufferer by
the outrage on trial for having outraged
himself, and strong prejudice has fol-
lowed him in that direction ever since. 1t
was of this and its effect upon the case that
we took early exception, and for which we
were subjected to severe criticism but no
matter now-all that we have desired and
all that we desire now is that the guilty
shall bear their own guilt, and the inno-
cent escape. II it shall appear in unim.
peached proof that WHITAKER is the
guilty party, then we would be the last to
screen him from the odium Of his offense
Let him suffer
But all this does not remove the apparent
fact that school which is sustained by
public bounty is so marked in its policy
that it is literally impossible for a colored
student to be educated there except under
q system of Ostracism which is unendura-
Bile. This is the Objectionable feature of
the institution which demands reform.
Either colored students should be excluded
altogether, or if admitted, the discipline of
the school should be such as to secure full
recognition for all their rights and priv
ileges as such. Any line of policy that
makes invidious distinctions between stu
dents after admission should be promptly
and fully abrogated. A government insti-
tuition that does not secure equal and exact
justice to all its appointees is unworthy a
free republic, and for that reason, until the
academy at West Point shall have been put
strictly in line with this idea, it cannot
escape strong public prejudice that will
initiate against its popularity and success.