National Republican., 1880-04-29
Begin with the Rank and File.

10 The Editor Of The Ndtiondl Republican:
SIR Wouldn't 1t be as well for some of those
Senators who arc now in pain as to Cadet Whit
takers treatment at West Point to look after their
own records concerning the color line in the
army? Only year since Senator Burnside had
bill in the Senate to do away with distinction on nc-
count of color-to place oil men In the service on
an equal footing in the ranks-looking only to n
man's physical and moral qualifications for en-
llstment in any regiment, without making mention
OF his color. If my memory serves me right some
of the very Senators now sorcly exercised either
voted against the bill directly or worked to the end
that 1t should not be voted on at all and to-day we
have OH statutes that There shall bo four regi
monts of the army composed of colored men" not
withstanding that every word of said law direct
violation OF the Civil Rights BILL of the
spirit II not the letter of the Constitution. to
say nothing of the common sense of the people and
the good OF the public service. With so pointed
Discrimination against every man OF color as to his
qualfnations for place In the ranks of the army,
with the law making difference on account of
color and previous condition, and this in direct
violation OF higher law, can 1t bo q matter of
great wonder that cadets at West Point do feel that
there is some merit in the absence of coor1 Just
well make section of each class at the Military
Academy OF coiored cadets as TO maintain so many
regiments composed of colored men. The same
spirit which enables Congress to retain such pro.
visions on the Statute books prompts the cadets to
ostracisc Whitaker and his kind. 1t 10 but proper
and meet that 1t should bo 80. In short the
cadets are denounced and the Academy abused,
the law does lin the army, makes q distinction on
| account Of color. Let the press that is now SO
active and so long silent on the question of the
| color line in the army demand the repeal of the
law; let Congress heed the demand, and very much
will have been done to correct any shortcomings
| that West Point may have in this respect One of
the greatest and most conservative soldiers of the
war of lS6l-G5 the late General George ii. Thomas,
said of the colorod soldiers of the battle OF Nash
vile, from the field, regarding the gallant charge
made on Oyerton Hill, that the coored soldiers
| lay equally near the works with the white men,"
| The position of tho deRd and wounded of thnt
fearful charge demonstrated to their great com
mander their worth and yGlor, and he in the dis
| capacity and determined right TO carry
and defend the flag of the American sol
dler-the flag OF our country. With such testi.
mony before them, what other people would have
been capable of denying such men equal rights in
| this army2 Does it not seem traYesty on our
boasted civilization and enlightenment that with
their record in the and their splendid services in
our Indian wars tho colored men should bo
prescribed to -four regiments" in forty-that in the
artillery service he should not be allowed Mt all ?
And Is II not little singular that from these four
regiments there should have never been an officer
detailed for service at West Point and that too.
when the officers OF these regiments have had
nearly fourteen years OF constant field and frontier
| is II at all singular that the young cadet should
feel Just little prejudice? Isn't It wonder that
there is not OF it than the Whitaker inyesti-
CATION shows TO exist? suppose, as have sug-
gested. that get the beam out of our own eyes,
and my word for 1t, that the now very perccptible
mote in tho cadets eye will have disappeared. G.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., April 26 1880.