The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-28

BROOKLYN LETTER.


professors Az TO Hrs Character
Practical Training I'm am Eleem o.
synary Institution for Children
Three Pretty Sporses.
Special Correspondence OF the STAR
BROOKLYN, N. Y, April 26, 1880.
1t ishuman nature to take the part Of
the under dog; at least, l judge so from
my own feelings, and hence in the Cadet
Whitaker case that is creating such a
stir at West Point and attracting SC
much attention generally, my sympa,
thies are wholly on the side of the col
Ored boy. That my sympathies should
70 out towards him is also the result of
my early training. lam the son of an
Aboitionist, and some Of my earliest
recollections are of times when to be an
anti-slavery man was to be marked
man even in so enlightened a community
as this
Twas also brought up under the liber-
alizing preaching Of Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher, and at tender age learned to
regard all men as created equal, no mat
ter what the color of their skin might be.
Hence when the color line seems to be
once more drawn l can not help cham
pioning the cause of the assailed repre-
sentative of the race that has endured so
much, but which, by its own inherent
strength of purpose, moral force, and
Shall ] add it? intellectual strength, is
ordained in my estimation to win the
respect and confidence of the Anglo
Saxon. On the other hand I am not
one who would willfully fling stones at
West Point, though despise the con-
servatism and snobbishness which that
institution, an institution designed to be
in every respect democratic and liberal,
sometimes, l am afraid, engenders in the
graduates.
1t may not be proved that any of the
cadets are responsible for the outrage ap-
parently committed on Whitaker, but |
can not think that Whitaker NAL
treated himself, not SO long rs the ex-
periences Of poor Flipper and other col
ored cadets are fresh in my memory, GER
tainly not when the testimony taken in
the present case shows Whitaker to
have been socially ostracised by his
white classmates. Whitaker is, how
ever, having a fair trial, and though l
am afraid the truth will never be
reached, l believe that as a result of the
investigation the West Point colored Ca
det of the future will be treated by class
mates with something more than the
frigid courtesy demanded by rules.
Such being my feelings could not
but rejoice when the other day acci-
dentally ran across Whittaker's old pro-
lessor in the university Of South Caro-
lima, and from his lips had my opinion
Of the colored cadets character strongly
confirmed. The gentleman is Prof.
William Main, of the frm of Eaton &
Main, analytical and consulting chem
lists of this city. / took notes Of our
conversation in order that l might be
able 10 reproduce what he said for the
STAR, and append them.
"When, and under what cireum-
stances did you first meet Whitaker
asked.
"To the best of my recollection in
1874. He was examined for the SUBJ
freshman or the preparatory class of the
University Of South Carolina. | was al
the same time professor Of geology and
chemistry, but the professor of mathe-
mates having more work than he could
attend to, ! rendered him assistance. II
was in this way came in contact with
Whitaker"
"How was Whitaker supportedT'
"There were free scholarships providet
by the State. and there being vacancy
In a scholarship from his county, Whit
taker promoted himself for examination
for the vacancy. He was from Charles
ton, think, though / am not certain
about that. The University was a
Columbia"
ale passed the entrance examination
did hep
eyes, but rs to how he passed / hay,
no recollection. He remained in the in
stitution two years. leaving at the end o
the freshman year for West Point.
had him both years in mathematics."
"What was his standingW
"Among the first in algebra and geom
etry. He seemed to have very gooc
capacity for comprehending, and woulc
not, however, say he was quick cf slow
but he was very conscientious, not so
much content with getting rules by
heart as striving to master the princi
pies and the ideas involved" '
GAS to his moral qualities"
II never witnessed any misbehavio
On his part, nor heard Of any. He wa
considered one of the best boys we had
steady and modest. His chief ain
seemed to be to make man of himself
and we often alluded to him as one o
our best boys. At the same time Their