National Republican., 1880-10-29
WEST POINT AND THE CoLoRED Ca
DIETS

The International Rericw for November has
for its first article tie expression of tho per-
sOnal opinion Of Professor George l.. Andrews,
teacher Of + renCh at West Point, ON the Whit
taker case, and, incidentally, the colored Gu
dct question in general. This article does no
credit TO the head or the heart OF General An
drews. He utters a special plea in behalf of
the white cadets who visited with social ostra-
csm not only tho colored cadets, but those
white cadets who in any way recognized them
outside Of official requirements. Ho makes
tho strong point in his defense, or rather
apology, that the prejudice which exists
against either social or official equality such
| as juxtapositon in rank, command of sections
appointment as cadet officer, etc. the cadets
bring with tn EN- from home. He says:
II the question be asked, Why not admit the
colored cadet TO full social equality? 1t may be
| asked In reply, Why do not much older and wiser
| persons than cadets set the oXomple? Why do not
! those who ask the question follow the rule they
| ont sn among You first cast q stone" Why are not
cadets brought up with such views by their parents
| and guardians? II so brought up there is nothing
| at the academy to prevent them acting accord
! ingy Cadets being admitted At from seventeen TO
twenty-five years of age, the twig is bent before
! coming under the charge of the academy. If the
authorities have not ineriered to force association
! with cylorcd cadets they certainly will not inter-
fege TO prevent or hinder IL. Nor is there any OBJ
! stacc worthy of consideration In the way Of any
| white cadet who may see 1T to associate with
| cOlured cadets If he honestly does so from prln-
cDle nnd his pencral conduct Is consistent he viii
| command the respect of those who differ from him.
| But II his object be 10 make himself conspicuous
! and show his superiority to Othcrs-ii his mo-
| tive be vanity rather than prlncple-hls comrades
| will be quick to perceive il, and he may expect
! what he SO well merits.
TO the assertion that there IS no obstacle to
any white cadet associatng wit Ii a colored ca
det, IL no does 1t manlully and in quiet,
transformations way, we enter fat denial.
There has been attempted ostracism. 1t was
tried in the Smith case, in the Flipper case
and announced as certain in the Whitaker
case We know from two officers Of the army
both graduates that several meetings were
held Of certain class, wherein it was agreed
by the almost unanimous consent Of the class
that certain members should not be recog,
nized nor associated with In case they con.
tinued to speak to their colored classmate
Three of the members carried this to the ex
tent of "cuttiug" these certain me mbors from
that time to the close of the acade mic year
when they were graduated. To the credit O
tho majority Of tho remainder IL may be said
they simply RETAINED from tho usual class
Professor Andrews also says:
The position of the coorcd student at the 0cad
omy Is In some important respects, different from
the position he would have In other schools, anc
renders II less easy to limit association with him
IL Is once begun lie Is assigned his place in ranks
at the table in the recitation room, at church anC
elsewhere, according 10 impartial rules. withou
regard 10 the wishes Of those who may thus b,
brought next to him, As sentinel, section-marCher
cadetohicer officer Of the guard or officer Of III,
day he controls commands or directs his white
comrades. and any dlsobedlence Of his order
would be punished quite as readily and severely a
I'm lie case of any other cadet. lie has an equa
right with the rest to attend the cadet hops and 4
tnke with him damsel of his own race.
This Is true; it is necessary and proper. Blu
this whole matter may be decided by a certain
course Of action by the authorities. They
must not close their eyes as to the troatmen
which is accorded the coorod cadet "out o
school and drill hours" They have just IL
much to do with his life as a cadet unOiiiclally
aud privately as they have when he Is in th'
drill corps or classroom. Life at seventeen