The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1880-06-11
The Lessongof The Whitaker Case,

The Lessonsof The Whitaker Case.
The common sense Of tue entire
country will Approve the Judgment of
the Court linsfAe matter Of the alleged
assault pom Cadet Whitaker, at
West Point. DULY fools and fanatics
(Which trsms are synonymous) will
believes aasr.reviewing the evidence,
that any ether hand than Whit,aker's
held the sssissQrs that cut his ears and
cropped his lair. The coloretl cadet
Is rldicniosssas having been caught in
an awk@asd attempt to cover himself
with the g;sfy of marLyrtlom, and'dis-
graced by seing guilty Of dozen pal
pable taiseaeods. Despite this, there
will be a,sdeep sympathy for him
through Nj, country. 1t is impos-
sible TO Imagine more utterly
dcsolatn let than his has hcen-soli
tary and ffiendIess, amid an ever
present L..s,ltjtudc--the one marked
man amoneIhandreds, bearing in his
very blood tie faint that dcharrcd
him from. tie fellows ship of those who
were unaNoiaably his companions.
WhittahcrF was and is II martyr-a
martyr lo.the foolish and wicked At
tempt-bora, Of hatred and fanati.
cisnn---to Enforce commingling OF
races against g feeling 81 strong that
it is nature. Among all Of those CO.
diets, representing the rising genera
ion of evetY section of the country,
and every shade Of political opinion
and prejudice, lhere was not one who
could forget he was white man and
Whitaker was a negro, or learn to
think that there was no difference he
tween them. Sending him there was
an addilionto tie long catalogue OF
crimes and tcrueltes committed by
those who falsely call their hatred for
the Southern: white man love for the
negro. Poor Whitaker was their
victim. He was condemned to serve
term of misery that naturally led to
crime, that he might be tie means OF
insulting and humiliating the white
people of tlle-country.
We, in common with all the whito
people, certainly Of the South, have
u kindly feeling for the ncg,o. We
recognize him as our faithful friend
and servant. and rs having claim
upon our consideration; and being
entitled TO guidance, protection and
sympathy from us. 1t is not for rs
to know the reasons of the impulses
of cur natures. But in the heart Of
every white man there is naturally a
feeling that forbids his social inter-
mi' CLING with the negro. The Whit
taker case is ,.lnother proof it. 1t is
useless to'osAy ortheeli to explain it.
1t exists, and hc who habilua ly over
comes that feeling does q violence to
the very blood III his veins. He does
go knowing that lie is offending every
sense Of propricty and natural in-
stInct among those OF his own race,
and if he is not already abandoned,
malicious and vindictire, he will
speedily become SO by the opera
ton OF natural, mental and mo: al
laws. The negro has learned this
lesson by herd experience, and real
ICES now that Tie white man in this
country who associates with him on
terms of"social equality" is either II
thief or passion. blinded am, danger
Gus fool, who brings him only trouble.
The negro has freedom, and is our
political equal. We, ot the Suut..
are content with this, and glad to
give him all his rights. But We shall
insist upon ours bclug respected. and
one Of them is the selection of orr own
associates and those OF uur children.
Any attempt 10 dictate 10 us in this
rcspcc, will he resisted alwa\s. Ii
the negro allows himself to he made
the lhsuunltht for the vioiaiiUn of
those rights he will he Tue sufferer.
Those who use him know this well.
but are us indifferent to his suifcrinus
rs the carpenter is TO the wearing OF
his plane. When it breaks he can
get another. Thcrc will be many
more Whltakers III diticrcn; depart
tnenls in the country. The purely
malignant cloris To reduce nature
To Impossible shapes by cutting i,
across the grain wlI! be continued I'M
I'll the tool refuses longer To he II tool.
That Is tie onI, remedy. The negro
can save himself notification and
misery only hy declining to further
ald attempts 20 change The inevitable.
-Green0itie Nesvs.
II