New-York tribune., 1880-06-27
DIR. J. C. HOLLAND ON WEST POINT.
From " Topics Of The Time" in seriomer.


There are certain qualities and characteristics
which always distinguish the gentleman. lie Is al
WAYS kindly spirit, courteous in manner and gal
liant IN the defence of the weak, nnd especially OF
thOse-whether men or wOmcn-whO have no power
to defend themselves. Describe any man, anywhere
In these words and there would be no hesitation in
any society," In prononnclng MN gentleman
Great surprise has been manifested among the peo-
pie IN different parts of the country that system
of offensive and persistent discourtesy has been
nractlsed toward the cadet Whitaker at West
Point on account of the fact that he had tincture
of African blood in his veins 1t was supposed that
the typical West Point cadet was gentleman, and
that such treatment as had been bestowed upon
Whitaker would be impossible there.
Now, there is q very simple explanation Of the
social treatment Of Whitaker, and there is really
no occasion Tor surprise IN the matter. For, con-
slider how the school IS made up. Nothing more
miscellaneous than the c0mpOnents of the West
Point school can possibly be imagined. a large
number seek appointments here because they can
not afford TO pay for frst-class education them
selves They are often the sons OF helpless widows
perhaps sometimes OF pushing and thrifty trades
men. Indeed, we suppose that the most of those
who go TO West Point are IN circumstances which
render 1t desirable TO get an education tor nothing
Whit sort of an assembage would this condition
naturally bring togetherf Would nc naturally bring
those who have been we'll bred-those who have
had the culture Of polite society," and Of high-toned
Now, tho difference between West Point and Har-
ward. far the manners OF the students are con-
cemed, is the difference between the parentage and
home and social culture OF the students. There arc
other colleges which share with Harvard the pat
Tonage of those whom call our best people
those who stand highest In the social scale-but
Harvard is without question: the institution which
holds the largest number of studentB from the best
homes and highest society OF the nation, Well,
how does Harvard treav the African, when brought
into direct association with him q student I
Professor GTeener who appeared at West Point in
the tT1al OF tho Whitaker case was man of African
blood, and Harvard man. While in Harvard, he
room6d with white man-that is they had their
parlor together like the other students, with sep
arate beds in alcOvoS or rooms opening into the
parlOr-and he was treated In oil respects If he
had been white man eating at the table with white
students. Indeed, the testimony seems to be that
he was much moro Of favorite than many of the
white students, and particular pains were taken that
he should never feel that he at any sort OF dis
account OF his color. In other words, theY
treated him as men Of good breeding always treat
those with whom circumstances bring them into
association, provided they themselves well-be-
haved and inohensive. They answered our descrip-
tOn OF gentlemen. They kindly in spirit !:
they were courteous III manner; and, knowing the
history of the African in this country they took
special pains that their African associate should not
which that history had subjected him to in the
minds of rude or snObbish men, There can hardly
be more than opinion among our readers In re-
gard to the nature OF the treatment Of Greener and
Whitaker in the institutions to which they re-
spectiyey belonged GTeener was treated like q
gentleman by gentlemen; Whitaker has been
treated with rude and disd@intul discOurtesy by
men who were not gentlemen. And here lies the
pity of it, the West point boys have cynceiVed
themselves to be gentlemen, and have looked upon
aud treated Whitaker as their social inferior, and
by 30 doing have proved themselves not 10 pc gen.
What they have done has proved them to be ilbred
boors. IL has also testified to an uncomfortable
consciousneSs on their part OF weakness IN their
polite associations Men OF good families and an