The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-11-13

,SuAL REPORT or GENERAL scHorIfLp---h

appears to be as high as practicable under
the present method OF selecting candidates.
THE PRACTICE OF HAVING.
Under the head OF Discipline the report
says The practice Of bazing In the mild
form in which II formerly existed In the
corps OF cadets has at length been 40 lar
suppressed that no case worthy OF notice
has occurred iu more than year. The re-
form has been accompanied by kibdred
one In the abolition OF what NAV be styied
official bazing, or the ancient driIl-ser.
geanrs method OF military instruction and
discipline, and the substitution oil
methods more appropriate TO The edu-
cation aud command Of an army OF
freemen. IL is believed that contu-
nal diligence and discretion on The part OF
the officers OF the Academy for lew years
will make these reforms permanent without
in anywise marring the perfection OF the
drill or discipline OF the corps OF cadets.
The former practice Of settling all personal
differences between cadets by prearranged
pugili>iic duels, which were often brutal in
their character, has been wholly reformed
without impairing the proper habit OF man.
ly sef-defence against personal assault or
affront. These reforms mark an important
era in the history OF the discipline and mill
tary obstruction OF the corps OF cldets.
FREEDMEN AT WEST POINT AND IL THE ARMY.
The outrage which was committed in the
cadets barracks on the 9Th OF last April, and
which has occupied so much OF the public
attention, deserves notice here mainly for
the purpose Of correcting erroneous impress
sions which have prevailed respecting the
investigation which followed it and for the
important lesson which that investigation
teaches. That matter was promptly iDves-
tigated by the cOmmand1nt Of cadets under
nv direction in the usual way and IN the
only way provided by law or regulations.
The fraudulent character OF the outrage was
fully demonstrated within avery few hours
OF its discovery.
The Military Academy cannot be made
favorable place at which TO first introduce
social intercourse between the white and
black mar. West Point will at the most
only be able to follow the example Of the
country at large in this respect. II does
not seem a reasonable expectation that
young men OF a race so recently emerged
from state OF slavery could compete sue
cessfuIly with those who have iGhcrited the
strength gained in the many generations
OF freedom enjoyed by their ancestors,
and il was an act OF doubtful kind
ness to the co.ored race to force them
into such unequal competition. Yet
one OF that race out OF the eleven
appOintees has passed through the Mill
tary Academy without difficulty and gradu-
aled with credit, although without social
II others can be appointed
who possess the requisite personal quald-
cations they may feel quite sure Of the fair
4. -.
white comrades for the hOnors OF West
Point, but their social relations to their fell
low.cldels Will depend almost entirely upon
the habits in that regard which the latter
have acquired at home under the instruction
Df their parents. The authorities of the
Military Academy cannot even attempt 10
establish ,ocal rules different from those
which prevail among the people Of the
United States whose sons are seat to West
Point for military education.
THE QUESTION OF PREJUDICE.
The difficulty surrounding this subject is
aggravated by the somewhat common error
" ascribing 1t to an unreasonable pr, JUDGE
Igainst race or color. The prevailing "pre-
udice" is rather just aversion 10 quail |
les which the people OF The United states
AVE long been accustomed TO associate |
With state OF slavery and intercourse |
Without legal marriage, ana OF which color |
nd It's various shades are only the external |
ignS. That feeling could not be removed |
" the simple act OF enfranchi,ing the |
lave. Ii can only be done by the education
nd moral elevation OF the race. That great
work has only been commenced. and it
must OF necessity require much lime. TO
end 10 West Point for four-yearS' com
'etitiOn a young man who was born in
lavery is to assume that bali a generation
as been sufficient 10 raise a colored man 10
he social, moral, and intellectual level
which the average white man has reached
n several hundred years. As well might
he common farmhouse be entered in a
Our-mle race against the best blood inner
led from line OF English racers.
wHITTAKER's CASE.
The natural result OF such false asSump.
ion was fairly illustrated IN the recent un-
)rtnnlte case OF the cOlOred cadet. He
ad not yet even begun to appreciate or
Understand the real feeling toward him Of
nose by whom he was surrounded. lie
nagncd that officers who bad fought to
rake him free, and who were IaborOusly
irving 10 teach him what be could not
were governed in their con-
net toward him by " hate OF the
igger," and that cadets who would
either touch him or speak to him
Duld be believed TO have tied his hands
nd feet. and cut his hair and ears, and {
lat so tenderIy as not 10 burt him. lie
ad not reached that point in civilization
here il is first apprehended that human
ature may he governed by motives other
ian love. hatred, or fear. The education
nd elevation OF the newly. eufranchIsed
zee is work worthy Of the united efforts
all good citizens; but that work cannot ',
= advanced-it must rather be retarded
V forcing colOred men into official position !
n which they have not yet become duly 4
laified, or into social relations where they
pnot be freely welcomed. The colOred
an cannot be truly free until be becomes 5
dependent OF such extraneous and, and
e degree Of his freedom cannot be in \
eased by depriving the white man Of \
,rtion Of the liberty he has always en- 0
yed.
ENFORCING ASSOCIATIONS.
10 their zeal and sincere desire to carry
It the policy Of the Government, the
Of the Military Academy have
gone TOO far in enforcing person. .
associations between white and black y
diets, without regard TO prejudice, espe- :
ally ar the meSs-table. 10 respect to quar-
RS, The more reasonable rule has always
en- observed Of not requiring any cadet =
ainSt his will to occupy the same sleeping
arlment with another. The same rule =
ould have been adopted in respect to seats
the mess-table. The colored cadets would \
us have been saved some part OF =
G modification due to an il.adyised -
Tempt TO regulate their social stand
Q by military force " hafnYer insf