Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-17
THE wHITrAKER DENoUEMENT.

The Whitaker case has taken an en-
tirely new and unexpected turn. The ex-
perts who have been examining the hand
writing of the cadets have unanimously
agreed that the note of warning found in
Whittaker's room was written by himself.
The way in which this conclusion is led up
to and supported appears to leave no room
for doubt that the alleged outrage was
committed by Whitaker upon himself,
snd the almost inevitable deduction is
that he planned the whole affair in order
to bring disgrace upon the Academy of
West Point, IN revenge for the ill-treat-
ment which he had undoubtedly been sub
iected to- While this discovery must at
once and forever extinguish all Whit
takers hopes of a career, and result in his
merited expulsion, it does not, how
ever, affect the significance of the testi-
mony which in the course of this inquiry
has revealed the cruel prescription and
persecution to which colored cadets at
West Point appear to be invariably ex-
posed. Whitaker may be himself unde-
serving of any sympathy. He may be a
false and dishonorable schemer. But the
fact remains that he was impelled to the
folly which has ruined him by course of
treatment such as no white cadet has ever
had to endure, and such as might
demoralize the character of white
cadet as well as black one. We
have heretofore expressed the opinion
that it is unreasonable to fly out
against the white cadets for their conduct
towards their colored fellows, since it is
undeniable that no intimacy is as rule
permitted to exist between white and col
ored men in the world AID if therefore
1t appears impossible to secure for colored
cadets that social equality which is indis-
pensable to the proper development OF
their characters, it would seem the most
rational course to abandon the weil-meant
but Inflated endeavor to amalgamate the
races in the military academy. No doubt
this is q hardship in one sense to the col
ored people. Perhaps it would afford them
ground for protest on the strength of the
Constitutional Amendments. But if they
were wise and self.respecting we do moi
think they would care to insist upon theil
technical rights in such case, seeing thai
to do SO would only entail upon their repre-
sentatives at West Point a continuance
of the i'll treatment which all col
ored cadets thus far have had to bear
No doubt there are many who viii
assert that the illiheral ideas O
the white cadets ought not to be toler
ated, but that the Government should
compel the admittance of the coloreC
cadets to absolute social equality. To any
such argument it may be said that since
hitherto no means have been found whereby
the absolute social equality of colored PEG
pie generally can be secured, it is mere
nonsense to imagine that what has proved
impracticable everywhere else can be com
passed by legislative enactment at Yves
Point. It is possible that the preiudic'
complained of will be outgrown, and if i
is there will no longer exist any rationa
objection to the appointment of ccloret
cadets. Bat until it disappears from TIL
country outside of West Point it must b
expected to flourish there, and since tn
forcing of coiored cadets into the academ,
only entails suffering and possible ruin upol
themselves, we cannot see why thinking
men. either white or colored. should de
mand the continuance of such an arrange
Iment.