The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-05-02

every ] nun uAg illJl4444E- al - 4 } cal
six months, SL.25, postage included.
Postage outside the q. S. and Canada,
extra.
IL LONDON, On Saturday, silver
was quoted at 80 8-l6 pence per
ounce.
Il WAS a severe blow to the aristo-
cratic pride Of West Point Military
Academy when a coloced cadet vas
admitted into the institution WHERE !
The future captains and generals Of
our army are being trained. West
Point has become proud and haaghty.
being the pet Of tae nation and the
pride of the ladies who love to lock
upon brass buttons and budding mill
tary manhood. Under the fostering
care of 6 liberal government, these
young warriors have become p0Ged
up.with their own importance, until
they feel themselves somewhat taller
and heavier than the ordinary herd
from which they sprang. Hence it
was specially humilis;ing to them
when an African, a niger" vas
cast among them. and, 50 far as
it was possible under the law,
made their equal in everything. The
cadets did not propose to be
humbled into social equality with
the negro. The African descendant
was ostracised from the moment be
entered the arist9cratio precincts Of
the academy. While he was net
beaten nor abused physically, be
was made 10 feel that he was in tae
wrong pew. His life there has been
s. constant succession Ofpelty Sights.
The crowning indignity heaped upon
young Whitaker was his mutlation
the o.her night. This last outrage
may not have been perpetTated by
toe other cadets. and, indeed, seems
not to have been done By them. L
matters not seriously, however,
whether his ears we're cut by him.
self, by the white students, or By
some jealous youths Of his own color.
The one important fact is apparent,
tina: laws nor presidential proeIama.
tions can mske the white aid black
races live together il unity on equal
terms socially. The Rev. Beecber
wants enough black cadets sent TO
West Point to compel by force tao
Others to respect them. This could
not DO it. Il there were. two
negroes and one white boy At the
academy. the white would refuse to
elevate to an equality with himself
the black; and II physical force were
employed against him, he woald
promptly take his departure ffOm
West Point, leaving tae soieace- Of
war to be aludied alone by the Afri-
cans. The cadets are not alone in
their sights Of Whitaker, ths pro
tess0rs and teachers also turning 10
him the cold shoulder whenever il
was possible to do so without placing
themselgesin position to baotiiciz!ly
censured. Even In the Investigation
nos going on the colored ca1e! has
beea transformed from plaintiff into
defendant. This ostracism Is lot due
to ans lack of intelligence OF per
sonal repugasnce on the part Of
Whitaker. but solely because he has
African blo-d il his vieas. Hs is SO
white Of skin ,hlt one VI the txamin-
ing professors asked 10 have
him pointed cut in the class
be!o.e him; he passed Il credit.
able examination. and while be
has sl0wn no extraordinary abilities,
he has displayed no uncommon de-
gree of stupidity. He Is simply a
negro, and educated. refined white
men feel a repugraoce towards asso-
ciating On terms Of equality with
members of his race. There is
wan! OF affinity betGeen the two
races. The ultra a5o,i.iouis.s and
the demagogue politicians mag hug
the black man to their bosom, but
the affection is not natural; tue init
macy Is repuIsive, ard must ever he
90. When s white man processes q
real love for the negro, and n desire
to associate with him as with people
Of bis own race, it nay be set down
as fact that the white Is playing .
part for purpose, CT that his ideas,
bis likes and dislikes are net normal. |
Abe Lincoln loved a negro only in the
humanitarian sense. Garrison. from |
his love for tae black mans cause, |
came to love the negro; bat !: was not !
natural. Had there been 10 negro /
slavery The great abolition apostle |
would have felt no sympathy for the |
African race L Is wrong that youug /
Whitaker should be mutilats5 aud |
abused at West Point. The cadets
are il training for brave officers and /
upright gentlemen, and they shoald !
understand thatit IS no pa.tofbrayery |
to trample upon an inferior. But |
while the Africans treatment has |
been wrong, it IS improper that he is
there. In social life. in the army IS
officers hereafter, the cadets will not
associate with Whitaker, no. can The
law compel them to do so. Then
why force them now to endure hin as
an equal ? The eforsoi nearly twenty
years has failed to bring the two races
snyBhere near the same social plane, |
and We question If they will be any
nearer together twenty years hence. |
II it be necessary 10 have negro