The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-03-26
Disposing of Cadet Whitaker.

The order OF the War Department dis
charging Cadet JOHNSON e. WHITAKER from
the Military Academy for deficiency in
studies may be regarded as device for ar
ranging difficult matter in way likely to
be accepted by all concerned. The power Of
the department to discharge cadets on the
recommendation OF the Academic Board is
conferred by statute, and is constantly ex-
ercised. WHITAKER will never again APP
pear as student at West Point. There is a
possibility of his being urged for appoint
ment III the army from civil life to some fu-
ture vacancy among the Second Leutenan-
ces; but probably his friends will now aban-
don all efforts to make soldier Of him.
1t is now nearly two years since this col
ored cadet was found one morning, tied to
his bed, with his hair cropped and his ears
slit. The prompt assumption, not only by
his fellow students, but by the officers OF the
Academy, that he had played this trick on
himself, in order to excite sympathy as a
victim Of cruel hazing, and thus toavoid dis
missal for deficiency at the approaching ex-
amlnatlons, aroused general demand that
he should have fair play. The public knew
that haZing was custom at West Point, and
that WHITAKER had been practically ostra-
cized; putting the two facts together, his
story seemed plausible, and his very loneli-
ness made it ungenerous to form u snap
judgment against him in the prevailing sen
timent of the Academy. The evidence, when
developed, perfectly sustained the officers
and cadets in their original opinion, which
had been reached with the rapidity often
characteristic OF military men; but much
popular criticism had been aroused by the
prompt suspicious OF a lad who had no
friends there, and by questioning him under
the obvious bias Of such suspicious.
After the overwhelming evidence of the
AdeH'S in handwriting, coupled with the tes-
imony OF scores Of officers, cadets, aud EN-
ployees, had made very strong circum5tan-
ial case against WHITAKER, and after the
soard Of inquiry lad reported in accordance
herewith, the approach of a Presidential
election apparently suggested to the HAYES
Administration that it might be unwise, Just
then, for party purposes, either TO approve
these findings or to set them aside. Cadet
WHITAKER was allowed, instead, n regular
court martial, and this court was carefully
made up OF officers who could be relied on to
give him all the chance possible to viudicate
himself majority not being graduates of
Ino MIHlhIy Academy, WhlIe some were
known for their anti-sluvery sentiments, and
others for their sturdy Independence. Ncv-
erthcless. this court martial, after another
exceedingly long and patient hearing,
reached precisely the same conclusion as the
board Of inquiry.
Then occurred n still longer delay In deter
mining what to do with the findings and SEN
tenec Of his court. Meanwhile some events
favored WHITAKER, Major SWAIN, an old
friend aud companion Of Gen. GARFIELD,
had been promoted 20 be Judge Advocate
General, aud when the findings of the court
came before him it was generally understood
that If there was any technical flaw in the
proceedings it would be fcrrrted out, nd
they would be set aside. In addition. when
Nice-President ARTHUR became President, II