The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-07-28
CADET wIIIrrAIxEE's LECTURE:
The Color Line OF West Point M Viewed
From His Standpoint,

.
WASHINGTON, July a7:-Cadet Whitta-
ker lectured last night in Baltimore, his
subject being Color Line in the Nations
School," He wanted it understood that
lie did not lecture for amusement, for there
was no amusement in lecturing. He did
it to obtain means to finish his education,
and to place his case properly before the
people. There WIS no such thing rs social
equality, but true mankind would assert
itself under all circumstances. The colored
people have entered the army and assisted
in fighting the battles. OF the country. They
are all taxpayers rs well rs voters and under
the law they have the same right to &c
to West Point, but they have q tough time
when they get there. lie was assaulted be.
cause he had but one drop OF African
blood in his veins, and was then accused
OF having done the deed himself. Every
man at West Point was against him. 4
partisan and prejudiced court tried him,
and q partisan court convicted him, during
all Of which time his friend, Il. T. Grcener,
WAS tho only person that stood by him.
When he reached West Point, md went 10
the barracks to give his name, one Of the
cadets said, "Are You the niger that's
coming here?" and he replied that he was
colored. A cadet from South Carolina
joined in, and said he would leave the
academy before he would march bt the
side Of niggor. When he went 10 the
mess hall some one cried out, "Where's
the Niger; won't you show him 10 me ?"
and another replied, "There he is" (point.
ing to the lecturer). When ut the table no
one would sit by him. He asked for n
spoon, and cadet from Georgia handed
him one, whereupon q man from New
York said to him: "Did you hand that
niger spoon?" He said he only did it
through politeness. So, said the lecturer,
tho man from the great Southern State
OF Georgia was more kind me than the
man from the great FREQ State OF
New York. After leaving the mess hall, q
cadet officer said to him: III you are
found deficient, as hope to God you will
be, you will then be returned from whence
you came" The same officer came into
his room at night, and told him il the bed
was hard he could spread his blanket on
the floor. The next day man from Penn.
sylvania informed him that they had been
ordered by the cadet officers to
have nothing to say to tho negro.
He was utterly alone. Not one per.
son sare the cadet officers spoke to
him, and their words were harsh and
grating. When tho examination took place
they: found he was among the elect, and
the cadet officer in whose ranks he was
marching wns jeered at for having "white
elephant" Tho officer told him he would
have to march in the rear, so that he would
not be able TO touch more than one man.
When riding out to drill none would ride
by his side, and none would Join hands
with him, Notwithstanding the join.
ing OF hands was Y called for by the
drill. y He - simply stood among them,
but was not Of them. Some would
not pass him anything at the table,
and when in church at worship they would
yet up and leave tho seat on which he WINS
sitting. If he went into tent where a
cadet was sleeping the latter would get up
and 50 out, rather than sleep where he
was. The professors had said that no
negro, after Flipper; should ever graduate
ut that academy, and not one Of them had
ever given him a kind word. sjiS5
He spoke at length Of the assault made
upon him by three masked men, who tied
him to be1stead, split his ears, and other.
wise maltreated him. They then accused
him oil committing the assault tupon him.
sell, and 80 testified BY the court martial.