Daily Republican., 1883-07-11
UVNTERED AT THE POST OFFICE AT
Wilmington, Del., - second class mail
Trials Of the CoIOred Cadet.


Young Alexander, the colored lad,
whose good fortune, pluck and superior
education over number Of white lads
secured him the appointment to West
Point as = military cadet, is already
given to know what he may expect at
that institution by his fellow cadets
with white skins, and some of them,
perhaps most OF them with less ability
One of these superior cadets by birth
caste and color, attempts to satisfy the
public curiosity as to the recognition
the colored lad is to receive when he
enters that institution after the dog
days are over. He is just to receive no
social recognition whatever, but the
sorest part Of his punishment for being
black is that he is no. to be hazed. This
is a terrible punishment indeed. What,
not to be hazed not to be made the
butt and ridicule of college chums the
first year not to be knocked down a
few times and made to fight sham duels;
not to be made to DO menial duty for
the other cadets not to be deviled, and
tortured, and plagued, and hanna ered
and bounced around in civilized
christian manner after the style OF West
Point civilization This is terrible
Can young Alexander stand all that
and preserve his credit and standing in
the nations big school We believe he
can. We do not believe he is particu:
lar about receiving this initiatory de
gree and would much prefer no doubt
to substitute it with an extra knowledge
of the laws Of philosophy, science, me-
chanics and engineering. We have no
doubt whatever but that the omission
OF the haZing process is quite agreeable
to him.
But then he is no. to be recognized
socially That is he is n II to be invited
to the social gatherings in the gin
saloons and gambling brothels that hang
around the outskirtsof West Point, and
to which the cadets by their wits and
the ease of those in charge find no great
difficulty in visiting
He is not to be invited to drink whis
ky GU of the same bottle, and it must
tickle the souls of the young white sin
hay nf n lInl
and wounded honor of the colored boy
on account of never receiving a cha!-
lenge to fight duel and if he sends a
challenge not to recognize it. We be.
lieve the boy can even stand all this
onOmetry and surveying none the slow
er. We are not 50 sure that colcred
boy who has surmounted 70 many diff.
culties already cares whether he gets
a drink of " hisky ont ofthe same bottle
or any other bottle. We are not sure
that he will look upon deXterity in
playing handful of cards as a neces
W
and we do not suppose he cares ban-
bee that he is to receive no challenges
to fight due most certainly he will
never send any if he preserves the prin'
ciples of the true soul of honor that ad'
mitted him into the institution. The
deprivation Of ali these old time
honored customs of the embryonic
warriors is not likely to fill the sou
of the new cadet with gloom. Having
shown himself lad of pluck and de
termination it is not likely that sOcia
recognition" according to the code Of
cadet morals, is so much hi, wish
as fair play. That being accorded tt
him it remains to be seen whether ht
will not be able to meet all neediul re-
auirements and reflect the highest credi
upon himself, his race and upon Mr.
Geddes, the Democratic Congressma'
from Ohio, that sent him to West Point
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