The banner-enterprise., 1884-01-26
THE Latest COLORED CADET.

ITO be continaal.]
THE LATEST COLORED CADET.
Proficient in Scholarship, We'll Beho0,d. and
Socially Recognized.
PoUGHKEEpsIE, Jan. 15.-The
semi-annual examination of the
different classes at West Point hav-
ing been concluded, the general
standing of each member of the
fourth class, the class last admit
ted, will soon be made public. In
this class is the last colored cadet
admitted into the Academy, John
Hanks Alexanner. He was ap-
pointed from an Ohio district by a
Democratic Congressman. He is
making a better record than any
colored cadet ever admitted. His
class originally numbered 1872, but
designations, DEFICIENCIES, ETC., have
cut the number down to 80, and
among this ninety Alexander ranks
third in French, and his general
standing is 65. Adjutant Eli
Hoyle speaks of him as ga splen-
did scholar, getting along finely"
The Adjutant was asked, elbow
is Alexander being treated by the
other cadets" He replied that
while the officers of the post in no
way interfere or indicate to the
white cadets the course they must
pursue toward the colored cadet,
they had noticed with feeling of
satisfaction that the colored cadet
50 deported himself as to win the
esteem of many of the corps. He
seems to know his place, not as a
colored cadet, but simply a cadet,
with no more and no less privileges
than the others, and does nothing
of an intrusive character. This
has won him respect from those
who have always been strongly op-
posed to the admission eff the COLI
ored man to West point, and kind
ly feelings from members Of his
class. In this way it came to pass
that at one time when Alexander
was in confinement in his own
room, for some triAing violation
of regulations (Which every cadet
is more or less liable to-, a whi'e
cadet, a member of his own class,
called upon him and took his ra-
zor to the BARRIERS for him to have
it sharpened and another white
cadet brought it back to him when
the job was done. This little act
of kindness was regarded by Adj
jutant Hoyle as a very strong in
dication of the respect entertained
toward Alexander by his compan-
ions in arms.
It is not uncommon for members
of his class to intercept him OH
his way to and from the barracks
and question him in regard to their
studies. He has also been seen
calling on members of his class in
their rooms, and they have been
seen calling upon HIM. Every
professor on the post has o good
word for him. They agree that
his ideas are more enlarged, his
perceptions quicker and his grasp
of details more intelligent and
more extensive than were either
Flipper's, Smiths or Whitaker's {.
His truthfulness and honor are be-
yond question. When Whitaker
was on the post and in the fourth
class the members Of the other
three classes would not deign to
notice him, much less speak to
him. In fact, cadets of the first,
second and third classes rarely
notice the cadets of the fourth
class ; but Alexander, when met
on the esplanade or about the bar
racks by members of the higher
classes, is, as q general thing, re-
spectfully recognized. He is con-
stantly in receipt of letters Of en-
couragement from home and other
places.
No partiality whatever is shown
to Alexander. lie has been given
to understand plainly that merit
alone will be taken into considera.
tion, and that color will not b.
thought of when the time comes t
o.,1- Ls.o ILL.,. - 1o--, - L.,