The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-03
COLOR LINE IN THE NAVY.
The appointment of Young Bundy
Has Stirred Up Much Discussion.


The appointment of D. j. Bundy, the
Cincinnati colored youth as a cadet of
the Naval academy recalls the fact that
three colored lads have been admitted
TO this institution. says the Baltimore
Sun The first was James II. Conyers,
who was appointed September. 1872.
from South Carolina. He was deficient
and resigned November, 1873, after re-
naming in the academy little over a
year. In September, 1873, Alonzo c..
Mcclellan, appointed at large, reported.
He remained at the academy just six
months, resigning March, 1874, having
failed in the semi-annual examination.
Henry E. Baker, the last one to enter,
was appointed September. 1874. from
Mississippi, and was dismissed from
the academy for bad conduct the fol-
lowing November.
The examination for the admission of
cadets takes place in May, and the
colored youth Bundy will. of course. be
required to pass successfully in the
different branches before he is adj
mitted
The appointment of young Bundy
naturally creates considerable talk,
especially in the Naval academy 1t
cannot but be regarded as a serious
matter. The results of the former ap-
were SuCA DIS " llldhC
repetition &C the experiment most un-
desirable. 1t is the right of colored
youths. as of whites. to enter the
academy and become naval officers.
Many regard any obstruction of that
right as grave injustice. But the con-
ditions as they exist must be dealt
with. The Naval academy exists not
for the benefit of individuals. black or
white. The cost of the Institution is
paid by the taxpayers, and the para
mount consideration in dealing with all
matters concerning the academy is to
promote the good of the service. The
question is wether the admission of
colored men into the academy and as
officers of the navy will be for the well
fare of the navy. The experience of the
former experiments seems to show that
and turmoil will be the
result. There is strong rage prejudice
in this country among white people
against associating upon equal terms
with negroes. Officers in the navy are
brought into the closest social rela-
tons with each other. 1t is different in
the army. There they are not shut up
in the same apartments together and
the colored army officers have colored
soldiers to command. IN the navy the
colored officer would be put in COM
mand of white sailors. The naval Of
ficer frequently represents this country
in foreign lands. He associates with
and receives the highest dignitaries,
and the time has not come when this
can be done acceptably by negroes.
The lot of the unfortunate young col
ored man in the Naval academy will
be most unhappy one. He will, if we
may judge by the past, lead a life of
isolation, humiliation and solitude. The
officers in charge can coerce the white
cadets in their official relations with
the colored cadet But this is all they
can do. They can compel no one to
talk to him or to treat him as an equal
Or to have anything to do with him
1t is a positive cruelty to
the boy to subject him TO these condi-
tons. because he will in effect be 'in
coventry all the time.
The effect of this intrusion upon the
other cadets will probably be most I'M
fortunate for them. To undertake to
compel them to room with a negro, to
sit at table with him, may produce in
and cause some of the
white boys to be dismissed. In former.
years a promising young man from
Annapolis lost his career in the navy
because he refused to fence with a
,olored cadet. There has already been
something said about some of the
southern cadets resigning if this col
bred youth is put in. But it is to be
hoped that thew will not do such
'oolish thing. Even if the boy gets in,
md he has very severe examination
% pass before he does get in, he may
share the fate of the Others who pre-
,eded him and not remain.