Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-05-05
Il. c. BUNDY,

The Colored Candidate for an Annapolis
Uadetship, Writes About Himself and His
Ancestors What He Expects TO Do.
R. C. Bundy, the colored boy nom
mated by Congressman Shattuc, of Gin
cinnati. for a naval cadetship, writes
TO the editor of the New York World
as follows:
Cincinnati May l, 1897.
l was born ian. 81. 1879, at Whining
ton. o.. and am the eldest Of four chill
dren.
My father, Charles Bundy, is a de-
scendant of the Bundys of Virginia, a
wealthy white family. My grandfath-
er's father was his master (on fathers
side). My mother, Eliza Alice Need
ham. comes from an aristocratic West
Virginia family by the name of Lewis.
Her grandfather is white. Neither my
mother nor father were, ever slaves.
My father is an itinerant minister in
the African Methodist Episcopal Church
and at my birth was stationed at Will
miugton. Ohio. On account of his vo-
cation have resided in Hamilton,
GAINESVILLE. Steubenyille and Cincinnati,
o.. respectively, and it was in the public
schools of the three latter places that
l obtained my primary education.
Owing to the fact that my father has
been stationed at Cincinnati as Presid-
ing Elder of the above-named church
for four years past, l have been able TO
finish the four-years' course at Wood
ward High School of this city, where l
will graduate in June. In regard to my
appointment to Annapolis as United
States Naval Cadet by Gen. Shattuc l
have simply this TO say: obtained the
appointment through competitive ex-
animation which was held at Madison
vile. o., on Saturday, March u. There
were eight applicants who competed
and. after the examination was over,
il was found that l had made the best
percentage. Hence l received the ap-
pOintment. Gen. Shattuc had scarcely
made his appointment known when all
the newspapers of the country took the
matter up and discussed it, some for
me and some against me. About this
time appeared an article in many OF
the papers stating that IF a colored
boy was admitted to the academy the
cadets would all resign" and "A color
ed boy will be ostracised and discrim-
mated against at Annapolis" do not
believe the cadets at Annapolis would
be guilty of making any such state
ments as are quoted above.
The world is fast advancing to a
place where the mind and mental ca
liabilities of a man will supercede the
color of his skin and the prejudice
against him. Annapolis is educating
and training Americas best youths, and
l don't think they are so far biased
bv a narrow mind and DETECTED con-
science as to overstep the bounds OF
common decency and gentlemanliness.
This is a government of the people by
the Deople and for the pepole Annap-
oils is a government school. Should
she then close her doors on any Of
Americas loyal sons who seek to edu-
cate themselves that they may defend
the Constitution by which they are
protected?
So far as social equality is concerned,
/ do not demand it and do not expect to
get it. Therefore, if they treat ME a
little cold on that score l will not be
disappointed. All l ask is that they
give me what earn by my own intel
lectual efforts. l expect to be hazed
Just as any other newcomer. That |
will not object to as long as it is not
brutal. l intend to go to the Academy
in September. and if l am successful in
getting in my rule of action will be to
treat them all as gentlemen. and shall
expect the same of them.
r. C. BUNDY.