The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-19
The Race Issue.

The race problem promises to create
a great disturbance in institutions of
learning hitherto exempt from any dis
cussion of the subject except in an alb
stract sense. Congressman White of
Illinois recently appointed a coiored
youth named Smith for admission
into the Naval Academy at
Annapolis, who at the pre-
liminary examination in June was re-
jected. Mr. White has reappointed
him. convinced that the Examining
Board was influenced by the racial
question, as the young man is one who
for mental attainments, can scarcely
be surpassed He was graduated at
the head of his class from the Chicago
High school, secured a gold medal for
general excellence in his studies. and
by recommendation from teachers and
influential men in his district, seems
eminently satisfactory as a representa-
tive at the Naval Academy. The con-
gresham states that no feeling of SEN
timent exists in the matter in his case,
but that no branch of the public SER
vice should be closed to citizen be-
cause of his color If mistake has
been made in giving him citizenship
the laws should be amended; until
that time, and while in office, the con-
gresham proposes to reapDoint young
Smith as often as he is rejected, and
while he will not accept a denomination
for congress he is persuaded that so
strong is the feeling on the subject in
his district that his successor will con-
tinue the course already adopted. The
young man is nearly white and as to
personal appearance can by no possi-
biity reflect dscredit upon any insti-
tuition. Mr. Whites position in the
premises is absolutely sound
The case of Anita Hemmings reads
like the widest romance. OF colored
parentage, but of exceptional intel
lectual ability and much beauty, she
has been graduated in June from per-
haps the proudest college for women
in our land, where never before a
daughter OF the negro race had set
foot as a student, and where, under no
possibility. would she have been re-
mother is a woman of unbuunded am
bition and much mental force, and by
her efforts the girl received every ad-
vantage that cultured Boston could
give. Having attracted the attention
and interest of a wealthy lady of that
city, She was sent to Mr.. Moody's
school at Mortified and afterward to
u-h ha
ular among the most exclusive set At
her graduation in June she took a
prominent part and received honors.
, The authorities and the college patrons
are, however. much scandalized since
the alleged deception has been dis
covered and the affair has probably
caused more excitement than anything
in the history of the great institution
Of learning.
Looking at the details of the two
cases from a, totally unprejudiced
standpoint it seems more than absurd
that such a disturbance should be
made, or that the sequence of events
. in connection with these two persons
should constitute such an enormity in
tion of the American public. In Bos-
ton the beautiful young woman who
showed no traces of negro blood but
whose birth was well-known was re-
ceived among her white friends of high
social standing, as an equal In Chi
cago young Mr. Smith, the choice for
cadet at Annapolis by unanimous vote
OF his district, was made much of
wherever he went and when leaving to
take his examination at the Naval
Academy was escorted to the station
by hundreds of his proud fellow stud
ents, every one Of whom was white
1t is reflection upon free and inde-
pendent America n race distinction
exists to such an extent that the Elk.
amining Board OF the Naval Academy
contains prejudice enough to exclude
a man OF intellectual attainments even
superior to the majority of the mem