The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-05
BEYOND THE CONTROL OF GOVERN.
MINT


The washington Post Of yesterday re-
produced from the New York Commercial
Advertiser the article which The Times
Of the same day reproduced with refer
ence TO the application Of w. c. Bundy
for admission to the Annapolis Naval
Academy, and the Posts comments are
for the most part the same as our own.
The Post says:
We confess that we have not devoted
much time 10 this aspect Of the matter.
II is entitled to consideration no doubt
but we have thought more Of the suffer
ings Of the frlendless black boy himself
than Of the amount Of money the Govern
ment will lose on its investment Here
Is the difference between the Northern
and the Southern point Of view. We leave
the Government 10 defend itself against
incompetency and concern ourselves
chiefly with the cruel hardshps which we
know 20 be in store for young Bundy
should he succeed in surviving all the
preliminary tests and finally become
full-dedged navy Officer 1t is possible
that, upheld by the idea OF benehting
his race-a false idea as he and they will
fnd--he may endure unto the end; but we
dom for a creature OF the smallest self
respect and delicacy OF feeling. His fate
will be sad enough at the Academy. In
the ward room it will be appalling. II he
lives through it, he will have triumphed
over miseries far worse than any ever Of
fered for NerO's delectatiOn.
Wicked, cruel, cowardly-such persecu-
tlon Of one youth by his fellows? That
Is as may be. Perhaps the others will
think it wicked. cowardly, and cruel to
force upon them such an issue But.
wherever the fault may lie. young Bundy
will be the victim. The country is not
ready to admit the negro to social equal
fly. 1t is no more ready-we think even
less so-at the North than at the South.
And yet. here IS mad venture 10 enforce
an intimacy and a recognition infinitely
more complete than would be involved in
the association Of the races at theatres,
hotels. restaurants. or even at occa-
sionai balls and banquets and sem-pub-
lie functions. There is no fellowship so
close and so impossible Of avoidance as
that Of the ward room on a man-of-warl
Does any one believe that good can come
OF this experiment? Is II not evident that
nothing but harm. and chiefly harm 10
DurOy and his race, must be the cOnse-
QucncC?
The ccicred people are clamoring for So
cial equality. They complain that they
are kept down by the preiudlces Of the
whites. and insist that but for these
preiUdlces. they could take and hold a
hiS ,e~ place For our part. we do not
admit the Justice Of this proposition. We
think that the colored people have quite
as much recognition as they deserve-as
m ioh rs they will ever receive until they
l1tr q ttrhf la 90 10
by tho rule OF individual merit. But as
Stunning the existence Of these alleged
prcitGiccs and acknowledging them 10
be the obstacle Of the negrO's way, what
shall We say Of the wisdom of the effort
a. remcvC them by violence7 a prejudice
IS 10 material thing 20 be reduced like
a Notification. by assault II is n sonN-
mont TO be placated by proving fits in
tlsuCe
The Post has given rs opinion-eiven e
IN an kindness and good feeling We shall
sec what lesson comes afterward in the
light Of fact and demonstration.
To attempt 10 argue against lis preiu-
dice is 70 attempt a vain thing. sur
ficient TO know that IT exists and that It
cannot be removed. AS well attempt 10
change the color OF the black mans SKIN
as TO change the deep-seated prejudice
Of the white man against the negro as n
social equal
Every citizen OF the United States I'M
der the Constitution has certain guaran-
teed rights which the government ought
to enforce and does enforce. But there
is a limit beyond which even the govern
ment itself may not go. 1t is the in
anenable right OF every man TO say VINO
his associates shall be, and when the gov
eminent attempts 10 force upon his So
ciety men. who. for reasons OF his own.
are Objectionable, the government at
tempts an objectionable and an impossi-
BILE usurpation.
Society is autocratic and will manage
its own affairs in its own way. The color
line is not the only line. There are va