The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-29
DIFFERENCES N TIME.


Tho appointment OF a negro. a graduate
Of West Point. to the rank of major In
ono OF tho volunteer regiments OF Ohio
received most Indignant protest from
the Buckeye soldiers. c. d. Young, the
name OF the new major. has had something
OF stormy time from the beginning OF
CTS military career. His stay at West
Peint was of the most unpleasant nature.
~ he was ostracised by the students In a
most painful manner, having been denied
the least participation in the social affairs
OF the institution and constantly reminded
OF the nsuperabe barrier that lay be-
tween him and the object of his hopos
Young is a fullblooded negro. with the
usual characteristics OF the race He WAS
admittedly possessed OF more than ordinary
Intelligence and achieved distinction In his
studies at West Point. but still was pre-
vented from graduating on account OF n
real or alleged deficiency In one of tho
studies. He was a hard student and bore
his misfortunes with a degree of fortitude
He afterwards became the first lieutenant
OF the Seventh cavalry OF Ohio. from
which position he was recently promoted
to the rank OF major Young enjoys the
distinction OF being the only negro officer
In the United States army
Tho storm OF protest at hts recent an
pointmcnt will In all likelihood result in
mis- removal to one of the colored com
panies of Ohio, and thus It seems that tho
race question is not the question of any
particular section nor the resultant prob.
lem OF the prejudices OF any portion OF
the country. Race antipathes are as nat.
urai and inerndicnbly human as individual
likes and dislikes. The people OF tho
North are as unwilling to mect tho negro
on the grounds Of social equality as tina
people OF the South. and the general de-
nunciation OF the social treatment OF the
negro In the South that has at times been
indulged In by those who needed only TO
hse IN the South In order to share its
'pre1udices' has not only been foolish. but
also productive of no little evil TO the
negro himself. Their prejudces are as
much part Of men as their personal pe.
cuiiarities. Their origin is natural. easily
traced and for the most part beneficial
In their results The negro race as n
whole has never reached the standard of
human excellence. neither from the es
thetic nor the practical standpoint. re-
Gardless OF the correctness OF our notions
Of what constitutes an excellent man. Il,
10 impossible that men should admire
weakness. and TO have sprung from race
primitively weak and but recently emerged
from slavery. the most reproachfui badge
Of inferiority, Is enough to prevent the
individual from ever wholly arising from
the humber walks Of society. The in
huences by which b. is kept down are
called .prejudices,' and by those who
Judge conditions by their immediate results
rather than from comprehensive view OF
ths congeries OF sociological forces that
make up the evolution of society there has
been = great deal Of unwise criticism more
harmful to the negro than the "preludices''
Themselves.
The Southern people are peculiarly
Rlen4iy TO The negro, and the chief diff
2ute1cs between hia treatment In the North
~ y ~ eeSth 4 TIE difference between
kl1l1t eoolineh thai one man has Tor
tp 1iostss ~ ~ lnoeasldersts rs-
- = f1lle ~ ! ssainal saaAl. Il 4 |