The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-13

Who fakes Just pride in the history u e4'0
state.-Louisvlle Post.
Eaz:ns ut the Virginia Military
Editor of The Times:
SRI would Ike through your co'''..A..s,
70 call attention to the hazing praeueea
,t tha virginia Military Institute ana -
ask =. few questions concerning ~.
Two wears ago the entire .ise
of that institution was eHpsi1eu - 49,
ohe5is1,ce to orders. although II was nu.
90 ,tsI aod harmless outbreak against
-, an,1arentlv unnecessary restriction, Tor
80 Tho average mind there seems 20 os 10
valid reason why the cadets sAol'ia no.
ba allowed one afternoon. at least, VI e..s
christmas holidays to shoot tlce-cracSeis.
Vet tfis offense. though so surnfEl2riis 49,
with was not nearly as serious u ;a1,
al;zino as the customs Of hazng. Whlch
onos on seemingly unchecked: for TINS IS
not only a disChedience of orders. but Is
baro7f1l IL the interests of the school ana
an outright violation of the solemn piedse
winch eacll cadet is required TO give not
| to engage in any practices Of TIE kind.
| We are all aware that hazng IS lo.1s
| established, and that for many years II
| has been the habit of the older cadets 70
tease aud torment tie new boys. but it
; does not make it any more excusahie taSet
| this odious practice has been handed down
from, one generation 10 another: it IS al
| the more reason why it should be aooi-
ished ~,
4 great deal may be overlooked in the
! way Of horse play and rough jokes in a
school of boys. but some Of the treatment
inflicted on the fourth class boys a the
Y. NJ I. is indefensibe and passes the
limits, OF a lest BY stretch Of imagina-
lion It may be considered a fine joke for
chit or zen older bows to seize another
and force him to swallow q na'tsecus d2se
nj nl,- scap-srds and whiskey. or to
..h,,7I,-. him with hayoncts. or drenci, hin,
with pahfulS of icy watcr. These and
at;7or similar diversions may be looked
u0nn ~ Jokes hut where 4 dozen hoES,
| masked and at midnight drag another
from his bed. hold him across CHAIR or
| table and beat him with braided Wires or
| trunk straps until he is bruised inp sore
| for DAYS afterwards it ceases Il be funny
| and becomes co7varliy cruelty. The fact
! tlilt All OF the .!,at5, as they = caleb,
are treated to the same Impartial cas-
| tigation does not make it any more eldu-
| rIbIe. IL a high-spirited boy attempts to
| resist the violence of his tormsntoTs IS oAty
| increased; however he may rage against
! sucn brutal indign.ties, he IS oVerWheiined
| BY numbers ana has either to submit or
| leave tbs institute These occurrences
| are Enthusiastically true and the question
arises why are they permitted? There
| must certainly exist somewhere tie au-
| thority to prevent them. Why is 1t not
! exercised?
DO the parents Of this State approve OF
| such Il practice? Do they enjoy having
| their boys maltreated and Inundated III
| this way? Do the fathers of the oppres-
| sors feel proud of the sons who INFECT sucis
! cruelties on others? Do they not, rather,
| disapprcve of a discipline or lack of dis
F.! Cipline which permits and overlooks 1t?
! no doubt 1t is difficult to prove these Oh
| lenses; there is sentiment diligently
| cultivated by the upper class men ana
| sub-professors that it IS unmanly tor the
prosecuted rats to complain or to report
| their torlnentors; they must, and generally
| do, bear their Entertainment without & nlur-
| muir. The esprit de corps OF the military
| school prevents the first class from report
ing the misdcmeanors OF the second and
third classes, who are the principal Offend
| ers, and the sub-professors seem bind
+! and deaf to what goes on in this ike
| Occasionally a cadet is expelled; for this
! ofrense IN disobedience OF orders and IN
| violation Of their pledge they are some
| times reprimanied and disciplined, but The
| hazing goes merrily on. We believe Two
| cadets have been expelled this season,
| possibly more. Some eight or ten boys
have left the institute. unable OF unwilling
| 10 endure such humiiiatons. Many parents
| would hesitate to send a hSh-sp!rted or
| a physically delicate boy where he would
| have TO undergo such treatment
| Why should the usefulness OF sh'5 Inc
institute be 80 impaired? What IS the
| necessity or excuse for such mistaken
, system Is it conducive to courage, ga :
| lantry and sold.erly virtues in either ;t!e
| oppressors or the oppressed? Does Il I'M
1850 10 ar-L-
| respect for his word Of honor so essential
in soldierly training?
How does it help matters that the fourth
| class men this year can take it out OF
the rats next year? Can any boy Vindl-
cate mis- self-respect by inflicting on help
less new Corners the same wrongs which
/ have been inflicted on him by others? Is
not this simply a training in cowardice
and cruelty? IS not the system radically
| wrong and demoraliZing?
The Board of Visitors cannot be aware
of the extent to which this practice is ear
| ried If they are. they are strangely apa-
thetic They acted promptly and firmly in
the case Of the fireworks class; can
they not exercise their authority in this
matter? Could not the superintendent and
his assistants use a Little more watch
wulnesa in detecting, and a little more
energy in furnishing these frequent ofTenses?
The Virginia Military institute is sup
ported by the people of the State: it be-
longs to no party. to no Board of Visitors,
to no superintendent. It is the property
Of the people of Virginia who MAINTAIN
and foster it. They have the right TO ex-
poet and demand that it shall be CON
Quoted on the high plane which ensures
fair treatment to all and that when their
boys go there they shall not be subjected
to humiliating assaults which they can
not resist. or in their turn be allowed to
huniliate and tvrannZe over others
Hazing has been suppressed at West
Point by firm and stern measures. Let The
West Point OF the South be freed of this
demoral.zing influence the only stain on
her fair name and proud record
CITIZEN.
October, s. 1900.