The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-25
ANO THEIR CHAPTER IN THE CADET
INVESTIGATION.

The BooZ investigation makes very
foolish and degrading revelations as to
West Point and the dOingS Of the ca
diets, the higher fellows. Some tall
lying has been done or brutalities are
rampant. The last aspect of h in
squiry is that young students are treat
ed savagely, and that some of the older
students are capable of cruelty and
outrage that would qualify them we'll
TO fight under Kitchener and carry out
his plan of oppression and destruction.
1t is remarkable that while students
swear they were "hazed." that none
can remember that BooZ as so treat
ed. The Washington Post. that is fol-
Towing up the investigation with open
eye and accurate understanding, says
eft begins to dawn Upon us that every
~tplebe' in Booz's rear was hazed-ex-
ceptfng only BoOz himself. They all
grew fat and sassy" on the regimen.
They describe it under the piercing eye
of Chairman Brooke. as a wholesome
and in~vigorating process. The infer
sepce is patent-BooZ died of neglect on
the part OF the hazers. Had the latter
made him swallow d few pounds OF
soap. doused him in freezing water,
compelled him to pass around the main
building on all OUR naked. during a
SNOW storm, and otherwise looked after
his moral and material comfort, he
would no doubt be alive today
snlendid Specimen of vitality n phys
ical perfection. AS it is. having been
sternly deprived of these advantages,
he is dead"
We do not know that any cadet from
rhe south took a hand in the cruelties
visited upon the Christian youth and
hore there is none. The o says that
it now knows from the inquiry
ed by General Brooke, that new boys
lust entering the military academy are
called beasts and treated according
Iy. We know, moreover. that they de-
serve all the contumely and prutal
treatment the encounter" The whole
revelation is disgusting and Internal.
1t shows that the American youth can
be like the great French critic. Taine,
saws of the English people, in his
splendid work on English Literature
that underneath all their veneering and
polish and high education. with all OF
their noble, glorious traditions. that the
highest people are half barbarians
The Post points to what is needed at
the military academy of America to
make it civilized and we'll behaved and
free from cruelties and violence. 1t
gives an incident that is interesting:
1.-The only deduction that we can
draw is that West Point needs for its
honor and credit a fresh infusion III
such spirit as, years ago, was MANIFEST
ed by Cadet Buck. of Texas. The
country will remember that he refused
to b. disciplined according to West
Point traditions, and. conscious of his
on dignity and good breeding, shot the
ruffan who headed the hOodlum gang
Intent upon his persecution and humil-
iation. He was a far better representa-
tive of American than the
ecevardly ruffians who sought to torture
and disgrace a boy they thought to be
sdefenseleSS."
Fifty years ago or more. there was a
system of small prosecutions at the
University of North Carolina The
Fresh were put through a course OF
@experiences," but they were mild and
harmless when compared with that of
the heightened "gentry''at West Point at
the end of the century. There came a stu
dent at last who knew what was done
to ..neweys," and he resolved that he
would not submit ito n petty persecu-
ton or indignities. He a in his room
at night on the side opposite to the
door with his pistol cooked and ready
lying on the table by him. Presently
the crowd came. The door was locked,
but out went a panel kicked out by one
of the unwelcome visitors. He quickly
pointed his heavy pistol saying, L Will
shoot the man who enters" No one
essayed to do this. Victory was with
the ~resolute youth. Hazing in the south
is about dead or it should be.