As you are aware, there is at present a
colored, or partly colored, cadet in the Freshman
Class--Whittaker by name. This poor young mulatto is
completely ostracized not only by West Point society,
but most thoroughly by the corps of cadets itself.
Flipper got through all right, and, strange to say,
the cadets seem to have a certain kind of respect for
him, although he was the darkest 'African' that has
yet been seen among the West Point cadets. Flipper
had remarkable pluck and nerve, and was accorded his
parchment--well up on the list, too--at last graduation
day. He is made of sterner staff than poor Whittaker.
"A most surprising fact is that not one of the cadets
--and I think I might safely include the professors--
tries to dissemble his animosity for the black, mulatto,
or octoroon candidate. When I asked a cadet to-day some
questions concerning the treatment of Cadet Whittaker
by the corps, he said : 'Oh, we get along very well,
sir. The cadets simply ignore him, and he understands
very well that we do not intend to associate with him.'
This cadet and several others were asked whether Minnie,
if admitted, would also be ostracized socially. Their
only answer was: 'Certainly; that is well understood by
all. We don't associate with these men, but they have
all the rights that we have nevertheless.' I asked if
he knew whether Whittaker attended the ball last night.
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