Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-06-24

West Point-The Charges of MaI-treat.
ment Reiterated.
Correspondence OF the New York Sun.
/ WEST POINT, June 16.
The colored cadets arc the absorbing
topic of military and West Point circles.
There is great uneasiness to learn the ex-
act status of the two "boys Of destiny, :"
Michael Howard, of Mississippi. and Jas.
W. Smith, of South Carolina. The two
boys have passed the physical examina-
ton, and are drilling, messing and Sleep
| ing members of the Cadet Corps. Colonel
Smiths eyes is common exception, doz-
| ems of white boys being probated in the
same manner annually.
Correspondent-Do they generally get
through when probated ?
Colonel Boynton-I hardly ever knew
one to fail. Tho boys are here, and from
the professors they shall have Justice. The
other cadets dislike it, but they cannot
change 1T. The examinations are to be
written out and the examining sheets num-
bered and not named. The judges of each
boys paper must be impartial, or they do
not know who answers the questions, eX-
cept by number. Such a number-say 40
or 25-is rejected, and the cadet stands or
falls with the number.
CADET PROSECUTIONS.
Concerning the words of burning insult
heaped upon theHe coIored boys by the
white cadets, l must tell the trnth and lot
the responsibility fall where it must. /
have heard the white cadets (of the older
classes) say 10 these boys while on drill
most tendish things. A cadet who grad
mated two days ago aaid in my hearing,
and while the colored cadets were on drill,
You id niggera, why don't you get
away from here O. ''You speckled cuss,
you look like dead niger. 'Look at
the---- !" We'll put the id
black rascals in the river" etc. These are
common cpithets, and they are said direct
~ TO the face of the colOred cadets Burn
ing with Indignation, / said to u gradua-
ting cadet thus swearing, "Hush don't
say these things right to the poor boys;
don't speak so loud" The answer was in
louder voice, II want these sinking
black rasculs to hear me. and then get
away from here" At this the lighter of
the colored cadets showed II
SUPPRESSED EMOTION,
but stood like John Huss at the stake. 1t
wOnld not do to strike down his assaulter |
He could not break the ranks. Then if |
one Of these cadets should challenge every
cadet who calls him to his face a id !
black hearted niger b." they would !
have to fight two-thirds of the academy.
Not the professors. for they are as truly
gentlemen as they are good officers. Not
one spoken word OF condemnation comes
from them. Is they have any internal
burninga, they stoically suppress any out
ward expression. I will say here it is all
bosh about the cadets treating these color
ed boys tkindIy. The indignities they
heap upon them would be unbearable to
my white boy of spirit. Hundreds Of
times Of day they are publicly called
names to their faces SO mean that / blush
to think Of them. l dare not write them
As they passed ont from these insulting
yesterday / followed them to their
rooms. They showed no resentment
Theirs was Christian resignation. eve
expect 1t, and we shall try and stand it,"
said cadet Smith; 'but it was not 30 at the
Hartford High School. There 1 was chos-
4n orator, with
THE NEXT HIGHEST HONOR,
but here they pick on us and insult us in
Inc meaneat way" Here he showed me
catalogue of the Hartford High School,
Ind there stood the mama of ,Jamoa w