New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-19
NEED OF A CHANGE AT WEST POINT.
OPINIONS OF DIR. FULToN AFTER A VISIT To TIE
MILITARY ACADEMY.

OPINIONS OF DIR. FULTON AFTER VISIT To TIE
MILITARY ACADEMYs
The Rev. DR.. Justin d. Fulton, who made o
visit to West Point last week to Cadet Whitaker
preached yesterday morning at the Centennial Baptist
Church, BROOKLYN, large congregation, taking a.
his subject: The Conflict at West Point"
The conflict at West Point said Is beginning Of
the end OF the aht between caste and brotherhood boz
tween humanity and barbarian. between Christianity
and devism. This fight Is not confined to West Peinb
but extends to Schools where colored children arc
shut out aud to Christian churches, whore eolofed
people met with coldness This fesling OF caste.
which is so widespread surpasses that OF India The
cadets at West Point would have lacked mue Of thsr
prestige, and possibly the nstution itsef would noe
be there today II it had not been for the loyalty and
bravery of the coored during the Il was found
before the victory at Appomattox that the bayones
OF the cOlored soldiers cleaned bright and their
bullets sped true those OF their white ccmrades
The eoored people have since been true to tie
which saved them from slavery, and when one az them
passed regular examination and entered the Ma
tional military school he entitled TO fair play ard to
have his rights respected the campus or tn the as
roop or In the messroom. Net only the Students but
the faculty chargeabe with injustice 20 the c0ored
by the cadets refusing TO ss the seat with
him. TO cat table unless they were served before no
have no sympathy with those people who say the IN
must be- change in its treatnent Of colored ssadens
We need the military school The proved the supe
riorify the educated oicers Some persons ask why
the c5ored cadet does not tight mannsss
when instedi do not think It best for him 20 fight
but will recall the OF colered cadet who DID light
james W. Smith, who graduated from the Hartford High
School III 1870 and subs qutnily entered the Academy
He knocked down white cadet who had made an I'M
provoked attack upon him. trial was ordered, aud
Smith and his assaant received about nm equal punish
nent Of extra work TO BIO performed, and President
Grant said chat the punishment sufficient tor toe
white cadet but should have been made heavier In tho
dents son, Frederick Grant, said; "No id nig.
Rer should graduate nom West Point"
SmiGh was afterward dismissed on fotu0us charge.
He has repeatedly asked and pleaded 10 DO received
back and given chance to prove his character and
Public sentiment should not rcst TIL bis wrongs have
rghted aud he Is allowed return TO Weet Point
IN spite OF the KrKux sentiment against him.
There is low, brutal class among the cadets Who
200 cadets cannot hold their eentemasiy instincts
against thirty forty Southern mea and rowdc then
they not men whom We are educating. DUB dough.
faces and snobs The hope IL cherished ct West Peipt
lege but hope that pgress viii SEND waoie clfss
there aud than Congressman has said that be
viii send n cOlOred boy there and viii ssaud by him.
too. when James @. Blame was &C West Point
he called the colored cadet across the room and
spoke to him eneouraengiy There . meaning.
haired Martin Townsend. think President Hayes
would rather lose his office than that black man sh0pA
be deprived OF his Rights. In England eolored people
are they were not co,ored Isaw q Eoin-
burgh University eoored man who graduated 40 the
bead OF his class walking side by side Win white
caSsmate. IcannOt give money Tor missionares 70 gQ
TO Burmah ami leave pagaDs beend them who VIII nos
grant the commopcet rights 70 their fstow-men.
and faculty at West Point TO kneel down BY rhem and
pray for them.