Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-02
C0L0RED STUDENTS EXCLUDED.
The Race Question Raised In the Co
lumbar Law SehOOl-The Correspond
enee or one OF the Applicants with the
President OF the University.

AumD18m Law Se0OOt-Ine correspond
enee or one OF the Applicants with the
President OF the University.
William II. Fl. Hart young colored man, re-
Gently applied with other colored men for per-
mission to enter the junior class of the Column
bian law school and was refused. Mr.. Hart
then addressed a long letter to DIR. James G.
yelling, president OF the university, setting
forth the facts of his case. In this letter Mr.
Hart says he called upon Mr.. Mattingly, chair
man of the board of trustees, who stated that
the committee had promised the white stu
dents some time ago not to admit gentlemen of
color to the lectures, because the presence of
such persons in the hall might prove objection
able to the other students; that the board had
already manifested desire to open the doors
ceiving several colored students within the last
four years; but that now the board thought 1t
prudent to adopt a different policy. and In
future would be governed in the matter by the
wishes of the white students. Mr.. Hart sug-
gests that the white students finally acqui-
esced in the action of four years ago admitting
coored students and since then have regarded
this question as res ddudicata. "In the second
place" he says "yonr present uneZeeiled facili-
ties as university became a possibility through
the benevOlence of the distinguished philan-
thopist, w. w. COrcoran. IT, therefore, the
this great public benefactor's bounty, should
combine to exclude other worthy individuals
thereby be be placed in the unenTiabie attitude Of
selfish monopOlists of another mans charity.
And firmly believe that. If it were proper TO
submit such matter to a junior class, the vote
of the members would be for admission and
not for exclusion. But the president and hon
orable board of trustees of Columbian uni
versity are the custOdians of great public
trust and as upright administrators of that re
sponsible trust they cannot allow the unreal
perienced undergraduates to dictate the policy
of the university" Mr.. Hart refers to hints
which he says have been made that the induc-
ton into power of a democratic chief executive
says, have wondered whether the action Of the
eo1ege anthorlsies was not prompted by the ex-
does not think this can be true He appeals to
Dr. yelling. as president of the leading uni
should be "a leader of public opinion, and not
its blind follower; a champion of truth, justice
ana beneyO!ence. and not a servant OF error
DIR. WELLING'S REPLY.
On the 27th inst. DIR. yelling replied to Mr.
Hart, saying: "As the members of the corpora
| ton, and NOT the faculty, are the governing
power of the university, you will perceive at
| once that am not competent to deal with the
| questions which you discuss. These questions
| are already before the corporation, which re-
serves to itself the right, as 1t alone has the
| power TO decide them, for the government of the
| faculties in all our departments of instruction.
| You are quite right i'll supposing that neither
| the action of the National university law
| school nor the election of ii democratic Presi-
| dent had anything to do with the action of our
| university authorities in reserving to them
| selves the ultimate decision of the question to
4
| OF Columbia is not so simple as you seem to
think. The Congress of the United States re.
| spending to the wish of the colored population,
| has given To them cOlored public schools and a
| coiored superintendent, distinct from the
schools and superintendence of the white popu-
| latiOn. The coored people show no DISPOSE ton
| to give up their exclusive schools: moreover the
| Congress gives large and liberal grants to How
ard university for the special benefit of the col
| Ored race, while to the Columbian university it
| makes no grants, but rather impedes its opera
| lions by levying taxes on its library and endOw-
| wish TO inquire what their duties really are,
so long existing legislation makes a legal dis
elimination in our public schools and favOrs the
| colored race by giving to Howard university
valuable grants and immuntieS which are de-
| MED to the Columbian university. If we are to
| share in the duties Of Howard university we ex-
| pect to share in the privileges
MIR. HART MAKES PLEA FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
Mr.. Hart in replying on the following day,
| said: 1 have read your answer carefully and
am forced, both by the general tenor OF your
note and the irrelevant pleading Of special con-
gressiOnal grants to Howard university, sOr-
| rowfully to conclude that whatever hope may
have entertained of a favorable reconsideration
OF this matter by the governing power in the
university of which You are president, was
! futile Referring TO the legal distinctions
| made in the public schools, he says: THE law
is bad one, even where it is binding; how
| utterly unreasonable and unjust must it then
| appear for your university, which it does not
reach and for which it was not made to invoke
| its malign power"
~ fail 10 see,'' Mr.. Hart says chow the estab-
lishment of colored public schools by legislative
| enactment can be urged reason or even
| offered an excuse by the authorities of the
| Columbian university for excluding gentlemen
of color from their law department. / now come
| TO the last point III your answer TO my appeal,
| namely, that Congress makes large grants to
| Howard university for the excl usive benefit of
the cOlored race. have first TO say that How
| ard university is not a colored peoples school
| any more than it is a white peoples school. 1t
declares IN Its charter that Howard university
| throws open the doors of all of its departments
| OF instruction to all persons of good character
| without discrimination on account OF SEX creed
| or color. There are now, or have been, white
| students in all OF its departments, and five
| eighths of the names upon the roster of the
| medical department are those of white stu
| dents, and among them are the names of the
| son and drughter OF a United States Senator
from California The reason Of this is that the
! your law department. is the best equipped
school of that profession in the District OF Co
| luinbia. Secondly, the law department does
not receive one cent of the moneys appropriate
| ed by Congress: these means available for
/ the academic departments only of Howard uni
| versity.
/ In conclusion he says: "Desiring to study the
| science OF the law, find that ON account of my
not admit me. The Georgetown university
| law school excludes negroes and women, and
| the Columbian university law school closes its
doors III my lace. The authorities of the Column
| ban university have done me Il great wrong
and the law ought to furnish relief from
I IT, But your friends have he ears OF Justice
/ they have wealth, intelligence, power. position
and everything upon their side except law, eX.
! ceDt reason, except the divine teachings OF
Christ, except benevOlence, eXccp: blind. exact
severe justice, and except that jewel of the
Angio-Saxon heart-iair play. Undeservedly
wounded and Inundated beyond expression,
have the honor u subscribe myself, your hum
bic and most Obedient servant"
An Alleged Female Burglar Captured
HOW TRUSTED SERVANT ROBBED HER EN-
| FLOWERS.
In July last Rose PchOuse, q cOlored girl, liv
ing i'll the family OF Mr.. Richard Cruit, No. 721
18th street, was arrested Oh a charge of larceny
of S65 from the family, and the case was SEN
by the Police Court To the grand jury: bond.
$500. She had bore such good reputation il
the house that Dir. and Mrs. Cruit could hardly
reallZe that she was thief and after the arres
they We're inclined to fCregO any proceeding
against the girl. 1t appeared later, however
tGat she HAD, VIXEN she left, taken away u key
%. the back door OF the house, and in Octobe
the mouse was twice Inysteriously robbed, one,
OF 500 in money and Il lot of jewcIry, and a
another time Of Il black silk dress ON the las
occasion the girl WAS seen to climb over tn,
! back wall Every effort WAS made to ind he
| AFTER TINS. out II was alscertained that she hal
, | lett the clty. y bench warrant WAS issued TO
| her for the July robbery, and being wanted TO
! the Two October roboerieS extra efforts were
made to get her here. ON saturday it having bee,
reported that she had been seen in Alexandria
telegram was sent there, and she was arrested
by Lieut.. Smith, and on Saturday evening sh
VAS brought here by Detectives Block an,
Ran These officers yesterday, with Lieut.
smith, obtained a search warrant, and went t,
Fairfax CO., Va. where she was keeping hOus
I a nplx r..