The San Francisco call., 1899-08-11
WEST POINT JEW BATTING.

I
[ chairman of the Committee Claims in a
- competitive examination appointed Sigmund
Albert Jew, to a cadetship in West Point Mr.. Al
bert took his examinations successfully and ranked
well in his class but has been compelled to resign
and go home by the ceaseess physical abuse put upon
him by the Christian cadets.
A Pleb at West Point must fight few times. 1t
is part OF the mettle-tryng process OF the military
school, and is winked at by the authorities But whea
a Peb has proved his courage in a couple OF mills
the pranls and prosecutions which compel him to hight
usually cease But in A1berts there was no ces-
sation He was tripped at drill nsuted and pursued
and regular conspiracy entered into to wear nm
out He is Young fellow of fine physique, and II
the usual course had been pursued with him would
have found no difficulty in sustaining the trying ex-
percnces common to the cadets. But whether
he whipped or was whipped made no difference. He
fought some mills that sent him to the hospital, but
in spite Of the daily trial OF his temper and courage
he kept up with his lessons and classwOrk Finally
when he was just out OF hospital after battle that
disabled him. he was set upon by an Irish cadet, and
in his weakened state being incapable OF stout de
fense was brutally pounded into insensbility. After
being somewhat restored in the hospital, foreseeing
that his several hundred prosecutors could wear hifn
out and cause his failure in class standing, he re
signed and went home.
Two other Jewish cadets, Affel OF New York and
Huntzler of Baltimore have been driven out OF West
Point this year in the way, though they do not
seem to have sustained the unequal battle long as
Albert did Congressman Brosius has been notified
OF the resignation and vacancy, but has taken no
steps in the matter AS each of the three Jews who
have been driven out Of the Academy won his ap-
pointment in d competitive examination, scholastic
and physical and was the beneficiary OF avorit-
ISM the case is of peculiar hardship 1t IS OF in
erest to San Francisco because bright young Jew,
who has already military service, we believe, has
been appointed to West Point from Congressman
Kahns district.
The recent distressing scandals in the French army,
which for time threatened the stability OF the re-
public, had their origin in hatred of the Jews. Cap
tain Dreyfus is Jew, and in the invention OF case
against him and the conspiracy to destroy him by for
gerry and perjury the whole motive racial and
ligious Unfortunately, the civil government of
France aware of this conspiracy in military circles,
weakly covered before the influence of the army and
by its cowardce nearly brought to pass revolution
that would have reversed the political destiny OF
France.
That similar moral disease should become
demic in the United States army must be more than
deplored 1t must be prevented. There is
hood courage nor anything American and praise
worthy in such a combination OF numbers seems to
have been made against Cadet Albert. Among savage
Indians if the victim the gauntlet and lived
his rights respected and he had further ordeal
This honorable rule seems to be ignored at West
Point, and the numerous young men being educated
there for saared life at the expense OF the tax
payers should be made to understand that such con-
duct as is reported toward Cadet Albert is regarded
as cowardy and unmanly to the last degree
The Jew cadet from San Francisco can what is
ahead of him and should be prepared for it. 1t is
expected, also by all of people, OF all creeds,
that if a similar attack is made upon him Congress
man Kahn will initiate such investigation will
demonstrate whether the military cadets of this
try are to be permitted class Jews and negroes to-
geher and deny both the right to the advantages
and training of the Academy.
The Jews are numerically weak in this country,
but little than half a million in
population of seveny-ive millions. But the constitu-
ton guarantees to them absolute equality of right be-
fore the law If there were but Jew in the coun
try he should be as safe if the armies of the princely
Naccabees here to enforce his rights. We have
just made finish of Spain, but her downfall began
when in the flush and high tide of power greater than
have she turned upon the Jew in precisely the
same spirit that inspires the disgraceul and cowardy
acts of the West Point cadets