"
"The cadets were, of course, very much rejoiced
at my being 'in arrest,' and after my sentence
had been published at parade, they had quite a
jubilee over it, and boasted of 'the skill and
tact which Cadet Tyler had shown in putting the
nigger out of the temptation of taking those black
wenches to the hops.' They thought, no doubt, that
their getting me into trouble frightened me out of
any thoughts I might have had of attending the 'hops;'
but if I had any idea of going to the 'hops,' I should
have been only more determined to go, and should have
done so as soon as my term of confinement was ended.
I have never thought of going to the 'hops,' for it
would be very little pleasure to go by myself, and I
should most assuredly not have asked a lady to subject
herself to the insults consequent upon going there.
Besides, as I said before, I did not go to West Point
for the purpose of advocating social equality, for
there are many cadets in the corps with whom I think
it no honor for any one to associate, although they are
among the high-toned aristocrats, and will, no doubt,
soon be numbered among the 'officers and gentlemen' of
the United States Army.
"Yours respectfully,
"J. W. SMITH,
"Late Cadet U.S.M.A."
REPLY TO THE "WASHINGTON CHRONICLE."
"COLUMBIA, S.C., August 25, 1874.
To the Editor of the New National Era:
"SIR: The following article appeared in the Washington
Chronicle of the 14th inst.
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