Honored scholars, how do you do.

I am Emily Leonard, a would-be historical novelist, focusing on the New
York Irish from 1865 until the First World War. I recently came across the
following and need help in verifying

In "The Mauve Decade," Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1926 (Carroll&Graf
Publishers, Inc. reprint, 1997, Thomas Beer writes:

        Sensitive Irish Americans in 1894 suffered considerably....
        In New York, a Committee of females and pastors hunted down
        an intimate of Grover Cleveland and urged him to secure the
        presidnet's approval of a bill excluding Catholics from
        West Point and Annapolis.

Has anyone ever heard of this incident. Is Thomas Beer considered a
reliable source of historically valid facts. Other than writing my
Congresswoman and asking her office to check the records, is there some way
I can verify this statement.

You suggestions and comments will be deeply appreciated.