henry ossian flipper-第39部分

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ntered　West　Point；　and　he　had　one　companion。　The　prison　walls　of　a　Sing　Sing　cell　are　more　sympathetic　than　human　prejudice。　And　in　all　that　class　of　'77　there　were　not　to　be　found　a　dozen　men　brave　enough　to　break　through　this　wall　of　silence　and　give　the　imprisoned　victim　his　liberty。　At　least　two　thirds　of　the　class　are　Republican　appointees；　and　not　one　champion　of　equal　rights。　In　all　that　class　but　one　heroand　he　a　negro。　Seventy…five　braves　against　one！　And　the　one　was　victorious。　He　fought　out　the　four　years'　campaign；　conquered　and　graduated。　Honor　to　the　African；　shame　to　the　Anglo…Saxon。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CADET　FLIPPER　AGAIN。

〃We　have　received　several　letters　on　the　subject　of　Cadet　Flipper；　to　whose　treatment　at　West　Point　we　recently　called　the　attention　of　our　readers。　One　of　them　is　from　a　former　instructor；　who　bears　a　high　testimony　to　Lieutenant　Flipper's　character。　　He　writes：

〃'I　want　to　thank　you　for　your　editorial　in　the　Christian　Union　about　Cadet　Flipper。　He　was　one　of　our　boys；　was　with　us　in　school　from　the　beginning　of　his　education　till　Freshman　year　in　college；　when　he　received　his　appointment　to　West　Point。　He　was　always　obedient；　faithful；　modest；　and　in　every　way　manly。　We　were　sorry　to　have　him　leave　us；　but　now　rejoice　in　his　victory；　and　take　pride　in　him。

〃'During　all　these　years；　in　his　correspondence　with　his　friends；　he　has　not；　so　far　as　I　can　learn；　uttered　a　single　complaint　about　his　treatment。'

〃A　second　is　from　a　Canadian　reader；　who　objects　to　our　condemnation　of　the　Anglo…Saxon　race；　and　insists　that　we　should　have　reserved　it　for　the　Yankees。　In　Canada；　he　assures　us；　the　color　line　is　unknown；　and　that　negroes　and　Anglo…Saxons　mingle　in　the　same　school　and　in　the　same　sports　without　prejudice。　Strange　to　say　the　white　men　are　not　colored　by　the　intercourse。

〃The　third　letter　comes　indirectly　from　Lieutenant　Flipper　himself。　In　it　the　writer　gives　us　the　benefit　of　information　derived　from　the　lieutenant。　We　quote　（the　italics　are　ours）：

〃'Mr。　Flipper　is　highly　respected　here；　and　has　been　received　by　his　former　teachers　and　friends　with　pleasure　and　pride。　His　deportment　and　character　have　won　respect　and　confidence　for　himself　and　his　race。　As　to　his　treatment　at　West　Point；　he　assures　me　that　the　〃papers〃　are　far　astray。　There　was　no　ostracism　on　the　part　of　his　fellow…cadets；　except　in　the　matter　of　personal　public　association。　He　was　invariably　spoken　to　and　treated　courteously　and　respectfully　both　as　a　cadet　and　officer。'

〃We　are　glad　to　be　assured　that　it　was　not　as　bad　as　we　had　been　informed　by　what　we　considered　as　good　authority；　and　we　are　still　more　glad　to　know　that　Lieutenant　Flipper；　instead　of　making　much　of　his　social　martyrdom；　has　the　good　sense　to　make　as　light　of　it　as　he　conscientiously　can。　But　if　it　is　true　that　there　were　cadets　who　did　not　sympathize　with　the　action　of　the　class；　and　were　brave　enough　to　speak　to　their　colored　comrade　in　private；　it　was　a　pity　that　they　were　not　able　to　screw　their　courage　up　to　a　little　higher　point；　and　put　the　mark　of　a　public　condemnation　on　so　petty　and　cruel　a　persecution。〃

The　people　at　large　seem　to　be　laboring　under　a　delusion　about　West　Point；　at　least　the　West　Point　that　I　knew。　I　know　nothing　of　what　West　Point　was；　or　of　what　was　done　there　before　I　entered　the　Academy。　I　have　heard　a　great　deal　and　read　a　great　deal；　and　I　am　compelled　to　admit　I　have　doubts　about　much　of　it。　At　the　hands　of　the　officers　of　the　institution　my　treatment　didn't　differ　from　that　of　the　other　cadets　at　all；　and　at　the　hands　of　the　cadets　themselves　it　differed　solely　〃in　the　matter　of　personal　public　association。〃　　I　was　never　persecuted；　or　abused；　or　called　by　approbrious　epithets　in　my　hearing　after　my　first　year。　I　am　told　it　has　been　done；　but　in　my　presence　there　has　never　been　any　thing　but　proper　respect　shown　me。　I　have　mentioned　a　number　of　things　done　to　me　by　cadets；　and　I　have　known　the　same　things　to　be　done　to　white　cadets。　For　instance；　I　was　reported　for　speaking　to　a　sergeant　about　the　discharge　of　his　duty。　（See　Chapter　X。；　latter　part；　on　that　subject。）　The　same　thing　occurred　to　several　members　of　the　class　of　'74。　They　were　ordered　into　the　rear　rank　by　a　sergeant　of　the　second　class；　when　they　were　first…　classmen。　They　were　white。　The　result　was　they　were　all；　three　in　number；　I　think；　put　in　arrest。

Some　New　England　paper　contributes　the　following　articles　to　this　discussion；　parts　of　which　I　quote：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　BIGOT　AND　THE　SNOB

〃The　Hilton…Seligman　controversy　is　one　of　those　incidents　which　illustrate　some　of　the　features　of　our　social　life。　The　facts　can　briefly　be　stated。　A　Jewish　gentleman；　of　wealth　and　position；　applies　for　rooms　at　the　Grand　Union　Hotel；　Saratoga；　and　is　flatly　refused　admission　because　he　is　a　Jew。　The　public　indignation　is　so　great　that　the　manager　of　the　hotel　is　obliged　to　defend　the　act；　and　puts　in　the　plea　that　a　man　has　the　right　to　manage　his　property　as　he　pleases。

〃But　before　our　anger　cools；　let　us　remember　the　case　of　the　colored　cadet　at　West　Point。　During　his　course　he　met　with　constant　rebuffs。　He　was　systematically　cut　by　his　fellow…schoolmates。　Instead　of　extending　to　him　a　generous　sympathy　in　his　noble　ambition；　they　met　him　with　sneers。　All　the　feelings　which　should　guide　a　chivalric　soldier　and　lead　him　to　honor　real　heroism；　were　quenched　by　the　intense　prejudice　against　color。　Mean　and　despicable　as　is　the　spirit　which　prompted　the…manager　of　the　Grand　Union　Hotel　to　refuse　to　entertain　the　rich　Jewish　banker；　that　which　influenced　the　young　men　at　West　Point　is　still　more　deserving　scorn　and　contempt。　It　was　meaner　and　more　contemptible　than　cowardice。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　PREJUDICE　AGAINST　COLOR。

Within　the　last　thirty　years　there　has　been　a　great　change　in　public　sentiment　relating　to　colored　persons。　That　it　has　become　wholly　just　and　kind　cannot　be　shown；　but　it　is　far　less　unjust　and　cruel　than　it　used　to　be。　In　most　of　the　old　free　States；　at　least；　tidy；　intelligent；　and　courteous　American　citizens　of　African　descent　are　treated　with　increasing　respect　for　their　rights　and　feelings。　In　public　conveyances　we　find　them　enjoying　all　the　consideration　and　comforts　of　other　passengers。　At　our　public　schools　they　have　cordial　welcome　and　fair　play。　We　often　see　them　walking　along　the　street　with　white　schoolmates　who　have　evidently　lost　sight　of　the　difference　in　complexions。　Colored　boys　march　in　the　ranks　of　our　school　battalions　without　receiving　the　slightest　insult。　Colored　men　have　been　United　States　senators　and　representatives。　Frederick　Douglass　is　Marshal　of　the　District　of　Columbia。

〃There　is　one　conspicuous　place；　however；　where　caste…feeling　seems　to　have　survived　the　institution　of　slavery；　and　that　is　West　Point。　There　the　old　prejudice　is　as　strong；　active；　and　mean　as　ever。　Of　this　there　has　been　a　recent　and　striking　instance　In　the　case　of　young　Flipper　who　has　just　graduated。　It　appears　that　during　his　whole　course　this　worthy　young　man　was　subjected　to　the　most　relentless　'snubbing。'　　All　his　fellow…students　avoided　him　habitually。　In　the　recitation…room　and　upon　the　parade　ground；　by　day　and　by　night；　he　was　made　to　feel　that　he　belonged　to　an　inferior　and　despised　race；　and　that　no　excellence　of　deportment；　diligence　in　study；　or　rank　in　his　class　could　entitle　him　to　the　recognition　accorded　to　every　white　dunce　and　rowdy。　Yet　with　rare　strength　of　character　he　persevered；　and　when；　having　maintained　the　standing　of　No。　fifty　in　a　class　of　seventy…six；　he　received　his　well…earned　diploma；　there　was　a　round　of　tardy　applause。

〃If　West　Point　is　to　continue　to　be　a　school　characterized　by　aristocracy　based　upon　creed；　race；　or　color；　so　undemocratic　and　unrepublican　as　to　be　out　of　harmony　with　our　laws　and　institutions；　it　will　do　more　harm　than　good；　and；　like　other　nuisances；　it　should　be　abated。　If　our　rulers　are　sincere　in　their　professions；　and　faithful　to　their　duties；　a　better　state　of　things　may　be　brought　about。　Military　arts　must　be　acquired　somewhere；　but　if　the　present　Academy　cannot　be　freed　from　plantation　manners；　it　may　be　well　to　establish　a　new　one　without　pro…slavery　traditions；　or；　as　has　been　suggested　by　the　Providence　Journal；　to　endow　military　departments　in　the　good　colleges　where　character　and　not　color　is　the　test　of　worth　and　manhood。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（From　the　New　York　Sun。）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　COLORED　CADET　FLIPPER。

TWO　HUNDRED　OF　HIS　NEW　YORK　ADMIRERS　HONORING　HIM　WITH　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A　RECEPTION。

〃A　reception　was　given　last　evening　by　Mr。　James　W。　Moore；　in　the　rooms　of　the　Lincoln　Literary　Musical　Association；　132　West　Twenty…seventh　Street；　to　Lieutenant　H。　O。　Flipper；　of　Georgia；　the　colored　cadet　who　has　just　graduated　at　West　Point。　　Mr。　Moore　has　had　charge　of　the　sick　room　of　Commodore　Garrison　since　his　illness。　The　chandeliers　were　decorated　with　small　flags。　On　a　table　on　the　platform　rested　a　large　basket　of　flowers；　bearing　the　card　of　Barrett　H。　Van　Auken；　a　grandson　of　Commodore　Garrison。　Among　the　pictures　on　the　wall　were　many　relating　to　Lincoln　and　the　emancipation　proclamation。　Cheerful　music　was　furnished　from　a　harp　and　violin。

〃The　guests　began　to　arrive　about　nine　o'clock；　the　ladies　in　large　numbers；　and　the　room　was　soon　abreeze　with　a　buzz　of　conversation　and　the　rustle　of　gayly…　colored　dresses　and　bright　ribbons。

〃The　grand　entree　was　at　a　quarter　before　ten。　Lieutenant　Flipper　entered　the　room　in　full　uniform。　A　heavy　yellow　horse…hair　plume　fell　down　over　his　cavalry　helmet。　His　coat　was　new　and　bright；　and　glittered　with　its　gold　buttons　and　tasselled　aigulets。　By　his　side　hung　a　long　cavalry　sabre　in　a　gilt　scabbard。　His　appearance　was　the　signal　for　a　buzz　of　admiration。　He　is　very　tall　and　well　made。　Beside　him　was　Mr。　James　W。　Moore。　Behind　him；　as　he　walked　through　the　thronged　rooms；　were　the　Rev。　Dr。　Henry　Highland　Garnett；　and　Mrs。　Garnett；　the　Rev。　E。　W。　S。　Peck　of　the　Thirty…fifth　Street　Methodist　Church；　Mr。　Charles　Remond　Douglass；　son　of　Fred　Douglass；　and　United　States　Consul　in　San　Domingo；　the　Rev。　J。　S。　Atwell；　of　St。　Philip's　Episcopal　Church；　the　Rev。　John　Peterson；　Professor　Charles　L