henry ossian flipper-第41部分

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e　hundred　miles　of　Atlanta　when　I　reached　that　place。　I　did　not　appear　on　the　streets　in　uniform　for　several　days　after　my　arrival；　and　then　only　at　the　request　of　many　friends　and　an　officer　of　the　Second　Infantry　then　at　McPherson　Barracks。

　　　　　　　　　　（From　the　Atlanta　（Ga。）　Republican）

〃Lieutenant　Flipper　arrived　in　our　city　last　week　on　a　visit　to　his　friends。　His　father　lives　in　Thomasville；　but　he　was　educated　in　this　city。　His　intelligence　and　manly　course　has　won　for　him　the　praise　of　even　the　Bourbons。〃

　　　　　　　　　　（From　the；　Atlanta　（Ga。）　Republican。）

〃We　acknowledge　the　courtesy　of　an　invitation　to　a　reception　given　to　Lieutenant　H。　O。　Flipper　of　the　Tenth　Cavalry；　by　his　colored　friends　in　Atlanta。　Circumstances　beyond　our　control　prevented　our　attending。

〃We　are　informed　it　was　a　pleasant　affair；　and　that　Lieutenant　Flipper　embraced　the　opportunity　to　give　something　of　his　four　years'　experience　at　West　Point；　and　to　correct　some　of　the　misstatements　of　the　Atlanta　Constitution　concerning　the　treatment　he　received　while　a　cadet　at　the　Military　Academy。　An　article　alluding　to　this　subject　has　been　crowded　out　this　week；　but　will　appear　in　our　next　issue。

（From　the　Augusta　（Ga。）　Chronicle　and　Constitutionalist。）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A　FALSEHOOD。

〃The　Cincinnati　Gazette　says：　'Lieutenant　Flipper；　the　young　colored　man　who　is　guilty　of　having　been　graduated　with　credit　from　West　Point；　continues　to　be　the　butt　of　Georgia　Democratic　journals。'　We　would　like　to　know　where　the　Gazette　gets　its　information。　Flipper　has　been　treated　with　nothing　but　kindness　in　Georgia。　Wherever　he　has　reviewed　the　colored　military；　accounts　of　the　reviews　have　been　published；　but　we　have　yet　to　see　a　single　word　in　a　Georgia　paper　in　disparagement　or　ridicule　of　the　colored　graduate。〃

Witness　the　following　from　the　Atlanta　Constitution：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FLIPPER　AS　A　FRAUD。

FREEMAN'S　PROTEGE　ON　SOUTHERN　CIVILIZATIONHE　TALKS　　AT　THE　RECEPTION　AND　MAKES　OF　HIMSELF　AN　ASSTHE　ANOMALOUS　CREATURE　ON　EXHIBITIONHE　SHOWS　THE　CLOVEN　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FOOT。

〃Last　night　the　colored　people　of　the　city　gave　a　'reception'　to　Flipper；　of　the　United　States　Army。　They　did　this　from　a　feeling　of　pride　over　the　fact　that　one　of　their　color；　a　townsman；　had　succeeded　in　attaining　his　rank。　They　doubtless；　little　suspected　that　he　would　make　such　use　of　the　occasion　as　he　did。　More　than　one　of　them　so　expressed　their　feeling　before　The　evening　ended。　The　relations　between　the　races　in　this　city　have　for　years　been　such　as　to　make　remarks　like　those　in　which　Flipper　indulged　not　only　uncalled　for；　but　really　distasteful。　They　are　not　to　be　blamed　for　his　conduct。

〃The　crowd　that　gathered　in　the　hall　on　the　corner　of　Mitchell　and　Broad　Streets　was　large。　It　was　composed　almost　entirely　of　well…dressed　and　orderly　colored　people。　There　were　present　several　of　the　white　male　and　female　teachers　of　the　negro　schools；　also；　some　of　our　white　citizens　occupying　back　seats；　who　were　drawn　thither　by　mere　curiosity。

〃Flipper　was　dressed　lavishly　in　regimentals　and　gold　cord；　and　sat　upon　the　stage　with　his　immense　and　ponderous　cavalry　sabre　tightly　buckled　around　him。　He　had　the　attitude　of　Wellington　or　Grant　at　a　council　of　war。　He　was　introduced　to　the　audience　by　J。　O。　Wimbish；　a　high…toned　negro　politician　（as　was）　of　this　city；　who　bespattered　the　young　warrior　with　an　eulogy　such　as　no　school…master　would　have　written　for　less　than　5　C。O。D。　It　was　real　slushy　in　its　copiousness　and　diffusiveness。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FRIP　FIRES　OFF。

He　arose　with　martial　mien；　and　his　left　hand　resting　on　his　sabre　hilt。　He　said：

〃'Some　weeks　ago　he　had　been　called　upon　at　a　reception　in　New　York　to　make　a　speech；　but　he　had　reminded　the　gentleman　who　called　upon　him　that　he　had　been　taught　to　be　a　soldier　and　not　an　orator。　While　upon　this　occasion　he　still　maintained　that　lie　was　not　an　orator；　yet　he　would　tell　them　something　of　his　career　at　West　Point。　He　referred　to　his　colored　predecessors　in　the　Academy　and　their　fates；　particularly　of　Smith；　whose　last　year　there　was　his　（F。's）　first。　During　that　year；　on　Smith's　account；　he　had　received　his　worst　treatment　at　the　Academy。　Prejudice　against　us　was　strong　there　at　that　time。　During　his　first　encampment　he　had　a　better　time　than　almost　any　man　in　his　class。　In　1874　Smith　left；　and　a　rumor　prevailed　that　he　（F　）　was　afraid　to　stay　and　was　going　to　resign。　Colonel　Upton；　the　commandant；　sent　for　him　to　his　house；　told　him　not　to　do　so；　but　to　stick　it　out。　Of　course　he　had　no　intention　of　resigning；　and　he　followed　this　superfluous　advice。　　So　far　as　the　cadets　were　concerned　they　always　treated　me　fairly；　would　speak　to　me；　and　some　came　to　my　room　and　talked　with　me；　but　the　only　thing　they　did　that　was　wrong；　perhaps；　was　that　they　would　not　associate　with　me　openly。　The　officers　always　treated　me　as　well　as　they　did　any　other　cadet。　All　these　reports　about　my　bad　treatment　there；　especially　in　Southern　newspapers；　are　absolutely　false。

〃'I　will　read　and　comment　upon　some　of　these　articles。　In　The　Constitution　of　last　Saturday　it　said　I　had　the　hardest　four　years　of　any　cadet　who　ever　passed　through　the　Academy。　That　is　in　some　respects　true；　but　not　wholly　so。　Speaking　of　Ben　Butler's　son；　I　am　proud　to　say　that　among　the　three　hundred　cadets　I　hadn't　a　better　friend　than　the　son　of　the　Massachusetts　statesman。　（Applause。）　As　to　Mr　Bigelow's　son；　mentioned　here；　I　know　him　well；　and　his　whole　familyhis　father；　the　distinguished　ex…Secretary　of　State；　his　mother　and　his　two　sisters；　and　have　met　them　at　their　home。　Mrs。　Bigelow；　recognizing　my　position；　and　thinking　to　assure　my　feelings；　sent　me　a　nice　box　of　fruit　with　her　compliments。'

〃He　then　commented　on　articles　from　Beecher's　Christian　Union；　the　New　York　Tribune；　Harper's　Weekly；　and　the　New　York　Telegram；　characterizing　many　of　their　statements　about　himself　as　false。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　SOCIAL　EQUALITY　IN　THE　ARMY。

〃The　article　last　named　was　about　social　equality　in　the　army。　Flipper　said　that　he　was　cordially　met　by　the　army　officers　in　Chattanooga。　In　return　he　paid　his　respects　to　the　commandant　and　was　introduced　and　shown　through　the　barracks。　He　was　treated　with　every　courtesy。

〃'How　it　is　here　you　have　all　seen　as　I　walked　about　the　city。　I　have　walked　with　the　officers　of　the　garrison　here　several　times　today；　even　up　and　down　Whitehall　Street；　and　one　of　them　invited　me　into　Schumann's　drug　store；　and　had　a　glass　of　soda　together。　I　know　it　is　not　a　usual　thing　to　sell　to　colored　people；　but　we　got　it。　（Laughter　and　applause。）　And　to…night　as　Mr。　J。　O。　Wimbish　and　myself　were　coming　to　the　hall；　we　met　with　one　of　the　officers　at　the　corner；　and　went　into　Schumann's　again。　We　called　for　soda…water；　and　got　it　again！　（Applause。）　And　I　called　at　the　barracks；　through　military　courtesy；　and　paid　my　respects　to　the　commandant。　I　understand　that　the　officers　there　have　had　my　case　under　consideration；　and　have　unanimously　agreed　that　I　am　a　graduate　of　the　national　Academy；　and　hold　a　commission　similar　to　their　own；　and　am　entitled　to　the　same　courtesy　as　any　other　officer。　I　have　been　invited　to　visit　them　at　their　quarters　to…morrow。　These　things　show　you　something　of　social　equality　in　the　army；　and　when　this　happens　with　officers　who　have　lived　in　the　South；　and　had　opportunity　to　be　tainted　with　Southern　feeling；　I　expect　still　less　trouble　from　this　source　when　I　reach　my　regiment　and　among　officers　who　have　not　lived　in　the　South　and　had　occasion　to　be　tainted　in　this　way。　The　gentlemen　of　the　army　are　generally　better　educated　than　the　people　of　the　South。'

〃He　spoke　of　his　graduation　and　of　the　applause　with　which　he　was　greeted。　He　closed　by　thanking　his　audience。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FLOURISHING　HIS　FLIPPER。

〃Then　Flipper　was　escorted　upon　the　floor；　and　the　announcement　was　made　that　all　who　desired　could　now　be　introduced　to　the　youth。

〃The　first　man　to　receive　this　distinguished　honor　was　George　Thomas；　the　Assistant　United　States　Attorney。　He　was　followed　closely　by　several　Northern　school…marms　and　teachers；　and　a　host　of　the　colored　people。　〃After　shaking；　the　crowd　took　ice…cream　and　cake　and　adjourned。　Sic　transit！〃

I　pass　over　the　preceding　article　with　the　silent　contempt　it　deserves。　Some　of　the　papers　commented　upon　it。　I　give　two　such　articles：

　　　　　　　　　　（From　the　Atlanta　（Ga。）　Republican。）

〃The　Atlanta　Constitution；　true　to　principle；　comes　out　in　a　slanderous　attack　upon　Lieutenant　Flipper。　In　its　issue　of　Tuesday；　July　10th；　it　calls　him　a　fraud。　Would　to　heaven　we　had　ten　thousand　such　frauds　in　Georgia　for　the　good　of　the　State　and　progress　in　general！

〃It　takes　exception；　too；　to　the　manner　in　which　the　colored　lieutenant　appeared　at　the　reception　given　by　the　colored　people　in　his　honor。　He　was　'lavishly　dressed　in　full　regimentals；'　it　says；　'with　gold　cord。　He　sat　upon　the　stage　with　his　massive　and　ponderous　sword；　looking　like　Wellington　or　Grant　in　war　council。　He　made　remarks　uncalled　for　and　distasteful。'　Oh　dear！　Oh！

〃Now　we　（that　is　I；　this　individual；　Mr。　Editor；　for　I　would　not　assume　your　grand　editorial　pronoun）　should　like　to　know　how　the　Constitution　would　have　the　young　officer　dress。　Surely　it　was　entirely　proper　and　becoming　that　he　should　appear　in　full　regimental　cap；　coat；　boots；　spurs；　and　all；　full　fledged；　just　as　he　issued　forth　from　West　Point。

〃In　the　first　place　it　was　a　novel　sight　for　the　colored　people。　Surely　the　Constitution　would　not　rob　us　of　the　privilege　and　pleasure　of　seeing　in　full　military　costume　the　first　and　only　one　of　our　race　who　has　been　permitted　to　pass　through　West　Point　with　honor。

〃In　regard　to　the　ostentatious　manner　in　which　the　lieutenant　conducted　himself　on　that　evening；　nothing　could　be　further　from　the　truth。　In　fact；　the　general　comment　of　the　evening　by　both　black　and　white　was　on　the　modesty　of　his　bearing。

〃It　is　not　strange；　however；　that　the　Constitution；　whose　judgment　and　sense　of　right　and　justice　have　been　perverted　through　years　of　persistent　sinning；　should　see　things　in　a　different　light。

〃The　'uncalled　for　and　distasteful'　remarks　were　doubtless　those　made　in　regard　to