henry ossian flipper-第50部分
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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。； and as I feel somewhat interested in the statements therein contained； I desire to say a few words in reference to them。 The article referred to reads as follows：
〃'The recent attack of the colored； ex…Cadet Smith upon the Board of Visitors at West Point has attracted the attention of the officers of the War Department。 They say that the Secretary of War was extremely liberal in his interpretation of the regulations on behalf of Cadet Smith； and that he did for him what had never been done for a white boy in like circumstances。 The officers also say that Smith was manifestly incompetent； that he had a fair examination； and that the Congressional Board of Visitors unanimously testified to his incompetency。'
〃Now； sir； I am at a loss to know what are 'the recent attacks of the colored ex…Cadet Smith upon the Board of Visitors；' for I am not aware that I have said any thing； either directly or indirectly； concerning the Board of Visitors。 My remarks thus far have been confined to the Academic Board and Secretary of War。
〃As the members of the Board of Visitors were simply spectators； and as they were not present when I was examined； I had no reason to make any 'attack' upon them； and； therefore； as I said before； confined my remarks （or 'attacks；' if that word is more acceptable to the Chronicle） to those who acted so unjustly toward me。
〃As to the extreme liberality of the Secretary of War； in his interpretation of the regulations on behalf of Cadet Smith； and that he did for him what he had never 'done for a white boy in like circumstances；' I hardly know what to say； for such absurd cant seems intended to excite the laughter of all who know the circumstances of the case。 What devoted servants those officers of the War Department must be； that they can see in their chief so much liberality！
〃But in what respect was the Secretary of War so 'liberal in his interpretation of the regulations？'
〃Was it in dismissing me； and turning back to a lower class two white cadets who had been unable to complete successfully the first year of the course with everything in their favor； while I had completed three years of the same course in spite of all the opposition which the whole corps of cadets； backed by the 'powers that be；' could throw in my way？ Or was it his decision that 'I can give Mr。 Smith a re…examination； but I won't？' The Chronicle is perfectly correct in saying 'that he did for him what had never been done for a white boy in like circumstances；' for； in the first place； I don't think there ever was 'a white boy in like circumstances；' certainly not while I was at the Academy； and if there ever were a white boy so placed； we are pretty safe in concluding； from the general treatment of white boys； that the secretary was not so frank in his remarks nor so decided in his action。
〃'I want another cadet to represent your district at West Point； and I have already sent to Mr。 Elliott to appoint one；' means something more than fair dealing （or； as the Chronicle would imply； partiality） toward the colored cadet。 It means that the gentleman was pleasing himself in the choice of a cadet from the Third Congressional District of South Carolina； and that he did not recognize the rights of the people of that district to choose for themselves。 'You are out of the service and will stay out；' for 'the Academic Board will not recommend you to come back under any circumstances；' shows that it is the Academic Board That must choose our representative； and not we ourselves； and that our wishes are only secondary in comparison with those of the service and the Academic Board。 We are no longer free citizens of a sovereign State； and of the United States； with the right to choose for ourselves those who shall represent us； but we must be subordinate to the Secretary of War and the Academic Board； and must make our wishes subservient to those of the above…named powers； and unless we do that we are pronounced to be 'naturally bad'as remarked the Adjutant of the Academy； Captain R。 H。 Hall； to a Sun reporterand must have done for us 'what had never been done for a white boy in like circumstances。' Now； sir； let us see what has 'been done for a white boy in like circumstances。' In July； 1870； the President was in Hartford； Ct。； and in a conversation with my friend the Hon。 David Clark； in reference to my treatment at West Point； he said： 'Don't take him away now； the battle might just as well be fought now as at any other time；' and gave him to understand that he would see me protected in my rights； while his son Fred； who was then a cadet； said to the same gentleman； and in the presence of his father； that 'the time had not come to send colored boys to West Point。' Mr。 Clark said if the time had come for them to be in the United States Senate； it had surely come for them to be at West Point； and that he would do all in his power to have me protected。 Fred Grant then said： 'Well； no dd nigger will ever graduate from West Point。' This same young gentleman； with other members of his class； entered the rooms of three cadets； members of the fourth class； on the night of January 3； 1871； took those cadets out； and drove them away from the 'Point；' with nothing on but the light summer suits that they wore when they reported there the previous summer。 Here was a most outrageous example of Lynch law； disgraceful alike to the first class； who were the executors of it； the corps of cadets； who were the abettors of it； and the authorities of the Academy； who were afraid to punish the perpetrators because the President's son was implicated； or； at least； one of the prime movers of the affair。 Congress took the matter in hand； and instructed the Secretary of War to dismiss all the members of the class who were implicated； but the latter gentleman 'was extremely liberal in his interpretation of the regulations；' and declined to be influenced by the action of Congress； and let the matter drop。
〃Again； when a Court of Inquiry； appointed by Congress to investigate complaints that I had made of my treatment； reported in favor of a trial by court…martial of General Gillmore's son； General Dyer's son； the nephew of the Secretary of War； and some other lesser lights of America's aristocracy； the secretary decided that a reprimand was sufficient for the offence； yet 'he did for me what had never been done for a white boy in like circumstances。' Now； sir； by consulting my Register of the Academy； issued in 1871； I find that three cadets of the fourth class were declared 'deficient ' in mathematicsReid； Boyle； and Walkerand that the first named was turned back to join the next class； while the other two were dismissed。 Now Reid is the Secretary's nephew； so that is the reason for his doing 'for him what had never been done for a white boy in like circumstances。'
〃Mr。 Editor； I have no objection whatever to any favoritism that may be shown 'any member of the Royal。 Family； so long as it does not infringe upon any right of my race or myself； but when any paper tries to show that I have received such impartial treatment at the hands of 'the powers that be；' and even go so far； in their zealous endeavors to shield any one from charges founded upon facts； as to try to make it appear that I was a favorite； a pet lamb； or any other kind of a pet； at West Point； I think it my duty to point out any errors that may accidentally （？） creep into such statements。
〃'The officers also say that Smith was manifestly incompetent； that he had a fair examination；' etc。 What officers said that？ Those of the War Department； whose attention was attracted by the 'recent attacks on the Board of Visitors；' or those who decided the case at West Point？ In either case； it is not surprising that they should say so； for one party might feel jealous because 'the Secretary of War was extremely liberal in his interpretation of the regulations on behalf of Cadet Smith； and that he did for him what had never been done for a white boy in like circumstances；' while the other party might have been actuated by the desire to prove that 'no colored boy can ever graduate at West Point；' or； as the young gentleman previously referred to said； 'No dd nigger shall ever graduate at West Point。' As for the unanimous testimony of the Board of Visitors； I can only say that I know not on what ground such testimony is based； for； as I said before； the members of that board were not in the library when I was examined in philosophy； but perhaps； this is only one of the 'they says' of the officers。 There are some things in this case which are not so manifest as my alleged incompetency； and I would like to bring them to the attention of the Chronicle； and of any others who may feel interested in the matter。 There has always been a system of re…examinations at the Military Academy for the purpose of giving a second chance to those cadets who failed at the regular examination。 This year the re… examinations were abolished； but for what reason？ It is true that I had never been re…examined； but does it not appear that the officers had concluded 'that Smith was manifestly incompetent；' and that this means was taken to deprive me of the benefit of a re…examination when they decided that I was 'deficient？' Or was it done so that the officers might have grounds for saying that 'he did for him what had never been done for a white boy in like circumstances？' Again； the examinations used to be public； but this year two sentinels were posted at the door of the library； where the examinations were held； and when a visitor came he sent in his card by one of the sentinels； while the other remained at t
