henry ossian flipper-第24章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Point； whether it is of that kind which sends poor white boys to Coventry； because they haven't a family name or wealth； or whether it be that smallest； meanest； and shallowest of all aristocraciesthe one founded upon color。
〃If the government is not able to root out these unrepublican seeds in these hotbeds of disloyalty and snobbery； let Congress shut up the useless and expensive appendages and educate its officers at the colleges of the country； where they may learn lessons in true Republican equality and nationality。 The remedy lies with Congress。 A remonstrance； at least； should be heard from the colored members of Congress； who are insulted whenever a colored boy is ill…treated by the students or the officers of these institutions。 So far from being discouraged by defeats； the unjust treatment meted out to the young men should redouble the efforts of others of their class to conquer this new Bastile by storm。 It should lead every colored Congressman to make sure that he either sends a colored applicant or a white one who has not the seeds of snobbery or caste in his soul。〃
I shall consider this last clause at the end of this chapter； where I shall quote at length the article from which this passage is taken。
If I may be pardoned an opinion on this article； I do not think the true remedy lies with Congress at all。 I do not question the right to demand of Congress any thing； but I do doubt the propriety or need of such a proceeding； of course； in the case under consideration。 As to 〃that kind which sends poor white boys to Coventry；〃 because of their poverty； etc。； I can say with absolute truthfulness it no longer exists。 When it did exist the power to discontinue it did not lie with Congress。 Congress has no control over personal whims or prejudices。 But I make a slight mistake。 There was a time when influence； wealth； or position was able to secure a cadetship。 At that time poor boys very rarely succeeded in getting an appointment； and when they did they were most unmercifully 〃cut〃 by the snobs of aristocracy who were at the Academy。 Then the remedy did lie with Congress。 The appointments could have been so made as to exclude those snobs whose only recommendation was their position in society； and so also as to admit boys who were deserving； although they were perhaps poor。 This remedy has been made； and all classes （white）； whether poor or rich； influential or not； are on terms of absolute equality。
But for that other kind； 〃the one founded upon color；〃 Congress has no remedy； no more than for fanaticism or something of that kind。
This article also tells us that 〃the government has been remiss in not throwing around them the protection of its authority。〃 I disdainfully scout the idea of such protection。 If my manhood cannot stand without a governmental prop； then let it fall。 If I am to stand on any other ground than the one white cadets stand upon； then I don't want the cadetship。 If I cannot endure prejudice and persecutions； even if they are offered； then I don't deserve the cadetship； and much less the commission of an army officer。 But there is a remedy； a way to root out snobbery and prejudice which but needs adoption to have the desired effect。 Of course its adoption by a single person； myself for instance； will not be sufficient to break away all the barriers which prejudice has brought into existence。 I am quite confident； however； if adopted by all colored cadets； it will eventually work out the difficult though by no means insoluble problem； and give us further cause for joy and congratulations。
The remedy lies solely in our case with us。 We can make our life at West Point what we will。 We shall be treated by the cadets as we treat them。 Of course some of the cadets are lowthey belong to the younger classes and good treatment cannot be expected of them at West Point nor away from there。 The others； presumably gentlemen； will treat everybody else as becomes gentlemen； or at any rate as they themselves are treated。 For； as Josh Billings quaintly tells us； 〃a gentleman kant hide hiz true karakter enny more than a loafer kan。〃
Prejudice does not necessarily prevent a man's being courteous and gentlemanly in his relations with others。 If； then； they be prejudiced and treat one with ordinary civility； or even if they let one 〃severely alone；〃 is there any harm done？ Is such a course of conduct to be denounced？ Religiously； yes； but in the manner of every …day life and its conventionalities； I say not by any means。 I have the rightno one will deny itof choosing or rejecting as companions whomsoever I will。 If my choice be based upon color； am I more wrong in adopting it than I should be in adopting any other reason？ it may be an unchristian opinion or fancy that causes me to do it； but such opinion or fancy is my own； and I have a right to it。 No one objects to prejudice as such； but to the treatment it is supposed to cause。 If one is disposed to ill…treat another； he'll do it； prejudiced or not prejudiced。 Only low persons are so disposed； and happily so for West Point； and indeed for the whole country。
〃The system of competitive examination for admission； so largely adopted within the past few years in many of our large cities； has resulted in recruiting the corps with lads of bright intellect and more than ordinary attainments； while the strict physical examination has rigorously excluded all but those of good form and perfect health。 The competitive system has also given to the Academy students who want to learn； instead of lads who are content to scramble through the prescribed course as best they can； escaping being 〃found〃 （a cadet term equivalent to the old college word 'plucked'） by merely a hair's… breadth。〃
The old way of getting rid of the rough； uncouth characters was to 〃find〃 them。 Few； very few of them； ever got into the army。 Now they are excluded by the system of competitive examination even from entering the Military Academy； and if they should succeed in getting to West Point； they eventually fail； since men with no fixed purpose cannot graduate at West Point。
Now if the 〃colored cadets〃 be not of this class also； then their life at West Point will not be much harder than that of the others。 The cadets may not associate； but what of that？ Am I to blame a man who prefers not to associate with me？ If that be the only charge against him； then my verdict is for acquittal。 Though his conduct arises from； to us； false premises； it is to his sincere convictions right； and we would not in the slightest degree be justified in forcing him into our way of looking at it。 In other words； the remedy does not lie with Congress。
The kind of treatment we are to receive at the hands of others depends entirely upon ourselves。 I think my life at West Point sufficiently proves the truth of this assertion。 I entered the Academy at a time when； as one paper had it； West Point was a 〃hotbed of disloyalty and snobbery； a useless and expensive appendage。〃 I expected all sorts of ill…treatment； and yet from the day I entered till the day I graduated I had not cause to utter so much as an angry word。 I refused to obtrude myself upon the white cadets； and treated them all with uniform courtesy。 I have been treated likewise。 It simply depended on me what sort of treatment I should receive。 I was careful to give no cause for bad treatment； and it was never put upon me。 In making this assertion I purposely disregard the instances of malice； etc。； mentioned elsewhere； for the reason that I do not believe they were due to any deep personal convictions of my inferiority or personal desire to impose upon me； but rather were due to the fear of being 〃cut〃 if they had acted otherwise。
Our relations have been such； as any one will readily observe； that even officially they would have been obliged to recognize me to a greater or less extent； or at the expense of their consciences ignore me。 They have done both； as circumstances and not inclination have led them to do。
A rather unexpected incident occurred in the summer of '73； which will show perhaps how intense is that gravitating forceif I may so term itwhich so completely changes the feelings of the plebes； and even cadets； who； when they reported； we
