henry ossian flipper-第49章
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t 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。 Reason； of the Forty…first Street Grammar School； John J。 Zuilille； Richard Robinson； and others。
〃The Lieutenant was led upon the stage by Mr。 Garnett and seated at the extreme left； while Dr。 Garnett took a seat at the extreme right。 Next to the Lieutenant sat Miss Martha J。 Moore and Miss Fanny McDonough； Mr。 P。 S。 Porter； Dr。 Ray； Mr。 Atwell； and Professor Reason completed the semicircle； of which Lieutenant Flipper and Dr。 Garnett formed the extremities。 The Rev。 Mr。 Atwell sat in the middle。
〃After all were seated； Dr。 Garnett called Mr。 Douglass forward to a vacant seat on the platform。 In introducing Lieutenant Flipper； Dr。 Garnett said he had honored himself and his race by his good scholarship and pluck。 Nowhere else was there； he thought； such iron…bound and copper…covered aristocracy as in West Point。 Who could have thought that any one wearing the 'shadowed livery of the burnished sun' would ever dare to be an applicant？ Young Smith's high personal courage had led him to resent a blow with a blow； and his career in the Academy was cut short。 Lieutenant Flipper had encountered the same cold glances； but he had triumphed； and appeared before his friends in the beautiful uniform of the national army。 （Applause。） The Doctor believed he would never disgrace it。 （Applause； and waving of handkerchiefs by the ladies。）
〃At the close of his address； Dr。 Garnett said： 'Ladies and gentlemen； I take great pleasure in introducing to you Lieutenant H。 O。 Flipper。' The Lieutenant rose and bowed low； his hands resting on the hilt of his sabre。 He said nothing。 Mr。 Douglass was introduced； but excused himself from speaking。
〃Then Mr。 James Crosby was called on。 He said when the regiment in which he was orderly sergeant had marched to Port Hudson； General met it； and said to Colonel Nelson： 'Colonel； what do you call these？' 'I call them soldiers；' answered Colonel Nelson。 'Well； if these are soldiers； and if I've got to command niggers； the government is welcome to my commission。 Take them down to the ri
