henry ossian flipper-第60章
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n infallible judgeconscience is； 〃Not guilty；〃 and that is the finding I ask of this court。
〃Respectfully submitted。
（Signed） 〃'J。 W。 SMITH； 〃'Cadet U。S。M。A。'
〃'Thus ended my second and last court…martial。
〃Yours respectfully；
〃J。 W。 SMITH； 〃Late Cadet U。S。M。A。〃
THE HONOR OF A CADET AND GENTLEMAN。
To the Editor of the New National Era：
〃SIR： In relating the events of my first year at West Point； I omitted one little affair which took place； and I will now relate the circumstances。 One Sunday； at dinner； I helped myself to some soup； and one cadet； Clark； of Kentucky； who sat opposite me at table； asked me what I meant by taking soup before he had done so。 I told him that I took it because I wished it； and that there was a plenty left。 He seemed to be insulted at that； and asked： 'Do you think I would eat after a dd Nigger？' I replied： 'I have not thought at all on the subject； and； moreover； I don't quite understand you； as I can't find that last word in the dictionary。' He then took up a glass and said he would knock my head off。 I told him to throw as soon as he pleased； and as soon as he got through I would throw mine。 The commandant of the table here interfered and ordered us to stop creating a disturbance at the table； and gave me to understand that thereafter I should not touch any thing on that table until the white cadets were served。
〃When we came back from dinner； as I was going into my room； Cadet Clark struck at me from behind。 He hit me on the back of my neck； causing me to get into my room with a little more haste than I anticipated； but he did not knock me down。 He came into my room； following up his advantage； and attempted to take me by the throat； but he only succeeded in scratching me a little with his nails； as I defended myself as well as possible until I succeeded in getting near my bayonet； which I snatched from the scabbard and then tried to put it through him。 But being much larger and stronger than I； he kept me off until he got to the door； but then he couldn't get out； for some one was holding the door on the outside； for the purpose； I suppose； of preventing my escape； as no doubt they thought I would try to get out。 There were a great many cadets outside on the stoop； looking through the window； and cheering their champion； with cries of 'That's right； Clark； kill the dd nigger；' 'Choke him；' 'Put a head on him；' etc。； but when they saw him giving way before the bayonet； they cried； 'Open the door； boys；' and the door was opened； and Mr。 Clark went forth to rejoice in the bosom of his friends as the hero of the day。 The cadet officer of the day 'happened around' just after Clark had left； and wanted to know what did I mean by making all that noise in and around my quarters。 I told him what the trouble was about； and soon after I was sent for by the 'officer in charge；' and questioned in reference to the affair。 Charges were preferred against Clark for entering my room and assaulting me； but before they were brought to trial he sent two of his friends tome asking if I would withdraw the charges providing he made a written apology。 I told these cadets that I would think of the matter and give them a definite answer the next evening。
〃I was perfectly well satisfied that he would be convicted by any court that tried him； but the cadets could easily prove （according to their way of giving evidence） that I provoked the assault； and I； besides； was utterly disgusted with so much wrangling； so when the cadets called that evening I told them that if his written apology was satisfactory I would sign it； submit it to the approval of the Commandant of Cadets； and have the charges withdrawn。
〃They then showed me the written apology offered by Clark； in which he stated that his offence was caused by passion； because he thought that when I passed him on the steps in going to my room I tried to brush against him。 He also expressed his regret for what he had done； and asked forgiveness。 I was satisfied with his apology； and signed it； asking that the charges be withdrawn； which was done； of course； and Clark was released from arrest。 I will； in justice to Cadet Clark； state that I never had any further trouble with him； for； while he kept aloof from me； as the other cadets did； he alway thereafter acted perfectly fair by me whenever I had any official relations with him。
〃A few days after the settlement of our dispute I found； on my return from fencing one day； that some one had entered my room and had thrown all my clothes and other property around the floor； and had thrown the water out of my water…pail upon my bed。 I immediately went to the guard…house and reported the affair to the officer of the day； who； with the 'officer in charge；' came to my room to see what had been done。 The officer of the day said that he had inspected my quarters soon after I went to the Fencing Academy and found everything in order； and that it must have been done within a half hour。 The Commandant of the Cadets made an investigation of the matter； but could not find out what young 'gentleman' did it； for every cadet stated that he knew nothing of it； although the corps of cadets has the reputation of being a truthful set of young men。
〃'Upon my honor as a cadet and a gentleman；'〃 is a favorite expression with the West Point cadet； but what kind of honor is that by which a young man can quiet his conscience while telling a base falsehood for the purpose of shielding a fellow…student from punishmen for a disgraceful act？ They boast of the esprit de corps existing among the cadets； but it is merely a cloak for the purpose of covering up their iniquities and silencing those （for there are some） who would； if allowed to act according to the dictates of their own consciences； be above such disgraceful acts。 Some persons might attribute to me the same motives that actuated the fox in crying 'sour grapes；' and to such I will say that I never asked for social equality at West Point。 I never visited the quarters of any professor； official； or cadet except on duty； for I did not wish any one to think that I was in any way desirous of social recognition by those who felt themselves superior to me on account of color。 As I was never recognized as 'a cadet and a gentleman；' I could not enjoy that blessed privilege of swearing 'upon my honor；' boasting of my share in the esprit de corps； nor of concealing my sins by taking advantage of them。 Still； I hope that what I lost （？） by being deprived of these little benefits will be compensated for the 'still small voice；' which tells me that I have done my best。
〃Yours respectfully；
〃J。 W。 SMITH； 〃Late Cadet U。S。M。A。〃
COLUMBIA； S。C。； August 19； 1874。
To the Editor of the New National Era：
〃SIR： My communications； thus far； have brought me to the end of my first year at the Academy； and now we come to the events of the second。 In June of 1871； the proverbial silver lining； which the darkest cloud is said to have； began to shine very faintly in the West Point firmament； and I thought that at last the darkness of my cadet life was to be dispelled by the appearance above the horizon of another colored cadet。 And； indeed； I was not disappointed； for； one day； I was greeted by the familiar face and voice of Mr。 H。 A。 Napier； a former fellow…student at Howard University。 Soon after his arrival； and admittance； the corps of 'cadets； accompanied by the 'plebes；' took up quarters in camp 'plebe camp' to the latter； and 'yearling camp' to us who had entered the previous year。
〃During the cadet encampment there are certain dances given three times each week； known as 'Cadet Hops。' These 'hops' are attended by the members of the first and third classes； and their lady friends； and no 'plebe' ever has the assurance of dreaming of attending the 'hops' until he shall have risen to the dignity of a 'yearling'third…classman。 So long as I was a 'plebe；' no one anticipated any such dire calamity as that I would attend the 'hops；' but as soon as I became a 'yearling；' and had a perfect right to go； if I wished； there was a great hue and cry raised that the sanctity of the 'hop' room was to be violated by the colored cadet。
〃Meetings were held by the d
