henry ossian flipper-第18节
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d solely in the imagination of the reporter； as they were nowhere visible within the limits of our encampment。
CHAPTER X。
TREATMENT。
A brave and honorable and courteous man Will not insult me； and none other can。〃Cowper。
〃How do they treat you？〃 〃How do you get along？〃 and multitudes of analogous questions have been asked me over and over again。 Many have asked them for mere curiosity's sake； and to all such my answers have been as short and abrupt as was consistent with common politeness。 I have observed that it is this class of people who start rumors； sometimes harmless； but more often the cause of needless trouble and ill…feeling。 I have considered such a class dangerous； and have therefore avoided them as much as it was possible。 I will mention a single instance where such danger has been made manifest。
A Democratic newspaper； published I know not where； in summing up the faults of the Republican party； took occasion to advert to West Point。 It asserted in bold characters that I had stolen a number of articles from two cadets； had by them been detected in the very act； had been seen by several other cadets who had been summoned for the purpose that they might testify against me； had been reported to the proper authorities； the affair had been thoroughly investigated by them； my guilt established beyond the possibility of doubt； and yet my accusers had actually been dismissed while I was retained。* This is cited as an example of Republican rule； and the writer had the effrontery to ask； 〃How long shall such things be？〃 I did not reply to it then； nor do I intend to do so now。 Such assertions from such sources need no replies。 I merely mention the incident to show how wholly given to party prejudices some men can be。 They seem to have no thought of right and justice； but favor whatever promotes the aims and interests of their own party； a party not Democratic but hellish。 How different is the following article from the Philadelphia North American； of July 7th； 1876：
*This article was cut from a newspaper； and； together with the name of the paper； was posted in a conspicuous place； where other cadets； as well as myself； saw and read it。
〃It is very little to the credit of the West Point cadets； a body of young men in whose superior discipline and thoroughly excellent deportment we feel in common with nearly all others a gratified pride； that they should be so ungenerous and unjust as they confess themselves to be in their treatment of the colored boy； who； like themselves； has been made a ward of the nation。 We know nothing of this young man's personal character or habits； but we have seen no unkind criticism of them。 For that reason we condemn as beneath contempt the spirit which drives him to an isolation； in bearing which the black shows himself the superior of the white。 We do not ask nor do we care to encourage any thing more than decent courtesy。 But the young gentlemen who boast of holding only official intercourse with their comrade should remember that no one of them stands before the country in any different light from him。 West Point is an academy for the training of young men； presumably representative of the people； for a career sufficiently honorable to gratify any ambition。 The cadets come from all parts of the country； from all ranks of the social scale。 Amalgamated by the uniform course of studies and the similarity of discipline； the separating fragments at the end of the student life carry similar qualities into the life before them； and step with almost remarkable social equality into the world where they must find their level。 It would be expecting too much to hope that the companionship which surmounts or breaks down all the barriers of caste； should tread with equal heel the prejudices of color。 But it would be more manly in these boys； if they would remember how easy ordinary courtesy would be to them； how much it would lighten the life of a young man whose rights are equal to their own。 It is useless to ignore the inevitable。 This colored boy has his place； he should have fair； encouragement to hold it。 Heaping neglect upon him does not overcome the principle involved in his appointment； and while we by no means approve of such appointments we do believe in common justice。〃
On the other hand； many have desired this information for a practical use； and that； too； whether they were prejudiced or not。 That is； if friends； they were anxious to know how I fared； whether or not I was to be a success； and if a success to use that fact in the interest of the people； and if enemies； they wanted naturally to know the same things in order to use the knowledge to the injury of the people if I proved a failure。
I have not always been able to distinguish one class from the other； and have therefore been quite reticent about my life and treatment at West Point。 I have； too； avoided the newspapers as much as possible。 I succeeded in this so well that it was scarcely known that I was at the Academy。 Much surprise was manifested when I appeared in Philadelphia at the Centennial。 One gentleman said to me in the Government building： 〃You are quite an exhibition yourself。 No one was expecting to see a colored cadet。〃
But I wander from my theme。 It is a remarkable fact that the new cadets； in only a very few instances； show any unwillingness to speak or fraternize。 It is not till they come in contact with the rougher elements of the corps that they manifest any disposition to avoid one。 It was so in my own class； and has been so in all succeeding classes。
When I was a plebe those of us who lived on the same floor of barracks visited each other； borrowed books； heard each other recite when preparing for examination； and were really on most intimate terms。 But alas！ in less than a month they learned to call me 〃nigger；〃 and ceased altogether to visit me。 We did the Point together； shared with each other whatever we purchased at the sulter's； and knew not what prejudice was。 Alas！ we were soon to be informed！ In camp； brought into close contact with the old cadets； these once friends discovered that they were prejudiced； and learned to abhor even the presence or sight of a 〃dd nigger。〃
Just two years after my entrance into the Academy； I met in New York a young man who was a plebe at the time I was； and who then associated with me。 He recognized me； hurried to me from across the street； shook my hand heartily； and expressed great delight at seeing me。 He showed me the photograph of a classmate； told me where I could find him； evidently ignorant of my ostracism； and； wishing me all sorts of success； took his leave。 After he left me I involuntarily asked myself； 〃Would it have been thus if he had not been 'found on his prelim？' 〃 Possibly not； but it is very； very doubtful。
There are some； indeed the majority of the corps are such； who treat me on all occasions with proper politeness。 They are gentlemen themselves； and treat others as it becomes gentlemen to do。 They do not associate； nor do they speak other than officially； except in a few cases。 They are perhaps as much prejudiced as the others； but prejudice does not prevent all from being gentlemen。 On the other hand； there are some from the very lowest classes of our population。 They are uncouth and rough in appearance； have only a rudimentary education； have little or no idea of courtesy； use the very worst language； and in most cases are much inferior to the average negro。 What can be expected of such people？ They are low； and their conduct must be in keeping with their breeding。 I am not at all surprised to find it so。 Indeed； in ordinary civil life I should consider such people beneath me in the social scale； should even reckon some of them as roughs； and consequently give them a wide berth。
What surprises me most is the control this class seems to have over the other。 It is in this class I have observed most prejudice； and from it； or rather by it； the other becomes tainted。 It seems to rule the corps by fear。 Indeed； I know there are many who would associate； who would treat me as a brother cadet； were they not held in constant dread of this class。 The bullies； the fighting men of the corps are in it。 It rules by fear； and whoever disobeys its beck is 〃cut。〃 The rest of the corps follows like so many menials subject to command。 In short； there is a fearful lack of backbone。 There is； it seems at first sight； more prejudice at West Point than elsewhere。 It is not really so I think。
The officers of the institution have never； so far as I can say； shown any prejudice at all。 They have treated me with uniform courtesy and impartiality。 The cadets； at least some of them； away from West Point； have also treated me with such gentlemanly propriety。 The want of backbone predominates to such an alarming extent at West Point they are afraid to do so there。 I will mention a few cases under this subject of treatment。
During my first…class camp I was rather surprised on one occasion to have a plebewe had been to the Centennial Exhibition and returned； and of course my status must have been known to himcome to my tent to borrow ink of me。 I readily complied with his request； feeling
