henry ossian flipper-第21节
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ore； presumably； 〃officers and gentlemen。〃 To transform young men into a like ilk as themselves is their duty。 The country intrusts them with this great responsibility。 To prove faithless to such a charge would be to risk position； and even those dearer attributes of the soldier； honor and reputation。 They would not dare ill…treat a colored cadet or a white one。 Of course the prejudice of race is not yet overcome entirely； and possibly they may be led into some indiscretion on account of it； but I do not think it would be different at any other college in the country。 It is natural。
There are prejudices of caste as well as prejudices of race； and I am most unwilling to believe it possible that any officer would treat with injustice a colored cadet who in true gentlemanly qualities； intelligence； and assiduousness equals or excels certain white ones who are treated with perfect equanimity。 With me it has not been so。 I have been treated as I would wish to be in the majority of cases。 There have been of course occasions where I've fancied wrong had been done me。 I expected to be ill…treated。 I went to West Point fully convinced that I'd have 〃a rough time of it。〃 Who that has read the many newspaper versions of the treatment of colored cadets； and of Smith in particular would not have been so convinced？ When； therefore； any affront or any thing seemingly of that nature was offered me； I have been disposed； naturally I think； to unduly magnify it； because I expected it。 This was hasty and unjust； and so I admit； now that I am better informed。 What was apparently done to incommode or discourage me has been shown to have been done either for my own benefit or for some other purpose； not to my harm。 In every single instance I have； after knowing better the reason for such acts； felt obliged to acknowledge the injustice of my fears。 At other times I have been agreeably surprised at the kindnesses shown me both by officers and cadets； and have found myself at great loss to reconcile them with acts I had already adjudged as malicious wrongs。
I have； too； been particularly careful not to fall into an error； which； I think； has been the cause of misfortune to at least one of the cadets of color。 If a cadet affront another； if a white cadet insult a colored one for instance； the latter can complain to The proper authorities； and； if there be good reason for it； can always get proper redress。 This undoubtedly gives the consolation of knowing that the offence will not be repeated； but beyond that I think it a great mistake to have so sought it。 A person who constantly complains； even with some show of reason； loses more or less the respect of the authorities。 And the offenders； while they refrain from open acts； do nevertheless conduct their petty persecutions in such a manner that one can shape no charge against them； and consequently finds himself helpless。 One must endure these little torturesthe sneer； the shrug of the shoulder； the epithet； the effort to avoid； to disdain； to ignore and thus suffer； for any of them areto me at least far more hard to bear than a blow。 A blow I may resist or ignore。 In either case I soon forget it。 But a sneer； a shrug of the shoulder； mean more。 Either is a blow at my sensitiveness； my inner feelings； and which through no ordinary effort of mind can be altogether forgotten。 It is a sting that burns long and fiercely。 How much better to have ignored the greater offences which could be reached； and to have thus avoided the lesser ones； which nothing can destroy！ How much wiser to stand like a vast front of fortification； on some rocky moral height absolutely unassailable； passively resisting alike the attack by open assault and the surer one by regular approaches！ The assault can be repulsed； but who can； who has ever successfully stopped the mines and the galleries through which an entrance is at length forced into the interior？
〃We cannot expect the sons to forget the lessons of the sires； but we have a right to demand from the general government the rooting out of all snobbery at West 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
