henry ossian flipper-第28节
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une。 He has the negro features strongly developed； but in color he is rather light。'〃
Easily enough； I think。 In the first place the statement is too broad； if made by a cadet； which I very much doubt。 There are some of that 〃we〃 who do know me outside of duty。 And if a cadet made the statement he must have been a plebe； one unacquainted with my status in the corps； or one who； strenuously avoiding me himself； supposed all others likewise did so。 The cadet was not a first…classman。 There is a want of information in his last answer which could not have been shown by a first…classman。
Again； he says we 〃go on guard with him。〃 Now that is untrue； as I understand it。 The word 〃with〃 would imply that we were on guard in the same capacity； viz。； as privates。 But first…classmen do no guard duty in that capacity； and hence not being himself a first… classman he could not have been on guard〃with〃 me。 If he had said 〃under him；〃 his statement would have been nearer the truth。
After a stay of ten days in Philadelphia； we return to West Point； and still the same respect is shown me。 There is but little more of open recognition； if any； than before； and yet that I am respected is shown in many ways。 See； for example； the latter part of chapter on 〃Treatment。〃
Again； during my first year I many times overheard myself spoken of as 〃the nigger；〃 〃the moke；〃 or 〃the thing。〃 Now openly； and when my presence was not known； I always hear myself mentioned as Mr。 Flipper。 There are a few who use both forms of address as best suits their convenience or inclination at the time。 But why is it？ Why not 〃nigger；〃 〃moke；〃 or 〃thing〃 as formerly？ Is there； can there be any other reason than that they respect me more now than then？ I am most unwilling to believe there could be。
We begin our regular routine of duties； etc。 We have practical military engineering； ordnance； artillery； practical astronomy in field and permanent observatories； telegraphy； and guard。 We are detailed for these duties。 Not the least distinction is made。 Not the slightest partiality is shown。 Always the same regard for my feelings； the same respect for me！ See the case of gabion in the chapter on 〃Treatment。〃
At length； in my proper order； I am detailed for officer of the guard。 True； the cadets expressed some wonderment； but why？ Simply； and reasonably enough too； because I was the first person of color that had ever commanded a guard at the Military Academy of the United States。 It is but a natural curiosity。 And how am I treated？ Is my authority recognized？ Indeed it is。 My sergeant not only volunteered to make out the guard report for me； but also offered any assistance I might want； aside from the discharge of his own duty as sergeant of the guard。 Again； a number of plebes were confined in the guard tents for grossness and carelessness。 I took their names； the times of their imprisonment； and obtained permission to release them。 I was thanked for my trouble。 Again； a cadet's father wishes to see him。 He is in arrest。 I get permission for him to visit his father at the guard tents。 I go to his tent and tell him； and start back to my post of duty。 He calls me back and thanks me。 Must I call that natural aversion for the negro； or even prejudice？ Perhaps it is； but I cannot so comprehend it。 It may have that construction； but as long as the other is possible it is generous to accept it。 And again； I am ordered to report a cadet。 I do it。 I am stigmatized； of course； by some of the low ones （see that case under 〃Treatment〃）； but my conduct； both in obeying the order and subsequently； is approved by the better portion of the corps。 The commandant said to me： 〃Your duty was a plain one； and you discharged it properly。 You were entirely right in reporting Mr。。〃 What is the conduct of this cadet himself afterwards？ If different at all from what it was before； it is； in my presence at least； more cordial； more friendly； more kind。 Still there is no ill…treatment； assuming of course that my own conduct is proper； and not obtrusive or overbearing。 And so in a multitude of ways this fact is proved。 I have noticed many things； little things perhaps they were； but still proofs； in the conduct of all the cadets which remove all doubt from my mind。 And yet with all my observation and careful study of those around me； I have many times been unable to decide what was the feeling of the cadets toward me。 Some have been one thing everywhere and at all times； not unkind or ungenerous； nor even unwilling to hear me and be with me； or near me； or on duty with me； or alone with me。 Some again； while not avoiding me in the presence of others have nevertheless manifested their uneasy dislike of my proximity。 When alone with me they are kind； and all I could wish them to be。 Others have not only strenuously avoided me when with their companions； but have even at times shown a low disposition； a desire to wound my feelings or to chill me with their coldness。 But alone； behold they know how to mimic gentlemen。 The kind of treatment which I was to receive； and have received at the hands of the cadets； has been a matter of little moment to me。 True； it has at times been galling； but its severest effects have been but temporary and have caused me no considerable trouble or inconvenience。 I have rigidly overlooked it all。
The officers； on the contrary； as officers and gentlemen； have in a manner been bound to accord me precisely the Same privileges and advantages； etc。； which they granted the other cadets； and they have ever done so。
I must confess my expectations in this last have been most positively unfulfilled； and I am glad of it。 The various reports； rumors； and gossips have thus been proved not only false but malicious； and that proof is of considerable consequence。 That they have not been unkind and disposed to ill…treat me may be readily inferred from the number of demerits I have received； and the nature of the offences for which those demerits were given。 They have never taken it upon themselves to watch me and report me for trifling offences with a view of giving me a bad record in conduct； and thereby securing my dismissal； for one hundred demerits in six months means dismissal。 They have ever acted impartially； and； ignoring my color； have accorded me all immunities and privileges enjoyed by other cadets； whether they were allowed by regulations or were mere acts of personal favor。 Of the majority of the cadets I can speak likewise； for they too have power to spy out and report。
As to treatment in the section…room； where there were many opportunities to do me injustice by giving me low marks for all recitations； good or bad； for instance； they have scrupulously maintained their honor； and have treated me there with exact justice and impartiality。 This is not a matter of opinion。 I can give direct and positive proof of its truthfulness。 In the chapter on 〃Studies；〃 in the record of marks that proof can be found； my marks per recitation； and the average are good。 By rank in section is meant the order of my mark that is； whether best； next； the next； or lowest。 Are these marks not good？ In law； for example； once I received the eighth out of nine marks； then the fifth； the first； second； third； first； first； and so on。 Surely there was nothing in them to show I was marked low either purposely or otherwise。
My marks in the section for each week； month； and the number of men in each section； afford the means of comparison between the other members of the section and myself。 And my marks are not only evidence of the possession on my part of some 〃good faculties；〃 but also of the honor of my instructors and fellow…members of section。
What manner of treatment the cadets chose to manifest toward me was then of course of no account。 But what is of importance； and great importance too； is how they will treat me in the army； when we have all assumed the responsibilities of manhood； coupled with those of a public servant； an army officer。 Of course the question cannot now be answered。 I feel nevertheless assured that the older officers at least will not stoop to prejudice or caste； but will accord me proper treatment and respect。 Men of responsibility are concerned； and it is not presumable that they will disregard the requirements of their professions so far as to ill…treat even myself。 There is none of the recklessness of the student in their actions； and they cannot but recognize me as having a just claim upon their good…will and honor。
The year wears awaythe last year it is tooand I find myself near graduation； with every prospect of success。 And from the beginning to the close my life has been one not of trouble； persecution； or punishment； but one of isolation only。 True； to an unaccustomed nature such a life must have had many anxieties and trials and displeasures； and； although it was so with me； I have nothing more than that of which to complain。 And if such a life has had its unpleasant features； it has also had its pleasant ones； of which not the least； I think； was the constantly growing prospect of ultimate triumph。 Again； those who have watched my course and have seen in its success the falsity of certain reports； can not have been otherwise than overjoyed at it； at
