henry ossian flipper-第47节

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te　of　West　Point。　The　troops　then　marched　around　the　inspecting　officer。

〃The　line　was　again　formed；　and　the　major　addressed　Lieutenant　Flipper　in　a　short　speech；　in　which　was　expressed　gratitude　to　the　government　and　thanks　to　the　inspecting　officer。

〃Lieutenant　Flipper　replied　in　a　few　very　sensible　and　appropriate　remarks：　That　he　wished　all　success；　honor；　and　thanks　to　the　companies　for　their　kindness　and　courtesy。　Hoped　they　would　all　make　soldiers　and　tight　for　their　country。　That　he　was　a　soldier　rather　than　a　speaker。　That　he　had　tried　to　do　his　duty　at　West　Point；　and　that　he　expected　to　continue　to　try　to　do　his　duty；　and　'again　thanking　you　for　your　hospitality；　kindness；　and　attention　to　myself；　I　renew　my　wish　for　your　future　success。'

〃After　the　speaking　there　was　a　general　hand…shaking。　The　entire　parade　was　very　creditable　indeed；　showing　considerable　proficiency　in　the　tactics；　and　was　witnessed　by　a　large　crowd　of　about　twelve　hundred　of　whites　and　blacks。

〃This　is　the　first　review　ever　held　by　the　colored　troops　in　the　city　of　Macon。　About　eighty　men　rank　and　file　were　out。　The　colors　used　was　the　United　States　flag。　The　uniforms　were　tasty　and　well　gotten　up。〃

There　was　a　very　scurrilous　article　in　one　of　the　Charleston　（S。C。）　papers。　I　have　not　been　able　to　get　it。　I　am　informed　that　after　commenting　on　my　graduation；　assignment；　etc。；　it　indulged　in　much　speculation　as　to　my　future。　It　told　how　I　would　live；　be　treated；　etc。；　how　I　would　marry；　beget　〃little　Flippers；〃　and　rear　them　up　to　〃don　the　army　blue；〃　and　even　went　far　enough　to　predict　their　career。　It　was　a　dirty　piece　of　literature；　and　I　am　not　very　sorry　I　couldn't　obtain　it。

　　　　　　（From　the　Atlanta　（Ga。）　Republican。）

　　　　　　　　　　　　SUCCESSFUL　COLORED　YOUNG　MEN。

〃At　length　a　colored　youth　has　overcome　the　difficulties　that　surrounded　him　as　a　student　at　the　West　Point　Military　Academy；　and　has　graduated；　with　the　respect　of　his　white　associates　who　were　at　first　very　much　opposed　to　him。　Mr。　Flipper；　the　successful　young　man　is　a　Georgia　boy；　and　was　appointed　a　cadet　to　West　Point　from　the　Fifth　Congressional　Districtthe　Atlanta　Districtby　Congressman　Freeman；　we　believe。　He　was　raised　by　Rev。　Frank　Quarles；　of　this　city；　and　is　regarded　by　him　almost　as　a　son。

〃John　F。　Quarles；　Esq。；　the　son　of　Rev。　Frank　Quarles；　is　spending　a　few　days　with　his　father。　Mr。　J。　F。　Quarles　was　educated　in　Pennsylvania　since　the　war；　and　returned　to　Georgia　in　1870。　He　read　law　and　was　admitted　to　the　Augusta　bar　after　a　careful　examination　before　three　of　the　ablest　lawyers　at　that　bar；　which　is　noted　for　its　talent。　He　passed　a　very　creditable　examination；　and　is；　we　believe；　the　only　colored　man　who　has　been　admitted　to　the　Georgia　bar。　He　was　soon　after　appointed　consul　to　Port　Mahon；　in　the　Mediterranean　Sea；　and　served　with　credit　until　he　was　legislated　of　office　by　the　Democratic　Congress。　President　Hayes　recently　appointed　him　consul　to　Malaga；　Spain。

〃Rev。　Mr。　Quarles　is　justly　proud　of　two　such　boys。〃

Here；　too；　is　a　venerable　colored　man　claiming　the　honor　of　having　raised　me。　Why；　I　never　was　away　from　my　mother　and　father　ten　consecutive　hours　in　my　life　until　I　went　to　West　Point。　It　is　possible；　nay；　very　probable；　that　he　jumped　me　on　his　knee；　or　boxed　me　soundly　for　some　of　my　childish　pranks；　but　as　to　raising　me；　that　honor　is　my　mother's；　not　his。

Before　leaving　West　Point　the　following　communications　were　sent　me　from　the　head…quarters　of　the　Liberia　Exodus　Association；　10　Mary　Street；　Charleston　S。C。　I　replied　in　very　courteous　terms　that　I　was　opposed　to　the　whole　scheme；　and　declined　to　have　any　thing　to　do　with　it。　I　was　in　Charleston　later　in　the　year；　and　while　there　I　was　besieged　by　some　of　the　officers　of　the　association；　who　had　not　yet　despaired　of　making　me　〃Generalissimo　of　Liberia's　Army；〃　as　one　of　them　expressed　himself。　Wearied　of　their　importunities；　and　having　no　sympathy　with　the　movement；　I　published　the　following　in　the　Charleston　News　and　Courier：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FLIPPER　ON　LIBERIA。

〃Lieutenant　Flipper；　of　the　Tenth　United　States　Cavalry；　the　newly…　fledged　colored　West　Pointer；　has　something　to　say　on　the　question　of　the　Liberian　Exodus；　which　will　be　interesting　to　the　people　of　his　race。　The　lieutenant；　by　his　creditable　career　as　a　cadet　at　the　Military　Academy；　has　certainly　earned　the　right　to　be　heard　by　the　colored　population　with　at　least　as　much　respect　and　attention　as　has　been　given　to　the　very　best　of　the　self…constituted　apostles　of　the　Exodus。　Here　is　his　letter：

To　the　Editor　of　The　News　and　Courier：

〃'SIR：　A　rumor　has　come　to　me　from　various　sources；　to　the　effect…that　I　have　promised　to　resign　my　commission　in　the　army　after　serving　the　two　years　required　by　law；　and　to　then　accept　another　as　General　Commander…in…Chief　of　the　Liberian　Army。

〃'It　has　also　come　to　my　notice　that　many；　particularly　in　the　counties　adjoining　Georgia；　are　being　persuaded；　and　intend　going　to　Liberia　because　I　have　made　this　promise。

〃'I　shall　consider　it　no　small　favor　if　you　will　state　that　there　is　no　law　requiring　me　to　serve　two　years；　that　I　never　authorized　any　such　statement　as　here　made；　that　I　have　no　sympathy　whatever　for　the　〃Liberian　Exodus〃　movement；　that　I　give　it　neither　countenance　nor　support；　but　will　oppose　it　whenever　I　feel　that　the　occasion　requires　it。　I　am　not　at　all　disposed　to　flee　from　one　shadow　to　grasp　at　anotherfrom　the　supposed　error　of　Hayes's　Southern　policy　to　the　prospective　glory　of　commanding　Liberia's　army。

〃'Very　respectfully；　your　obedient　servant；

〃'HENRY　O。　FLIPPER；　〃'Second　Lieutenant　Tenth　U。　S。　Cavalry。　〃'CHARLESTON；　S。C。；　October　19；　1877。'〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　LETTERS　FROM　CHARLESTON。

　　　　　　　　　　　　ROOMS　OF　THE　LIBERIAN　AFRICAN　ASSOCIATION；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　10　MARY　STREET；　CHARLESTON；　S。C。；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　June　22；　1877。

To　HENRY　O。　FLIPPER；　Esq。；　U。　S。　Military　Academy；　West　Point；　N。Y。：

DEAR　FRIEND　AND　BROTHER：　Your　future；　as　foreshadowed　by　the　press　of　this　country；　looks　dismal　enough。　We　have　conned　its　remarks　with　mingled　feelings　of　sympathy　and　exultation。　Exultation！　because　we　believe　fate　has　something　higher　and　better　in　store　for　you　than　they　or　you　ever　dreamed。　Inclosed　please　find　copy　of　a　letter　to　the　Honorable　the　Secretary　of　State。　We　have　not　yet　received　a　reply。　Also；　inclosed；　a　number　of　the　Missionary　Record　containing　the　call　referred　to。　We　have　mentioned　you　in　our　note　to　His　Excellency　Anthony　Gardner；　President　of　Liberia。　Please　communicate　with　us　and　say　if　this　letter　and　inclosures　do　not　open　up　a　bright　vista　in　the　future　to　your　imagination　and　reasonable　aspirations？　We　picture　to　ourselves　our　efforts　to　obtain　a　line　of　steamers　crowned　with　success；　and　behold　you　as　commander…in…chief　organizing　and　marshalling　Liberia's　military　forces　in　the　interests　of　humanity　at　large；　and　the　especial　development　of　a　grand　African　nationality　that　shall　command　the　respect　of　the　nations：

　　　　　　So　Afric　shall　resume　her　seat　in　the　　　　　　　　　　Hall　of　Nations　vast；　　　　　　　And　strike　upon　her　restrung　lyre　　　　　　　　　　The　requiem　of　the　past：　　　　　　　And　sing　a　song　of　thanks　to　God；　　　　　　　　　　For　his　great　mercy　shown；　　　　　　　In　leading；　with　an　outstretched　arm；　　　　　　　　　　The　benighted　wanderer　home。　Selah！

Provide　yourself　at　once　with　maps；　etc。；　master　the　chorography　of　Africa　in　general；　and　the　topography　of　Liberia　in　particular；　that　is　to　say；　the　whole　range　of　the　Kong　mountains；　including　its　eastern　slope　on　to　the　Niger；　our　natural　boundary！　for　the　next　thirty　years！　after　that；　onward！　Cultivate　especially　the　artillery　branch　of　the　service；　this　is　the　arm　with　which　we　can　most　surely　overawe　all　thought　of　opposition　among　the　native　tribes；　whilst　military　engineering　will　dot　out　settlements　with　forts；　against　which；　they　will　see；　'twould　be　madness　to　hurl　themselves。　We　desire　to　absorb　and　cultivate　them。　The　great　obstacle　to　this　is　their　refusal　to　have　their　girls　educated。　This　results　from　their　institution　of　polygamy。　Slavery　is　the　same　the　world　overit　demands　the　utter　ignorance　of　its　victims。　We　must　compel　their　enlightenment。　Have　we　not　said　enough？　Does　not　your　intelligence　grasp；　and　your　ambition　spring　to　the　great　work？　Let　us　hear　from　you。　You　can　be　a　great　power　in　assisting　to　carry　out　our　Exodus。　If　you　desire　we　will　elect　you　a　member　of　our　council　and　keep　you　advised　of　our　proceedings。　We　forward　you　by　this　mail　some　of　our　numbers　and　the　Charleston　News　of　the　20th。　See　the　article　on　yourself；　and　let　it　nerve　you　to　thoughts　and　deeds　of　greatness。　Let　us　know　something　about　Baker　and　McClennan。　Are　they　at　Annapolis？　Cadets？　（We　will　require　a　navy　as　well　as　an　army。）　Also　something　about　yourself。　What　part　of　the　State　are　you　from？　Hon。　R。　H。　Cain　is　not　here；　or　probably　he　could　inform　us。

Affectionately　yours。　By　our　President；

B。　F。　PORTER；　Pastor　of　Morris　Brown　Chapel。

GEO。　CURTIS；　Corresponding　Secretary。

P。　S。We　have　received　a　reply　from　the　Secretary　of　Statevery　courteous　in　its　tonebut　〃regrets〃　to　say　that　he　has　〃no　special　means　of　forming　an　opinion　upon　the