henry ossian flipper-第54节
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ng '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 different classes； and resolutions passed to the effect that as soon as the colored cadet entered the 'hop' room； the 'hop' managers were to declare the 'hop' ended； and dismiss the musicians。 But the 'hops' went on undisturbed by the presence of the colored cadet for two or three weeks； and all began to get quiet again； when one day my brother and sister； with a couple of lady friends whom they had come to visit； came to camp to see me。
〃This started afresh the old report about the 'hops；' and every one was on the qui vive to get a glimpse of 'nigger Jim and the nigger wenches who are going to the hops；' as was remarked by a cadet who went up from the guard tent to spread the alarm through camp。
〃In a few minutes thereafter the 'gentlemen' had all taken position at the end of the 'company street；' and； with their opera…glasses； were taking observations upon those who； as they thought； had come to desecrate the 'hop' room。 I was on guard that day； but not being on post at that time； I was sitting in rear of the guard tents with my friendsthat place being provided with camp…stools for the accommodation of visitors when a cadet corporal； Tyler； of Kentucky； came and ordered me to go and fasten down the corner of the first guard tent； which stood a few paces from where we were sitting。
〃I went to do so； when he came there also； and immediately began to rail at me for being so slow； saying he wished me to know that when he ordered me to do anything； I must 'step out' about it； and not try to shirk it。 I said nothing； but fastened down the corner of the tent； and went back to where my friends were。
〃In a few minutes afterwards he came back； and wanted to know why I hadn't fastened down that tent wall。 I told him that I had。
〃He said it was not fastened then； and that he did not wish any prevarication on my part。
〃I then told him that he had no authority to charge me with prevarication； and that if he believed that I had not fastened down the tent wall； the only thing he could do was to report me。 I went back to the tent and found that either Cadet Tyler or some other cadet had unfastened the tent wall； so I fastened it down again。 Nothing now was said to me by Cadet Tyler； and I went back to where my friends were： but we had been sitting there only about a half hour； when a private soldier came to us and said； 'It is near time for parade； and you will have to go away from here。' I never was more surprised in my life； and I asked the soldier what he meant； for I surely thought be was either drunk or crazy； but he said that the superintendent had given him orders to allow no colored persons near the visitors' seats during parade。
〃I asked him if he recognized me as a cadet。 He said he did。 I then told him that those were my friends； that I had invited them there to see the parade； and that they were going to stay。 He said he had nothing to do with me； of course； but that he had to obey the orders of the superintendent。 I then went to the officer of the guard； who was standing near by； and stated the circumstances to him； requesting him to protect us from such insults。 He spoke to the soldier； saying that he had best not try to enforce that order； as the order was intended to apply to servants； and then the soldier went off and left us。
〃Soon after that the drum sounded for parade； and I was compelled to leave my friends for the purpose of falling in ranks； but promising to return as soon as the parade was over； little thinking that I should not be able to redeem that promise； but such was the case； as I shall now proceed to show。
〃Just as the companies were marching off the parade ground； and before the guard was dismissed； the 'officer in charge；' Lieutenant Charles King； Fifth Cavalry； came to the guard tent and ordered me to step out of ranks three paces to the front； which I did。
〃He then ordered me to take off my accoutrements and place them with my musket on the gun rack。 That being done； he ordered me to take my place in the centre of the guard as a prisoner； and there I stood until the ranks were broken； when I was put in the guard tent。 Of course my friends felt very bad about it； as they thought that they were the cause of it； while I could Not speak a word to them； as they went away； and even if I could have spoken to them； I could not have explained the matter； for I did not know myself why I had been put thereat least I did not know what charge had been trumped up against me； though I knew well enough that I had been put there for the purpose of keeping me from the 'hop；' as they expected I would go。 The next morning I was put 'in arrest' for 'disobedience of orders in not fastening down tent wall when ordered；' and 'replying in a disrespectful manner to a cadet corporal；' etc。； and thus the simplest thing was magnified into a very serious offence； for the purpose of satisfying the desires of a few narrow…minded cadets。 That an officer of the United States Army would allow his prejudices to carry him so far as to act in that way to a subordinate； without giving him a chance to speak a word in his defencenay； without allowing him to know what charge had been made against him； and that he should be upheld in such action by the 'powers that be；' are sufficient proof to my mind of the feelings which the officers themselves maintained towards us。 While I was in ranks； during parade； and my friends were quietly sitting down looking at the parade； another model 'officer and gentleman；' Captain Alexander Piper； Third Artilleryhe was president of my second court… martialcame up； in company with a lady； and ordered my brother and sister to get up and let him have their camp…stools； and he actually took away the camp…stools and left them standing； while a different kind of a gentlemanan 'obscure citizen；' with no aristocratic West Point dignity to boast ofkindly tendered his camp…stool to my sister。
〃I only wish I knew the name of that gentleman； but I could not see him then； or I should certainly have found it out； though in answer to my brother's question as to his name； he simply replied； 'I am an o
