henry ossian flipper-第33章
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The New York Tribune joins in with its good words as follows：
LIEUTENANT FLIPPER； THE COLORED GRADUATE OF WEST POINT。
〃The examination of the first class in law will be completed tomorrow。 The sections thus far called up have done very well。 The colored cadet； Flipper； passed uncommonly well this morning； showing a practical knowledge of the subject very satisfactory to Senator Maxey； who questioned him closely； and to the rest of the board。 He has a good command of plain and precise English； and his voice is full and pleasant。 Mr。 Flipper will be graduated next week with the respect of his instructors； and not the less of his fellows； who have carefully avoided intercourse with him。 The quiet dignity which he has shown during this long isolation of four years has been really remarkable。 Until another of his race； now in one of the lower classes； arrived； Flipper scarcely heard the sound of his own voice except in recitation； and it is to be feared that unless he is detailed at Howard University； which has been mentioned as possible； his trials have only begun。〃
The class was next examined in civil and military engineering。 In this also I did as well as in either of the other studies。 I made a thorough recitation。 I was required to explain what is meant by an 〃order of battle；〃 and to illustrate by the battles of Zama； Pharsalia； and Leuctra。
THE COLORED CADET。
〃Flipper； the colored cadet from South Carolina； was up this afternoon and acquitted himself remarkably well。 Some time since he was recommended for a higher grade than the one he holds； and his performance to…day gained him a still higher standing in the class。〃
In ordnance and gunnery the class was next examined。 In this I was less successful。 I was to assume one of Captain Didion's equations of the trajectory in air； and determine the angle of projection represented by phi； and the range represented by x in the following equation：
y = x tan。 phi … gx2/2V2 B；
and to explain the construction and use of certain tables used in connection with it。 I made a fair recitation； but one by no means satisfactory to myself。 I lost four files on it at least。 A good recitation in ordnance and gunnery would have brought me out forty… five or six instead of fifty。 I did not make it； and it was too late to better it。 This was the last of our examination。 It ended on the 11th day of June。 On the 14th we were graduated and received our diplomas。
During the examination I received letters of congratulation in every mail。 Some of them may not be uninteresting。 I give a few of them：
POST…OFFICE DEPARTMENT； ROOM 48； WASHINGTON； D。C。； June 3； 1877。
MY DEAR MR。 FLIPPER： It has been four years since I last addressed you。 Then you had just entered the Academy with other young colored men； who have since dropped by the way。 I was at that time the editor of the Era in this city； and wrote an article on West Point and snobocracy which you may remember reading。
I felt a thrill of pleasure here the other day when I read your name as the first graduate from the Academy。 I take this opportunity of writing you again to extend my hearty congratulations； and trust your future career may be as successful as your academic one。 〃My boy；〃 Whittaker； has； I am told； been rooming with you； and I trust has been getting much benefit from the association。
I am； your friend and well…wisher；
RICHARD T。 GREENER。
42 BROAD STREET； NEW YORK； June 4； 1877。
CADET HENRY O。 FLIPPER； West Point； N。 Y。：
DEAR SIR： I have been much pleased reading the complimentary references to your approaching graduation which have appeared in the New York papers the past week。 I beg to congratulate you most heartily； and I sincerely trust that the same intelligence and pluck which has enabled you to successfully complete your academic course may be shown in a still higher degree in the new sphere of duty soon to be entered upon。
I inclose an editorial from to…day's Tribune。
Respectfully； 。
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR； UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE； WASHINGTON； D。C。； June 5； 1877。
HENRY O。 FLIPPER； Esq。； U。 S。 Military Academy； West Point； N。 Y。
DEAR SIR： Having noticed in the daily papers of this city an account of the successful termination of your course at the Military Academy； we hasten to tender you our sincere congratulations。
We are prompted to this act by an experimental knowledge of the social ostracism and treacherous duplicity to which you must have been made the unhappy victim during the long years of faithful study through which you have just passed。
We congratulate you upon the moral courage and untiring energy which must have been yours； to enable you to successfully battle against the immeasurable influence of the prejudice shown to all of us at both of our national schools。 We hail your success as a national acknowledgment； in a new way； of the mental and moral worth of our race； and we feel amply repaid for the many privations we have undergone in the naval branch of our service； in noting the fact that one of us has been permitted to successfully stand the trying ordeal。
Trusting that the same firmness of purpose and untiring energy； which have characterized your stay there； may ever be true of your future career on the field and at the hearth side；
We remain； very truly yours； ； 。
POST…OFFICE； NEW YORK CITY； N。 Y。 OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER； Wednesday； June 7； 1877。
MY DEAR FRIEND： Let me extend to you my full gratitude upon your success at West Point。 I was overjoyed when I saw it。 My friends are delighted with you； and they desire to see you when you come down。 Let me know when you think you will leave West Point； and I will look out for you。
Very truly yours； 。
HENRY O。 FLIPPER； ESQ。； West Point Military Academy。
WASHINGTON； D。 C。； June 13； 1877。
HENRY O。 FLIPPER； ESQ。； West Point； N。 Y。：
MY DEAR FRIEND： I wish to congratulate you upon passing successfully your final examination； and salute you as the first young colored man who has had the manhood and courage to struggle through and overcome every obstacle。 So many of our young men had failed that I wondered if you would be able to withstand all the opposition you met with； whether you could endure the kind of life they mete out to our young men at our national Military Academy。 I rejoice to know that you have won this important victory over prejudice and caste。 This will serve you in good stead through many a conflict in life。 Your path will not be all strewn with roses； something of that caste and prejudice will still pursue you as you enter the broader arena of military life； but you must make up your mind to live it down； and your first victory will greatly aid you in this direction。 One thing； allow me to impress upon you： you are not fighting your own battle； but you are fighting the battle of a struggling people； and for this reason； my dear Flipper； resolve now in your deepest soul that come what may you will never surrender； that you will never succumb。 Others may leave the service for more lucrative pursuits； your duty to your people and to yourself demand that you remain。
Be assured that whatever you do； wherever you may go； you always have my deepest sympathy and best wishes。
I return to Europe in a few weeks。
Cordially yours； 。
Even the cadets and other persons connected with the Academy congratulated me。 Oh how happy I was！ I prized these good words of the cadets above all others。 They knew me thoroughly。 They meant what they said； and I felt I was in some sense deserving of all I received from them by way of congratulation。 Several visited my quarters。 They did not hesitate to speak to me or shake hands with me before each other or any one else。 All signs of ostracism were gone。 All felt as if I was worthy of some regard； and did not fail to extend it to me。
At length； on June 14th； I received the reward of my labors； my 〃sheepskin；〃 the United States Military Academy Diploma； that glorious passport to honor and distinction； if the bearer do never disgrace it。
Here is the manner of ceremony we had on that day； as reported in the New York Times：
〃The concluding ceremony in the graduation exercises at the West Point Academy took place this morning； when the diplomas were awarded to the graduates。 The ceremony took place in the open air under the shadow of the maple trees； which form almost a grove in front of the Academy building。 Seats had been arranged here for the spectators； so as to leave a hollow square； on one side of which； behind a long table； sat the various dignitaries who were to take part in the proceedings。 In front of them； seats were arranged for the graduating class。 The cadets formed line in front of the barracks at 10。30； and； preceded by the band playing a stirring air； marched to the front of the Academy building。 The first class came without their arms； the other classes formed a sort of escort of honor to them。 The graduating class having taken their seats； the other classes stacked arms and remained standing in line around the square。 The proceedings were opened by an address from Professor Thompson； of the School of Technology； Worcester Mass。； who is the Chairman of the Board of Visitors。〃
And thus after four years of constant work amid many difficulties did I obtain my reward。
〃Lieutenant H。 O。 Flipper was the only cadet who received the cheers of the assembled multitude at West Point upon receiving his parchment。 How the fellows felt who couldn't associate with him we do not know； but as the old Christian woman said； they 'couldn't a been on the mountain top。'〃 Christian Recorder。
Victor Hugo says somewhere in his works that he who drains a marsh must necessarily expect to hear the frogs croak。 I had graduated； and of course the newspapers had to have a say about it。 Some of the articles are really amusing。 I couldn't help laughing at them when I read them。 Here is something from the New York Herald which is literally true：
〃MR。 BLAINE AND THE COLORED CADET。
〃Senator James G。 Blaine； with his wife and daughter and Miss Dodge （'Gail Hamilton'） left at noon yesterday in anticipation of the rush。 Before going the Senator did a very gracious and kindly deed in an unostentatious way。 Sending for Flipper； the colored cadet； he said：
〃'I don't know that you have any political friends in your own State； Mr。 Flipper； and you may find it necessary to have an intermediary in Congress to help you out of your difficulties。 I want you to consider me your friend； and call upon me for aid when you need it。'
〃With that he shook the lad's hand and bade him good…by。
〃Bishop Quintard； of Tennessee； and Senator Maxey； of Texas； also complimented the pioneer graduate of the colored race upon his conduct throughout the four years of his training； and proffered their sympathy and assistance。 With these encouragements from prominent men of both political parties the young man seemed deeply touched； and thanking them suitably he returned with a light heart to his quarters。〃
It was so very kind of the distinguished senators and bishop。 I valued these congratulations almost as much as my diploma。 They were worth working and enduring for。
The New York H
