henry ossian flipper-第47章

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〃REPORTER'He　was　always　spoken　of　as　a　very　bright　lad。'

〃CAPTAIN　HALL'He　was　not　bright　or　ready。　He　lacked　comprehension。　In　his　first　year　he　was　very　troublesome。　First　came　his　assault　upon；　or　affray　with；　another　young　gentleman　（Cadet　Wilson）；　but　the　Court　of　Inquiry　deemed　it　inadvisable　to　court…martial　either　of　them。　Then　he　was　insolent　to　his　superior　on　drill；　and　being　called　upon　for　an　explanation　he　wrote　a　deliberate　falsehood。　For　this　he　was　court…martialled　and　sentenced　to　dismissal；　but　subsequently　the　findings　of　the　committee　were　reversed；　and　Cadet　Smith　was　put　back　one　year。　This　fact　accounts　for　his　good　standing　on　the　examination　next　before　the　last。　You　see　he　went　over　the　same　studies　twice。'

〃REPORTER'What　was　Cadet　Smith　found　deficient　in？'

〃CAPTAIN　HALL'HIS　worst　failure　was　in　natural　and　experimental　philosophy；　which　embraces　the　higher　mathematics；　dynamics；　optics；　mechanics；　and　other　studies。　He　missed　a　very　simple　question　in　optics；　and　the　examiners；　who　were　extremely　lenient　with　him；　chiefly；　I　believe；　because　he　was　colored　and　not　white；　tried　him　with　another；　which　was　also　missed。'

〃REPORTER'Is　optical　science　deemed　an　absolutely　essential　branch　of　learning　for　an　officer　in　the　army？'

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　DEFICIENT　IN　HIS　STUDIES。

〃CAPTAIN　HALL'It　is　useful　to　engineers；　for　instance。　But　that　is　not　the　question。　In　most　educational　institutions　of　the　grade　of　West　Point；　the　standing　of　a　student　in　his　studies　is　decided　by　a　general　average　of　all　studies　in　which　he　is　examined。　　Here　each　branch　is　considered　separately；　and　if　the　cadet　fails　in　any　one　he　cannot　pass。　I　will　assure　you　once　more　that　in　my　opinion　Cadet　Smith　received　as　fair　an　examination　as　was　ever　given　to　any　student。　If　anything；　he　was　a　little　more　favored。'

〃REPORTER'What　was　his　conduct　in　the　last　year　of　his　stay　at　the　Academy？'

〃CAPTAIN　HALL'Good。　He　ranked　twenty　in　a　class　of　forty　in　discipline。　Discipline　is　decided　by　the　number　of　marks　a　cadet　receives　in　the　term。　If　he　goes　beyond　a　certain　number　he　is　expelled。'

〃REPORTER'This　record　seems　hardly　consistent　with　his　previous　turbulent　career。'

〃CAPTAIN　HALL'Oh！　in　the　last　years　of　his　service　he　learned　to　control　his　temper；　but　he　never　seemed　happy　unless　in　some　trouble。'

〃REPORTER'Have　you　any　more　colored　cadets？'

〃CAPTAIN　HALL'Only　oneHenry　O。　Flipper；　of　Georgia。　He　is　a　well…built　lad；　a　mulatto；　and　is　bright；　intelligent；　and　studious。'

〃REPORTER'Do　the　cadets　dislike　him　as　much　as　they　did　Smith？'

〃CAPTAIN　HALL'No；　Sir；　I　am　told　that　he　is　more　popular。　I　have　heard　of　no　doubt　he　will　get　through　all　right。　And　here　I　will　say；　that　had　Mr。　Smith　been　white　he　would　not　have　gone　so　far　as　he　did。'

〃Other　officers　of　the　post　concur　with　Captain　Hall；　but　the　enlisted　men　seem　to　sympathize　with　Smith。　One　of　them　said；　'I　don't　believe　the　officers　will　ever　let　a　negro　get　through。　They　don't　want　them　in　the　army。'

〃Cadet　Smith's　career　for　the　three　years　of　his　service　was　indeed　a　most　unhappy　one；　but　whether　that　unhappiness　arose　from

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　INFIRMITIES　OF　TEMPER

or　from　the　persistent　persecutions　of　his　comrades　cannot　be　authoritatively　said。　One　officer　attributed　much　of　the　pugnacity　which　Smith　exhibited　early　in　his　course　to　the　injudicious　letters　sent　him　by　his　friends。　In　some　of　these　he　was　advised　to　'fight　for　the　honor　of　his　race；'　and　others　urged　him　to　brook　no　insult　at　the　hands　of　the　white　cadets。　The　menial　duties　which　the　'plebes'　are　called　upon　to　do　in　their　first　summer　encampment　were　looked　upon　by　Smith　as　personal　insults　thrust　upon　him；　althought　his　comrades　made　no　complaint。　Then　the　social　ostracism　to　a　lad　of　his　sensitive　nature　was　almost　unbearable；　and　an　occasional　outbreak　is　not　to　be　wondered　at。

〃Before　he　had　been　in　the　Academy　a　week　he　wrote　to　a　friend　complaining　of　the　treatment　he　received　from　his　fellows；　and　this　letter　being　published　intensified　the　hostility　of　the　other　cadets。　Soon　after　this　he　had　a　fight　with　Cadet　Wilson　and　cut　his　face　with　a　dipper。　Then　followed　the　breach　of　discipline　on　drill；　the　court…martial　and　sentence；　and　finally　the　Congressional　investigation；　which　did　not　effect　any　good。　Smith　says　that　frequently　on　squad　drill　he　was　detached　from　the　squad　by　the　cadet　corporal；　and　told　that　he　was　not　to　stand　side　by　side　with　white　men。

〃WEST　POINT；　June　19。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　COLORED　CADET。

HIS　TRIALS　AND　PERSECUTIONSTHREE　YEARS　OF　ABUSE　　　　SETTLED　AT　LAST〃ELI　PERKINS〃　TELLS　THE　STORY。

To　the　Editor　of　the　Daily　Graphic：

About　the　20th　of　May；　1870；　I　saw　the　colored　Cadet；　James　W。　Smith　land　at　the　West　Point　Dock。　He　was　appointed　by　a　personal　friend　of　mine；　Judge　Hoge；　Member　of　Congress　from　Columbia；　South　Carolina。　The　mulatto　boy　was　about　five　feet　eight　inches　high；　with　olive　complexion　and　freckles。　Being　hungry　he　tipped　his　hat　to　a　cadet　as　he　jumped　from　the　ferry　…boat　and　asked　him　the　way　to　the　hotel。

〃'Over　there；　boy；'　replied　the　cadet；　pointing　to　the　Rose　Hotel　owned　by　the　government。

〃On　arriving　there　the　colored　boy　laid　down　his　carpet…　bag；　registered　his　name；　and　asked　for　something　to　eat。

〃'What！　A　meal　of　victuals　for　a　nigger？'　asked　the　clerk。

〃'Yes；　Sir；　I'm　hungry　and　I　should　like　to　buy　something　to　eat。'

〃'Well；　you'll　have　to　be　hungry　a　good　while　if　you　wait　to　get　something　to　eat　here；'　and　the　clerk　of　the　government　hotel　pushed　the　colored　boy's　carpet　…bag　off　upon　the　floor。

〃Jimmy　Smith's　father；　who　fought　with　General　Sherman；　and　came　back　to　become　an　alderman　in　Columbia；　had　told　the　boy　that　when　he　got　to　West　Point　among　soldiers　he　would　be　treated　justly；　and　you　can　imagine　how　the　hungry　boy　felt　when　he　trudged　back　over　the　hot　campus　to　see　Colonel　Black　and　General　Schriver；　who　was　then　Superintendent　of　the　Academy。

〃The　black　boy　came　and　stood　before　the　commandant　and　handed　him　his　appointment　papers　and　asked　him　to　read　them。　　Colonel　Black；　Colonel　Boynton；　and　other　officers　looked　around　inquiringly。　Then　they　got　up　to　take　a　good　look　at；　the　first　colored　cadet。　The　colonel；　red　in　the　face；　waved　the　boy　away　with　his　hand；　and；　one　by　one；　the　officers　departed；　speechless　with　amazement。

〃In　a　few　moments　the　news　spread　through　the　Academy。　The　white　cadets　seemed　paralyzed。

〃Several　cadets　threatened　to　resign；　some　advocated　maiming　him　for　life；　and　a　Democratic　'pleb'　from　Illinois　exclaimed；　'I'd　rather　die　than　drill　with　the　black　devil。'　But　wiser　counsels　prevailed；　and　the　cadets　consented　to　tolerate　Jimmy　Smith　and　not　drown　or　kill　him　for　four　weeks；　when　it　was　thought　the　examiners　would　'bilge'　him。

〃On　the　16th　of　June；　1870；　I　saw　Jimmy　Smith　again　at　West　Point　and　wrote　out　my　experiences。　He　was　the　victim　of　great　annoyance。

〃At　these　insults　the　colored　cadet　showed　a　suppressed　emotion。　He　could　not　break　the　ranks　to　chastise　his　assaulter。　　Then　if　he　had　fought　with　every　cadet　who　called　him　a　'black…hearted　nigger；'　he　would　have　fought　with　the　whole　Academy。　　Not　the　professors；　for　they　have　been　as　truly　gentlemen　as　they　are　good　officers。　If　they　had　feelings　against　the　colored　cadet　they　suppressed　them。　I　say　now　that　the　indignities　heaped　upon　Jimmy　Smith　would　have　been　unbearable　to　any　white　boy　of　spirit。　Hundreds　of　times　a　day　he　was　publicly　called　names　so　mean　that　I　dare　not　write　them。

〃Once　I　met　Jimmy　Smith　after　drill。　He　bore　the　insulting　remarks　like　a　Christian。

〃'I　expected　it；'　he　said；　'but　it　was　not　so　at　the　Hartford　High　School。　There　I　had　the　second　honors　of　my　class。'　Then　he　showed　me　a　catalogue　of　the　Hartford　High　School；　and　there　was　the　name　of　James　W。　Smith　as　he　graduated　with　the　next　highest　honor。

〃On　that　occasion　I　asked　Jimmy　who　his　father　was。

〃'His　name　is　Israel　Smith。　He　used　to　belong　to　Sandres　Guignard；　of　Columbia。'

〃'Then　he　was　a　slave？'

〃'Yes；　but　when　Sherman's　army　freed　him　he　became　a　Union　soldier。'

〃'And　your　mother？'

〃'She　is　Catherine　Smith；　born　free。'　Here　Jimmy　showed　his　mother's　photograph。　She　looked　like　a　mulatto　woman；　with　straight　hair　and　regular　features。　She　had　a　serious；　Miss…Siddons…looking　face。

〃'How　did　you　come　to　〃the　Point？〃'　I　asked。

〃'Well；　Mr。　David　Clark；　of　Hartford；　promised　to　educate　me；　and　he　got　Congressman　Hoge　to　appoint　me。'

〃'How　came　Mr。　Clark　to　become　interested　in　you？'

〃'Well；　a　very　kind　white　ladyMiss　Loomiscame　to　Columbia　to　teach　the　freedmen。　I　went　to　school　to　her　and　studied　so　hard　and　learned　so　fast　that　she　told　Mr。　Clark　about　me。　My　father　is　able　to　support　me；　but　Mr。　Clark　is　a　great　philanthropist　and　he　has　taken　a　liking　to　me　and　he　is　going　to　stand　by　me。'

〃'What　does　Mr。　Clark　say　when　you　write　about　how　the　cadets　treat　you？'

〃The　colored　boy　handed　me　this　letter　from　his　benefactor：

〃'HARTFORD；　June　7；　1870。

〃'DEAR　JEMMY：　Yours；　1st　inst。；　is　at　hand　and　noted。　I　herewith　inclose　stamps。

〃'Let　them　call　〃nigger〃　as　much　as　they　please；　they　will　laugh　out　of　the　other　corner　of　their　mouth　before　the　term　is　over。

〃'Your　only　way　is　to　maintain　your　dignity。　Go　straight　ahead。　If　any　personal　insult　is　offered；　resist　it；　and　then　inform　me；　I　will　then　see　what　I　can　do。　But　I　think　you　need　have　no　fear　on　that　score。　Have　been　out　to　Windham　a　few　days。　All　well；　and　send　kind　regards。　Mary　sails　for　Europe　Saturday。　President　Grant　is　to　be　here　the　2d。　He　will　be　my　guest　or　Governor　Jewell's。

〃'Yours；　etc。；

〃'D。　CLARK。'

〃'So　Mr。　Clark　knows　the　President；　does　he？'

〃'Why；　yes；　he　knows　everybodyall　the　great　men。　He's　a　great　man　himself；'　and　this　poor　colored　boy　stood　up；　I　thought；　the　proudest　champion　David　Clark　ever　had。

〃'Yes；　David　Clark　is　a　good　man；'　I　mused；　as　I　saw　the　grateful　tears　standing　in　the　colored　cadet's　eyes。

〃When　I　got　back　to　the　hotel　I　heard　a　wishy…washy　girl；　who　came　up　year　after　year　with　a　party　to　flirt　with　the　cadets　say：

〃'O　dear！　it　is　hawid　to　have　this　colod　cadetperfectly　dre'fful。　I　should　die　to　see　my　George　standing　next　to　him。'

〃But　Miss　Schenck；　the　daughter　of　General　Schenck；　our　Minister　to　the　Court　of　St。　James；　told　Jimmy　Smith　that　she　hoped　he　would　graduate　at　the　head　of　his　class；　and　when　the　colored　boy　told　me　about　it　he　said：

〃'Oh；　sir；　a　splendid　lady　called　to　see　me　to…day。　I　wish　I　knew　her　name。　I　want　to　tell　David　Clark。'

〃Every　white　boy　at　West　Point　now　agreed　to　cut　the　colored　boy。　No　one　was　to　say　a　single　word　to　him；　or　even　answer　yes　or　no。　At　the　same　time　they　would　abuse　him　and　swear　at　him　in　their　own　conversation　loud　enough　for　him　to　hear。　It　is　a　lamentable　fact　that　every　white　cadet　at　the　Point　swears　and　chews　tobacco　like　the　army　in　Flanders。

〃Again　I　saw　Jimmy　Smith　on　the　9th　of　July。　The　officers　of　the　Academy　had　been　changed。　Old　General　Schriver　had　given　place　to　young　General　Upton。　The　young　general　is　a　man　of　feeling　and　a　lover　of　justice。　He　sent　for　the　colored　boy；　and　taking　his　hand　he　said：

〃'My　boy；　you　say　y