Henry Ossian Flipper, the Colored Cadet at West Point Part 19

Such a life was mine, not indeed for four years, but for the earlier part of my stay at the Academy.

But to return to our subject. There are two questions involved in my case. One of them is, Can a negro graduate at West Point, or will one ever graduate there? And the second, If one never graduate there, will it be because of his color or prejudice?

My own success answers most conclusively the first question, and changes the nature of the other. Was it, then, color or actual deficiency that caused the dismissal of all former colored cadets? I shall not venture to reply more than to say my opinion is deducible from what I have said elsewhere in my narrative.

However, my correspondent agrees with me that color is of no consequence in considering the question of equality socially. My friends, he says, gain an important point in the argument for equal rights.

It will be in this wise, viz., that want of education, want of the proof of equality of intellect, is the obstacle, and not color. And the only way to get this proof is to get education, and not by "war of races."

Equal rights must be a consequence of this proof, and not something existing before it. Equal rights will come in due time, civil rights bill, war of races, or any thing of that kind to the contrary not-withstanding.

And moreover, I don't want equal rights, but identical rights. The whites and blacks may have equal rights, and yet be entirely independent, or estranged from each other. The two races cannot live in the same country, under the same laws as they now do, and yet be absolutely independent of each other. There must, there should, and there will be a mutual dependence, and any thing that tends to create independence, while it is thus so manifestly impossible, can engender strife alone between them. On the other hand, whatever brings them into closer relations.h.i.+p, whatever increases their knowledge and appreciation of fellows.h.i.+p and its positive importance, must necessarily tend to remove all prejudices, and all ill-feelings, and bring the two races, and indeed the world, nearer that degree of perfection to which all things show us it is approaching.

Therefore I want identical rights, for equal rights may not be sufficient.

"It is for you, Henry, more than any one I know of, to demonstrate to the world around us, in this part of it at least (the North), the equality of intellect in the races. You win by your uprightness and intelligence, and it cannot be otherwise than that you will gain respect and confidence."

Thus a lady correspondent (Miss M. E. H., Durham Centre, Ct.) encourages, thus she keeps up the desire to graduate, to demonstrate to the world "the equality of intellect in the races," that not color but the want of this proof in this semi-barbarous people is the obstacle to their being recognized as social equals. A tremendous task! Not so much to prove such an equality--for that had already been abundantly demonstrated--but rather to show the absurdity and impracticability of prejudice on account of color; or, in other words, that there is no such prejudice. It is prejudice on account of non-refinement and non-education.

As to how far and how well I have discharged that duty, my readers, and all others who may be in any manner interested in me, must judge from my narrative and my career at West Point. a.s.suring all that my endeavor has been to act as most becomes a gentleman, and with Christian forbearance to disregard all unfriendliness or prejudice, I leave this subject, this general resume of my treatment at the hands of the cadets, and my own conduct, with the desire that it be criticised impartially if deemed worthy of criticism at all.

"Reporter.--Have you any more colored cadets?

"Captain H--.--Only one--Henry 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 H--.--No, sir; I am told that he is more popular.

I have heard of no doubt but that he will get through all right."--New York Herald, July, 1874.

CHAPTER XII.

PLEASURES AND PRIVILEGES.

THE privileges allowed cadets during an encampment are different generally for the different cla.s.ses.

These privileges are commonly designated by the rank of the cla.s.s, such, for instance, as "first-cla.s.s privileges," "third-cla.s.s privileges," etc. Privileges which are common receive their designation from some characteristic in their nature or purpose. Thus we have "Sat.u.r.day afternoon privileges," and "Old Guard privileges."

The cadets are encamped and are not supposed to leave their camp save by permission. This permission is granted by existing orders, or if for any reason it be temporarily denied it can be obtained by "permit" for some specified time. Such permission or privilege obtained by "permit" for a particular cla.s.s is known as "cla.s.s privileges," and can be enjoyed only by the cla.s.s that submits and gets the permit.

"First-cla.s.s privileges" permit all members of the first cla.s.s to leave camp at any time between troop and retreat, except when on duty, and to take advantage of the usual "Sat.u.r.day afternoon privileges," which are allowed all cla.s.ses and all cadets. These privileges, however, cannot be enjoyed on the Sabbath by any except the first-cla.s.s officers, without special permission.

The usual form of a permit is as follows:

WEST POINT, N. Y., November 6, 1876.

Cadet A-- B-- C-- has permission to walk on public lands between the hours of 8 A.M. and 4 P.M.

-- -- --, Lieut.--Colonel First Art'y Comd'g Corps of Cadets.

-- -- --, Commanding Company "A."

By "Sat.u.r.day afternoon privileges" is meant the right or privilege to walk on all public lands within cadet limits on Sat.u.r.day afternoon. This includes also the privilege of visiting the ruins of old Fort Putnam, which is not on limits. These privileges are allowed throughout the year.

The second cla.s.s being absent on furlough during the encampment, of course have no privileges. Should any member of the cla.s.s be present during the encampment, he enjoys "first-cla.s.s privileges," unless they are expressly denied him.

"Third-cla.s.s privileges" do not differ from "first- cla.s.s privileges," except in that they cannot be taken advantage of on the Sabbath by any member of the cla.s.s.

The fourth cla.s.s as a cla.s.s have no privileges.

"Old Guard privileges" are certain privileges by which all members of the "Old Guard" are exempted from all duty on the day they march off guard until one o'clock, and are permitted to enjoy privileges similar to those of Sat.u.r.day afternoon during the same time. They also have the privilege of bathing at that time.

The baths are designated as "first," "second," and "third." The officers and non-commissioned officers have the first baths, and the privates the others.

Cadets who march off guard on Sunday are restricted in the enjoyment of their privileges to exemption from duty on the Sabbath only. They may take advantage of the other privileges on the following Monday during the usual time, but are not excused from any duty. All members of the "Old Guard," to whatever cla.s.s they may belong, are ent.i.tled to "Old Guard privileges."

Besides these there are other privileges which are enjoyed by comparatively few. Such are "Hop managers' privileges."

"Hop managers" are persons elected by their cla.s.smates from the first and third cla.s.ses for the management of the hops of the summer. To enable them to discharge the duties of their office, they are permitted to leave camp, whenever necessary, by reporting their departure and return.

Under pleasures, or rather sources of pleasure, may be enumerated hops, Germans, band practice, and those incident to other privileges, such as "spooneying," or "spooning." The hops are the chief source of enjoyment, and take place on Mondays and Fridays, sometimes also on Wednesdays, at the discretion of the Superintendent.

Germans are usually given on Sat.u.r.day afternoons, and a special permit is necessary for every one. These permits are usually granted, unless there be some duty or other cause to prevent.

Two evenings of every week are devoted to band practice, Tuesday evening for practice in camp, and Thursday evening for practice in front of the Superintendent's quarters. Of course these entertainments, if I may so term them, have the effect of bringing together the young ladies and cadets usually denied the privilege of leaving camp during the evening. It is quite reasonable to a.s.sume that they enjoy themselves. On these evenings "cla.s.s privileges" permit the first- and third-cla.s.smen to be absent from camp till the practice is over. Sometimes a special permit is necessary.

It might be well to say here, ere I forget it, that Wednesday evening is devoted to prayer, prayer-meeting being held in the Dialectic Hall. All cadets are allowed to attend by reporting their departure and return. The meeting is under the sole management of the cadets, although they are by no means the sole partic.i.p.ants. Other privileges, more or less limited, such as the holding of cla.s.s meetings for whatever purpose, must be obtained by special permit in each case.

We have not much longer here to stay, Only a month or two, Then we'll bid farewell to cadet gray, And don the army blue.

Army-blue, army blue, we'll don the army blue, We'll bid farewell to cadet gray and don the army blue.

To the ladies who come up in June, We'll bid a fond adieu, And hoping they will be married soon, We'll don the army blue.

Army blue, army blue, we'll don the army blue, We'll bid farewell to cadet gray and don the army blue.

Addresses to the Graduating Cla.s.s of the U. S. Military Academy, West Point, N. Y., June 14th, 1877. By PROFESSOR C. O. THOMPSON, MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD S.

HANc.o.c.k, HONORABLE GEORGE W. MCCRARY, Secretary of War, MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN M. SCHOFIELD, Superintendent U. S.

Military Academy.

ADDRESS BY PROFESSOR C. O. THOMPSON, President of the Board of Visitors.

YOUNG GENTLEMEN OF THE GRADUATING CLa.s.s: The courtesy of your admirable Superintendent forbids a possible breach in an ancient custom, and lays upon me, as the representative, for the moment, of the Board of Visitors, the pleasant duty of tendering to you their congratulations on the close of your academic career, and your auspicious future.

The people of this country have a heavy stake in the prosperity of this inst.i.tution. They recognize it as the very fountain of their security in war, and the origin of some of their best methods of education. And upon education in colleges and common schools the pillars of the State a.s.suredly rest.

To partic.i.p.ants and to bystanders, this ceremony of graduation is as interesting and as exciting as if this were the first, instead of the seventy-fifth occurrence. Every such occasion is clothed with the splendor of perpetual youth. The secret of your future success lies in the impossibility of your entering into the experience of your predecessors. Every man's life begins with the rising sun. The world would soon become a frozen waste but for the inextinguishable ardor of youth, which believes success still to be possible where every attempt has failed.

That courage which avoids rashness by the restraints of knowledge, and dishonor by the fear of G.o.d, is the best hope of the world.

History is not life, but its reflection.

The great armies of modern times which have won immortal victories have been composed of young men who have turned into historic acts the strategy of experienced commanders.