in its success the falsity of certain reports； can not have been otherwise than overjoyed at it； at the； though tardy； vindication of truth。 I refer especially to certain erroneous ideas which are or were extant concerning the treatment of colored cadets； in which it is claimed that color decides their fate。 （See chapter on 〃Treatment。〃）
I hope my success has proved that not color of face； but color of character alone can decide such a question。 It is character and nothing else that will merit a harsh treatment from gentlemen； and of course it must be a bad character。 If a man is a man； un homme comme il faut； he need fear no ill…treatment from others of like calibre。 Gentlemen avoid persons not gentlemen。 Resentment is not a characteristic of gentlemen。 A gentlemanly nature must shrink from it。 There may be in it a certain amount of what is vulgarly termed pluck； and perhaps courage。 But what of that？ Everybody more or less admires pluck。 Everybody worships courage； if it be of a high order； but who allows that pluck or even courage is an excuse for passion or its consequences？ The whites may admire pluck in the negro； as in other races； but they will never admit unwarrantable obtrusiveness； or rudeness； or grossness； or any other ungentlemanly trait； and no more in the negro than in others。 This is quite just。 A negro would not allow it even in another。
I did not intend to discuss social equality here； but as it is not entirely foreign to my subject I may be pardoned a word or so upon it。
Social equality； as I comprehend it； must be the natural； and perhaps gradual； outgrowth of a similarity of instincts and qualities in those between whom it exists。 That is to say； there can be no social equality between persons who have nothing in common。 A civilized being would not accept a savage as his equal； his socius ； his friend。 It would be repugnant to nature。 A savage is a man； the image of his Maker as much so as any being。 He has all the same rights of equality which any other has； but they are political rights only。 He who buried his one talent to preserve it was not deemed worthy to associate with him who increased his five to ten。 So also in our particular case。 There are different orders or classes of men in every civilized community。 The classes are politically equal； equal in that they are free men and citizens and have all the rights belonging to such station。 Among the several classes there can be no social equality； for they have nothing socially in common； although the members of each class in itself may have。
Now in these recent years there has been a great clamor for rights。 The clamor has reached West Point； and； if no bad results have come from it materially； West Point has nevertheless received a bad reputation； and I think an undeserved one； as respects her treatment of colored cadets。
A right must depend on the capacity and end or aim of the man。 This capacity and end may； and ought to be； moral； and not political only。 Equal capacities and a like end must give equal rights； and unequal capacities and unlike ends unequal rights； morally； of course； for the political end of all men is the same。 And therefore； since a proper society is a moral institution where a certain uniformity of views； aims； purposes； properties； etc。； is the object； there must be also a uniformity or equality of rights； for otherwise there would be no society； no social equality。
This； I apprehend； is precisely the state of affairs in our own country。 Among those who； claiming social equality； claim it as a right； there exists the greatest possible diversity of creeds； instincts； and of moral and mental conditions； in which they are widely different from those with whom they claim this equality。 They can therefore have no rights socially in common； or； in other words； the social equality they claim is not a right； and ought not to and cannot exist under present circumstances； and any law that overreaches the moral reason to the contrary must be admitted as unjust if not impolitic。
But it is color； they say； color only； which determines how the negro must be treated。 Color is his misfortune； and his treatment must be his misfortune also。 Mistaken idea！ and one of which we should speedily rid ourselves。 It may be color in some cases； but in the great majority of instances it is mental and moral condition。 Little or no education； little moral refinement； and all their repulsive consequences will never be accepted as equals of education； intellectual or moral。 Color is absolutely nothing in the consideration of the question； unless we mean by it not color of skin； but color of character； and I fancy we can find considerable color there。
It has been said that my success at West Point would be a grand victory in the way of equal rights； meaning； I apprehend； social rights； social equality； inasmuch as all have； under existing laws； equal political rights。 Doubtless there is much truth in the idea。 If； however； we consider the two races generally； we shall see there is no such right； no such social right； for the very basis of such a right； viz。； a similarity of tastes； instincts； and of mental and moral conditions； is wanting。 The mental similarity especially is wanting； and as that shapes and refines the moral one； that too is wanting。
To illustrate by myself； without any pretensions to selfishness。 I have this right to social equality； for I and those to whom I claim to be equal are similarly educated。 We have much in common； and this fact alone creates my right to social and equal recognition。
〃But the young gentlemen who boast of holding only official intercourse with their comrade； should remember that no one of them stands before the country in any different light from him。 。 。 。 Amalgamated by the uniform course of studies and the similarity of discipline； the separating fragments at the end of the student life carry similar qualities into the life before them； and step with almost remarkable social equality into the world where they must find their level。〃Philadelphia North American； July 7th； 1876。
If we apply this to the people as a unit； the similarity no longer exists。 The right； therefore； also ceases to exist。
The step claimed to have been made by my success is one due to education； and not to my position or education at West Point； rather than at some other place； so that it follows if there be education； if the mental and moral condition of the claimants to that right be a proper one； there will necessarily be social equality； and under other circumstances there can be no such equality。
〃Remember； dear friend；〃 says a correspondent； 〃that you carry an unusual responsibility。 The nation is interested in what you do。 If you win your diploma； your enemies lose and your friends gain one very important point in the great argument for equal rights。 When you shall have demonstrated that you have equal powers； then equal rights will come in due time。 The work which you have chosen； and from which you cannot now flinch without dishonor； proves far more important than either you or me （Faculty at A。 U。） at first conceived。 Like all great things its achievement will involve much of trial and hardship。〃
Alas！ how true！ What a trial it is to be socially ostracized； to live in the very midst of life and yet be lonely； to pass day after day without saying perhaps a single word other than those used in the section…room during a recitation。 How hard it is to live month after month without even speaking to woman； without feeling or knowing the refining influence of her presence！ What a miserable existence！
Oh！ 'tis hard； this lonely living； to be In the midst of life so solitary； To sit all the long； long day through and gaze In the dimness of gloom； all but amazed At the emptiness of life； and wonder What keeps sorrow and death asunder。 'Tis the forced seclusion most galls the mind； And sours all other joy which it may find。 'Tis the sneer； tho' half hid； is bitter still； And wakes dormant anger to passion's will。 But oh！ 'tis harder yet to bear them all Unangered and unheedful of the thrall； To list the jeer； the snarl； and epithet All too base for knaves； and e'en still forget Such words were spoken； too manly to let Such baseness move a nobler intellect。 But not the words nor even the dreader disdain Move me to anger or resenting pain。 'Tis the thought； the thought most disturbs my mind； That I'm ostracized for no fault of mine； 'Tis that ever…recurring thought awakes Mine anger
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。