any such fight？ Have they too 'shown pluck and gentlemanly qualities？'
〃We are not disposed to speak harshly of these fastidious young fellows； who will not be long out of the school before they will be rather sorry that they didn't treat Mr。 Flipper a little more cordially。 But a much more important matter is that he has； in spite of his color； made a good record every way； has kept up with his class； has not been dropped or dismissed； but emerges a full…blown Second Lieutenant of Cavalry。 He has thus achieved a victory not only for himself but for his race。 He has made matters easier for future colored cadets； and twenty years hence； if not sooner； the young white gentlemen of West Point will read of the fastidiousness of their predecessors with incredulous wonder。 Time and patience will settle every thing。〃
CADET FLIPPER。
〃The most striking illustration of class prejudice this year has been afforded； not by Mississippi or Louisiana； but by West Point。 In 1873 Cadet Flipper entered the Military Academy。 God had given him a black skin； a warm heart； an active brain； and a patriotic ambition。 He was guilty of no other crime than that of being a negro； and bent on obtaining a good education。 He represented a race which had done as good fighting for the flag as any done by the fair… skinned Anglo…Saxon or Celt。 Congress had recognized his right and the right of his race to education。
〃But his classmates decided that it should be denied him。 If they had possessed the brutal courage of the murderers of Chisholm they would have shot him； or whipped him； or hung him； but they were not brave enough for that； and they invented instead a punishment worse than the State has inflicted upon its most brutal criminals。 They condemned him to four years of solitude and silence。 For four years not a classmate spoke to Cadet Flipper； for three years he did not hear his own voice； except in the recitation…room； on leave of absence； or in chance conversation with a stray visitor。 Then another negro entered West Point； and he had one companion。 The prison walls of a Sing Sing cell are more sympathetic than human prejudice。 And in all that class of '77 there were not to be found a dozen men brave enough to break through this wall of silence and give the imprisoned victim his liberty。 At least two thirds of the class are Republican appointees； and not one champion of equal rights。 In all that class but one heroand he a negro。 Seventy…five braves against one！ And the one was victorious。 He fought out the four years' campaign； conquered and graduated。 Honor to the African； shame to the Anglo…Saxon。〃
CADET FLIPPER AGAIN。
〃We have received several letters on the subject of Cadet Flipper； to whose treatment at West Point we recently called the attention of our readers。 One of them is from a former instructor； who bears a high testimony to Lieutenant Flipper's character。 He writes：
〃'I want to thank you for your editorial in the Christian Union about Cadet Flipper。 He was one of our boys； was with us in school from the beginning of his education till Freshman year in college； when he received his appointment to West Point。 He was always obedient； faithful； modest； and in every way manly。 We were sorry to have him leave us； but now rejoice in his victory； and take pride in him。
〃'During all these years； in his correspondence with his friends； he has not； so far as I can learn； uttered a single complaint about his treatment。'
〃A second is from a Canadian reader； who objects to our condemnation of the Anglo…Saxon race； and insists that we should have reserved it for the Yankees。 In Canada； he assures us； the color line is unknown； and that negroes and Anglo…Saxons mingle in the same school and in the same sports without prejudice。 Strange to say the white men are not colored by the intercourse。
〃The third letter comes indirectly from Lieutenant Flipper himself。 In it the writer gives us the benefit of information derived from the lieutenant。 We quote （the italics are ours）：
〃'Mr。 Flipper is highly respected here； and has been received by his former teachers and friends with pleasure and pride。 His deportment and character have won respect and confidence for himself and his race。 As to his treatment at West Point； he assures me that the 〃papers〃 are far astray。 There was no ostracism on the part of his fellow…cadets； except in the matter of personal public association。 He was invariably spoken to and treated courteously and respectfully both as a cadet and officer。'
〃We are glad to be assured that it was not as bad as we had been informed by what we considered as good authority； and we are still more glad to know that Lieutenant Flipper； instead of making much of his social martyrdom； has the good sense to make as light of it as he conscientiously can。 But if it is true that there were cadets who did not sympathize with the action of the class； and were brave enough to speak to their colored comrade in private； it was a pity that they were not able to screw their courage up to a little higher point； and put the mark of a public condemnation on so petty and cruel a persecution。〃
The people at large seem to be laboring under a delusion about West Point； at least the West Point that I knew。 I know nothing of what West Point was； or of what was done there before I entered the Academy。 I have heard a great deal and read a great deal； and I am compelled to admit I have doubts about much of it。 At the hands of the officers of the institution my treatment didn't differ from that of the other cadets at all； and at the hands of the cadets themselves it differed solely 〃in the matter of personal public association。〃 I was never persecuted； or abused； or called by approbrious epithets in my hearing after my first year。 I am told it has been done； but in my presence there has never been any thing but proper respect shown me。 I have mentioned a number of things done to me by cadets； and I have known the same things to be done to white cadets。 For instance； I was reported for speaking to a sergeant about the discharge of his duty。 （See Chapter X。； latter part； on that subject。） The same thing occurred to several members of the class of '74。 They were ordered into the rear rank by a sergeant of the second class； when they were first… classmen。 They were white。 The result was they were all； three in number； I think； put in arrest。
Some New England paper contributes the following articles to this discussion； parts of which I quote：
THE BIGOT AND THE SNOB
〃The Hilton…Seligman controversy is one of those incidents which illustrate some of the features of our social life。 The facts can briefly be stated。 A Jewish gentleman； of wealth and position； applies for rooms at the Grand Union Hotel； Saratoga； and is flatly refused admission because he is a Jew。 The public indignation is so great that the manager of the hotel is obliged to defend the act； and puts in the plea that a man has the right to manage his property as he pleases。
〃But before our anger cools； let us remember the case of the colored cadet at West Point。 During his course he met with constant rebuffs。 He was systematically cut by his fellow…schoolmates。 Instead of extending to him a generous sympathy in his noble ambition； they met him with sneers。 All the feelings which should guide a chivalric soldier and lead him to honor real heroism； were quenched by the intense prejudice against color。 Mean and despicable as is the spirit which prompted the…manager of the Grand Union Hotel to refuse to entertain the rich Jewish banker； that which influenced the young men at West Point is still more deserving scorn and contempt。 It was meaner and more contemptible than cowardice。〃
PREJUDICE AGAINST COLOR。
Within the last thirty years there has been a great change in public sentiment relating to colored persons。 That it has become wholly just and kind cannot be shown； but it is far less unjust and cruel than it used to be。 In most of the old free States； at least； tidy； intelligent； and courteous American citizens of African descent are treated with increasing respect for their rights and feelings。 In public conveyances we find them enjoying all the consideration and comforts of other passengers。 At our public schools they have cordial welcome and fair play。 We often see them walking along the street with white schoolmates who have evidently lost sight of the difference in complexions。 Colored boys march in the ranks of our school battalions without receiving the slightest insult。 Colored men have been United States senators and representatives。 Frederick Douglass is Marshal of the District of Columbia。
〃There is one conspicuous place； however； where caste…feeling seems to have survived the institution of slavery； and that is West Point。 There the old prejudice is as strong； active； and mean as ever。 Of this there has been a recent and striking instance In the case of young Flipper who has just graduated。 It appears that during his whole course this worthy young man was subjected to the most relentless 'snubbing。' All his fellow…students avoided him habitually。 In the recitation…room and upon the parade grou