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.
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