第 48 节
作者:点绛唇      更新:2021-02-19 21:09      字数:9322
  P。 S。We have received a reply from the Secretary of Statevery courteous in its tonebut 〃regrets〃 to say that he has 〃no special means of forming an opinion upon the subject。 The measure referred to would require an Act of Congress; in respect to whose future proceedings it would not be prudent to venture a prediction。〃
  The answer is all we expected。 We have made ourselves known to; and are recognized by; the Executive; our next step is to address Senators Morton and Blaine Hon。 R。 H。 Cain will see to it; that the question is pushed in the House。 G。C。
  COPY。
  Rooms OF THE LIBERIA EXODUS ASSOCIATION; 10 MARY STREET; CHARLESTON; S。C。 June 14; 1877。
  HON。 WM。 J。 EVARTS; Secretary of State; Washington; D。C。:
  Sir: Inclosed please find a call on our people to prepare to organize for an exodus to Liberia。
  We think it explains itself; but any further explanation called for we will gladly supply。
  In the event of a sufficient response to our call; please inform us if there is any probability of our government placing one or more steamers on the route between here; or Port Royal; and Liberia for our transportation; and if so; then the charge for passage; and if; to those unable to pay ready money; time will be given; and the payment received in produce?
  Tens of thousands are now eager to go from this State alone; but we want a complete exodus; if possible; from the whole United States; thus leaving you a homogeneous people; opening up an immense market for your products; giving a much required impetus to your trade; commerce; and manufactures; and for ourselves attaining a position where; removed from under the shade of a 〃superior race;〃 we will have full opportunity for developing whatever capacity of soul growth our Creator has endowed us with。
  That Africa will be developed; and chiefly through the instrumentality of its five millions of descendants in America; is certain。 Now the question is; who shall have the chief handling and consequent benefit of this grand instrument; next to itself; of course; for we are treating of a sentient instrumentality。 We beseech you that you do not send us; Columbus…like; from court to court offering the development of a new world to incredulous ears。 We are asking the President of Liberia; the American Colonization Society; and all friends of the measure; for their aid; advice; and co…operation。
  We desire to carry our first shipment of emigrants not later than September or October proximo。
  We have the honor to be; Sir; in all respect and loyalty; yours to command。
  The Council of the L。 E。 A。 By our President;
  B。 F。 PORTER; Pastor Morris Brown A。M。E。 Church。
  GEO。 CURTIS; Corresponding Secretary。
  Here is an article from some paper in New Orleans。 Contempt is all it deserves。 I am sure all my readers will treat it as I do。  Frogs will croak; won't they?
  LIEUTENANT FLIPPER。
  〃With the successful examination of the colored cadet Flipper; at West Point; and his appearance in the gazette as a full…fledged lieutenant of cavalry; the long vexed question has been settled just as it ceased to be a question of any practical import。  Out of three or four experiments Flipper is the one success。 As the whole South has now passed into Democratic control; and the prospect for Southern Republican congressmen is small; the experiments will hardly be repeated; and he must stand for those that might have been。
  〃It would be interesting to know how Flipper is to occupy his time。 The usual employments of young lieutenants are of a social nature; such as leading the German at Narraganset Pier and officiating in select private theatricals in the great haunts of Fashion。 Flipper is described as a little bow…legged grif of the most darkly coppery hue; and of a general pattern that even the most enthusiastic would find it hard to adopt。 Flipper is not destined to uphold the virtues and graces of his color in the salons of Boston and New York; then; nor can he hope to escape the disagreeably conspicuous solitude he now inhabits among his fellow…officers through any of those agencies of usage and familiarity which would result if other Flippers were to follow him into the army and help to dull the edge of the innovation。 Just what Flipper is to do with himself does not seem altogether clear。 Even the excitement of leading his men among the redskins will be denied him; now that Spotted Tail has pacified the malcontents and Sitting Bull has retired to the Canadas。 It is to be presumed that those persons who patronized Flipper and had him sent to West Point are gratified at the conclusion; and there is a sort of reason for believing that Flipper himself is contented with the lot he has accepted; but whether the experiment is worth all the annoyance it occasions is a problem not so easily disposed of。
  〃His prospects don't appear to be very brilliant as regards social delights or domestic enjoyments; but of course that is Flipper's business not ours。 It merely struck us that things had happened a little unfortunately for him; to become the lonesome representative of his race in the midst of associations that object to him and at a time when the supply of colored officers is permanently cut off。 Personally we are not interested in Flipper。〃
  I am indebted to a Houston Texas; paper for the following:
  THE COLORED WEST POINTER。
  〃We had a call yesterday from Lieutenant H。 O。 Flipper; of the United States Army。 Mr。 Flipper; it will be remembered; is the colored cadet who graduated at the Military Academy at West Point last session; occupying in his class a position that secured his appointment to the cavalry service; a mark of distinction。 He was gazetted as second lieutenant in the Tenth Cavalry; and he enjoys the honor of being the first colored man who has passed by all the regular channels into an official station in the army。
  〃This young officer is a bright mulatto; tall and soldierly; with a quiet unobtrusive manner; and the bearing of a gentleman。 As the forerunner of his race in the position he occupies; he is placed in a delicate and trying situation; a fact which he realizes。 He remarked that he knew it was one of the requirements of an officer of the army to be a gentleman; a man of honor and integrity under all circumstances; and he hoped to be equal to his duties in this regard。 He goes on to Fort Concho to join his regiment; which is likely to have work to do soon; if there is anything in the signs of the times。
  〃We bespeak for this young officer the just consideration to which the difficulties of his position entitle him。〃
  I was originally ordered to Fort Concho; but at Houston; Texas I met my lieutenant…colonel; who informed me that My company was en route to Fort Sill。 My orders were then changed; and I proceeded to Sill。
  Here is another article from a paper in the same place:
  THE DIFFERENCE。
  〃The Age yesterday had a call from Henry O。 Flipper second lieutenant Tenth United States Cavalry; who is on his way under orders to join his regiment at Fort Concho。 So far there is nothing very unusual in this item; but interest will be given to it when we add that Lieutenant Flipper is the first colored graduate of West Point。 He went to the institution from Georgia; and graduated last June; fifty…fifth in a class of seventy…six。 There is a preponderance of white blood in his veins; and in general appearance; except for color; he is a perfect image of Senator Plumb of Kansas。 He reports that since he has struck the South he has been treated like a gentleman; which is something different from his experience in the North。 He made the acquaintance of Senator Maxey at West Point the Senator himself being a graduate of the Academyand regards him as a very pleasant gentleman。 During the ten minutes he spent in the Age editorial rooms several prominent democrats of the city called to see and shake hands with him; partly out of curiosity to see the colored cadet who was so bitterly persecuted by Northern students at West Point; and partly to bid him a welcome to the South such as none of his political party friends would have thought of giving him in the North。 Before many years he will be; as all intelligent colored men will be; a democrat。〃
  Wherever I have travelled in the South it has been thrown into my face that the Southern people had; would; and did treat me better than the Northern people。 This is wholly untrue。 It is true that the men generally speak kindly and treat me with due courtesy; but never in a single instance has a Southern man introduced me to his wife or even invited me to his house。 It was done North in every place I stopped。 In many cases; when invited to visit gentlemen's residences; they have told me they wanted their wives to meet me。 A distinguished New York lady; whose name has occurred in print several times with mine; gave me with her own hands a handsome floral tribute; just after receiving my diploma。 During five months' stay in the South; after my graduation; not a single Southern white woman spoke to me。 I mistake。 I did buy some articles from one who kept a book…store in a country town in Georgia。 This is the only exception。 This is the way Southern people t