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successfully stand the trying ordeal。
Trusting that the same firmness of purpose and untiring energy； which have characterized your stay there； may ever be true of your future career on the field and at the hearth side；
We remain； very truly yours； ； 。
POST…OFFICE； NEW YORK CITY； N。 Y。 OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER； Wednesday； June 7； 1877。
MY DEAR FRIEND： Let me extend to you my full gratitude upon your success at West Point。 I was overjoyed when I saw it。 My friends are delighted with you； and they desire to see you when you come down。 Let me know when you think you will leave West Point； and I will look out for you。
Very truly yours； 。
HENRY O。 FLIPPER； ESQ。； West Point Military Academy。
WASHINGTON； D。 C。； June 13； 1877。
HENRY O。 FLIPPER； ESQ。； West Point； N。 Y。：
MY DEAR FRIEND： I wish to congratulate you upon passing successfully your final examination； and salute you as the first young colored man who has had the manhood and courage to struggle through and overcome every obstacle。 So many of our young men had failed that I wondered if you would be able to withstand all the opposition you met with； whether you could endure the kind of life they mete out to our young men at our national Military Academy。 I rejoice to know that you have won this important victory over prejudice and caste。 This will serve you in good stead through many a conflict in life。 Your path will not be all strewn with roses； something of that caste and prejudice will still pursue you as you enter the broader arena of military life； but you must make up your mind to live it down； and your first victory will greatly aid you in this direction。 One thing； allow me to impress upon you： you are not fighting your own battle； but you are fighting the battle of a struggling people； and for this reason； my dear Flipper； resolve now in your deepest soul that come what may you will never surrender； that you will never succumb。 Others may leave the service for more lucrative pursuits； your duty to your people and to yourself demand that you remain。
Be assured that whatever you do； wherever you may go； you always have my deepest sympathy and best wishes。
I return to Europe in a few weeks。
Cordially yours； 。
Even the cadets and other persons connected with the Academy congratulated me。 Oh how happy I was！ I prized these good words of the cadets above all others。 They knew me thoroughly。 They meant what they said； and I felt I was in some sense deserving of all I received from them by way of congratulation。 Several visited my quarters。 They did not hesitate to speak to me or shake hands with me before each other or any one else。 All signs of ostracism were gone。 All felt as if I was worthy of some regard； and did not fail to extend it to me。
At length； on June 14th； I received the reward of my labors； my 〃sheepskin；〃 the United States Military Academy Diploma； that glorious passport to honor and distinction； if the bearer do never disgrace it。
Here is the manner of ceremony we had on that day； as reported in the New York Times：
〃The concluding ceremony in the graduation exercises at the West Point Academy took place this morning； when the diplomas were awarded to the graduates。 The ceremony took place in the open air under the shadow of the maple trees； which form almost a grove in front of the Academy building。 Seats had been arranged here for the spectators； so as to leave a hollow square； on one side of which； behind a long table； sat the various dignitaries who were to take part in the proceedings。 In front of them； seats were arranged for the graduating class。 The cadets formed line in front of the barracks at 10。30； and； preceded by the band playing a stirring air； marched to the front of the Academy building。 The first class came without their arms； the other classes formed a sort of escort of honor to them。 The graduating class having taken their seats； the other classes stacked arms and remained standing in line around the square。 The proceedings were opened by an address from Professor Thompson； of the School of Technology； Worcester Mass。； who is the Chairman of the Board of Visitors。〃
And thus after four years of constant work amid many difficulties did I obtain my reward。
〃Lieutenant H。 O。 Flipper was the only cadet who received the cheers of the assembled multitude at West Point upon receiving his parchment。 How the fellows felt who couldn't associate with him we do not know； but as the old Christian woman said； they 'couldn't a been on the mountain top。'〃 Christian Recorder。
Victor Hugo says somewhere in his works that he who drains a marsh must necessarily expect to hear the frogs croak。 I had graduated； and of course the newspapers had to have a say about it。 Some of the articles are really amusing。 I couldn't help laughing at them when I read them。 Here is something from the New York Herald which is literally true：
〃MR。 BLAINE AND THE COLORED CADET。
〃Senator James G。 Blaine； with his wife and daughter and Miss Dodge （'Gail Hamilton'） left at noon yesterday in anticipation of the rush。 Before going the Senator did a very gracious and kindly deed in an unostentatious way。 Sending for Flipper； the colored cadet； he said：
〃'I don't know that you have any political friends in your own State； Mr。 Flipper； and you may find it necessary to have an intermediary in Congress to help you out of your difficulties。 I want you to consider me your friend； and call upon me for aid when you need it。'
〃With that he shook the lad's hand and bade him good…by。
〃Bishop Quintard； of Tennessee； and Senator Maxey； of Texas； also complimented the pioneer graduate of the colored race upon his conduct throughout the four years of his training； and proffered their sympathy and assistance。 With these encouragements from prominent men of both political parties the young man seemed deeply touched； and thanking them suitably he returned with a light heart to his quarters。〃
It was so very kind of the distinguished senators and bishop。 I valued these congratulations almost as much as my diploma。 They were worth working and enduring for。
The New York Herald again speaks； and that about not hearing my voice； etc。； made me 〃larf。〃 Here is the article：
〃THE COLORED CADET'S EXPERIENCE AND PROSPECTS。
〃Flipper； the colored cadet； who graduates pretty well up in his class； said to me to…day that he is determined to get into either the Ninth or Tenth colored cavalry regiment if possible。 He seems to be very happy in view of the honorable close of his academic career； and entertains little doubt that he can procure the appointment he wishes。 When asked whether he was not aware that there was a law providing that even colored troops must be officered by white men； he replied that he had heard something of that years ago； but did not think it was true。 'If there is such a law；' he said emphatically； but with good humor； 'it is unconstitutional and cannot be enforced。' He added that several weeks ago he wrote to a prominent gentleman in Alabama to inquire what the existing law on the subject was； and had not yet received an answer。 I questioned him about his experience in the Academy； And he said t