The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-10-07
The Case of Lieut.. III. o. F1ipper.

The closing of Congress was marked by its failure to pass
other bill beside the beran Loan and the Dyer Bill which
involved the Negro It involved aged well worth
viewing at least for the history which involves. The
which the bill sought reopen that Of Lieut. Henry Ossian
Fpp who removed from the service in dshonor early in
the eighties.
Lieut. Fpper the first Negro graduate from West
Point and after short service in the army court maraed
and dismissed from the service
The following the bill which introduced by Senator
Poindexter but which met with adverse action later.
ITO enable the President Second Lieutenant Henry
Ossian Fpe to grade rank and status the United States
Army
Be enacted by The Senate and House of Representatives
the United States of America Congress assembled That the
President hereby authorized set aside annul epunge
proceedings Of courtmara promulgated general court
martial orders numbered thrynine Headquarters of the Army
Adutan Generals office Washington IL 1882 take eff
feet June 80 1882 and to restore Second Lieutenant Henry Osan
Fpper Tenth Regiment of Cavalry United States Army to
grade rank and status said of the service to which he
would have attained had he remained continuously in the service
from the date Of his dismissal hererom by said order until the
date OF the approval of this Act to all ents and purposes
ne had never been dismissed and that he then be placed the
retired list of the Army"
The fact that such bill introduced strongly Indicative
OF the fact that those who induced to look into the records
and investigate the circumstances under which this soldier
condemned to dlshonor found the evidence strongly in his favor
and were DESTROYS of rghtng wrong though more
than forty old Added force given this presumption by
the comment of Brgadr General Mills who when discussing it'll
said Il glad Of the opportunity my visit the Club has
given me to confidence in the integrity and worth of
r. Y Ripper II am iar with the circumstances of his court
martial convinced at the time of his innocence and
like mind today feel it privilege to express to his fellow cit
liens my confidence in his probity"
It appeas to us extremely unfortunate that this
worthy and good soldier evidences Indicate must
bear the gnom and shame which prejudice brought to him
without opportu sity to vindicate himself
We're ne enber Of any other the dshonor would bel
deporabe but to as who have had soew hg rank
IN the service Of our country it appears a calamity
Certainly It is true that the of at least two of sol
diers are sufficient to give to these young who e
ambitious % distinguish themselves in army erce-Lieut Flip
per and Colonel Charles Young The former framed" and rail-
roadcd out the service dsoncr appears the latter
vented only req tape prevent seeing active sere
and reapng promotion Ia the late conflict.
In neither has prejudice been proven We agree that
matter Of record such charges just but back of the
cord there is history of petty njusces and half hidden rancor
which give warrant for strong leaning the belief that strict
Justice would have demanded different results II
But be the record as it may these to not ag
n honor The story OF their struggle against odds and their
ming OF place Of however short lived their may
nave been will be told for lions to and their spirit viii
fire black youngsters yet unborn
Congress may fail to legate obscure means Of hindering
md prescribing be found in abundance but the spirit which
breaks them rust to fosferedfor rust
achieve
We deplore me faeof the of Lieut. clipper but certainly
he colder end shatj really what counts Thus will be
live memories and thus must his story be told the
eantmewe still soldiers patriotic the face Of continued
rebuff But often. wonder if it viii be ever thus.