Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-09-24
tlor the Literary Cadet
Remarks on The Present Condition of
BROJV.T UNIVERSITY.

Mr.. Edit0r.-I appeal TO the press as the
guardian Of our public institutions and our pub =
| lie interests. So long the actions of men
| who fill stations of trust and responsibility are
freely and candidly discussed, so long the free
dom Of the press is oilectually preserved and
rendered subservient 10 the general welfare.
| But, when euner through fear, or favor, the
| columns of our papers are closed to the Ian
guage and ayowal of truth, the press may still
| for season, enjoy a Kind Of prostituted free
dom, but its only tendency will be to subpert
rather than subSerre the pubic interest.
Through tho nod I'm Of your paper il is conf.
IDENTIFY believed that a Few .fdctsand observa-
| tons, respecting the present condition Of an
| inst tuition in which important public interests
are involved, will not only Be useful, but will
| afford such information, as offer becomes
due from one part of the community, to anoth-
er.
II is with reluctance am induced to speak
| of dscouragements and failures. When the
ends OF an institution have not been effected,
| and general expectation has not been answer
! cd, tho capacities and conduct Of individuals
is often implicated
The motives which prompt mo to the Discus
sion OF this subject shall be freely and candid
ly given. III were actuated by personal ami
mostly and prejudice, could dwell with malig-
nant pleasure upon the narrow, mistaken mo-
tivcs which there prcdominated and which
have brought the University 10 its present
humble condition. Personal reflections con-
fess are not justified in theory, not upon any
general principles. but men must and ought
to stand or fall upon the merit or demert Of
their deeds
A man may be accustomed to receive praise
from others, but shall always defer that task
till have seen some Of his merits. If il be
wise in an individual TO pursue motives which
bring their own destruction, if it be Just and
honourab!e in man to raise his favourites and
depcndants, at the expence of others, if il be
generous in man 10 raise himself, So much
above the ordinary standard Of human nature
as TO fix the impress of folly and ridicule upon
all his measures, then indeed he is the most
wise and honourablc and generous man alive.
Where nature has been sparing of her gifts lit
tic is expected But where a man raises him.
self by his oioD empty professions Of wisdom
and justice, then if we take his standard sf
excellence much indeed is required.
Had this subject been agitated at a time
when this system was adopted, l should have
either met the sneers and contempt Of the in
terested or been accused of an uncandid and
malignant precipitation. l have waited until
am able TO consider in one view the whole
progress Of this system, and TO bear testimony
to its melancholy effects.
1t appears that the measures which were
then adopted without being fully examined or
understood, obtained the public confidence up.
on trust, as they already possessed tho public
prejudice from caprice. Perhaps il was then
impossible 10 foresec the result of their opera.
tons, and perhaps it was impossible in the
nineteenth century to frame, from the united
experience ofpast ages, a system more certain
of success. That they have most deplorably
miscorried, is perfectly apparent from the
present number Of students, the minute and
quibbling tone of instruction, and the conviction
Of those who are acquainted with the present
state Of the institution. When we see the
number Of students in a college reduced pr,n-
cpaly by their voluntary departure from Il 10
less than two thirds in the short space Of eight
cen months,we naturally begin to look for 9th
er causes than the ficklencss Of youth or the
capricos of folly. Most students are directed
in affairs Of Importance by the mature and SO
Der councils Of parents and guardians. Moth