Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-10-08

| against them, shall then have reason 10 bes
lieve that am an unjust accuser. But. hh
| decide in their favor, | shall have the satisfse.
| ton of knowing that have not made my a7-
peal in vain.
In September, 1928, an offer OF the Presi.
dency OF Brown University was sent 10 tho
present incumbent, at that time Professor in
Union College, Schenectady. He was pleas
ed TO accept the invitation, and in February,
1927, took possession of that honorable Office.
He Immediately began n complete revolution,
| and seemed resolved to abolish every law, 10
annihilate every regulation. and to eradicate,
| If possible. the very recollection Of the former
system. 1t is acknowledged on oil hands, that
there were many defects in the former mode
OF government-but they were only defects.
| aud needed rather the salu:ary application Of
! reform, than the destructive course Of abolition.
The same means must be taken, to preserve
the health Of an Institution like ours, as 10
preserve the health Of the body. When q
! limb is diseased, do we Immediately amputats
that limb or do we not rather endeavor -
ther on the head, do we Immediately cut il
of, that the corruption may not spread 10 tho
rest Of the system? Where is the physician
who would recommend such a course Where
is the man, except the solitary individual Of
| Saratoga, who would take such measures to
gain n name for an Institution, or popularity
for himself. The head Of the University has
endeavored TO extermInate the salutary regula-
tions Of the old system, and to rear in THAR
place code Of laws, adopted by no other aa-
thority than his own, and never enforced, but
to crafty some individual caprice. Edward
Of England murdered all the bards Of Wales,
that the heroic achievements and glorious in
dependence Of their ancestors might be fosgoi.
ten the very means to preserve the memory
| Of both, fresh and immortal.
Under the former administration, tho young
men were looked upon as gentlemen they
| are now considered on a level with siases.-
Formerly, the honor Of excelling, and the dis
grace OF failure, were thought to oe sufficient
incentives 20 sludy-now, the heads Of the In
stitu,lon Gas troublesome. though not as numo-
rous those Of the Hydra) pay daily visits to
! the rooms Of the students, and spy into tho
most secret transaction Of the bed chamber.
Formerly, those young men who were desrous
Of studying, could follow their inclination,
without danger Of intcrrupton-but now, the
hustle almost Of war itself, has burst in upon
the retreats Of literature, and actually fright
| ened away the MUSES. from their accustomed
hauns. The shril tone Of the fife, the awful
cangor Of the drum. and the uneven steps Of
these martial youths, is indeed enough "to
raise tho wild Devil withal.'
/, is my opinion tha, very few Of the present
regulations have tendency to advance the
I interests Of the University, and therefore
should neper have been adopted. But, when
adopted, they ought to be enforced 10 the
very letter. Is there any advantage in making
law tLat "no student shall be absent from
| his room during the hours Of study if that
law be never put in force ! For it is fact,
which can neither be denied nor disputed, that
of the few who are yet members of College,
one third, at least, arc, six evenings out Of the
.
ing those things which they ought not TO do,
1t may be said, ,'' Is not ,hs the case IN oil Coll
legcs ," Undoubtedly "why then do you find
cauit with tins 2" Because the officers endea-
vor TO conceal it, in false and dishonorabe
! manner. The law saith farther" that who-
ever docs absent himself from his room, shall
be reported to The President, and the number
Of his absences shall be rade known to h.s
parents or gIardians." Now was this rulo
made lor Appearances merely, or for the real
benefit of the Coliegs; Let facts speak 70.
themselves. | know from undonbted aulhori-
ty, lha; a young man who had been reported
absent to the President more than forty times,
was marked on his bill, abse mt, from prayers,
once from recitation. fDice.
The mcri-roll is indeed no moro, and every
student .rejoiccd when it fell. II was borne
down by the weight Of its own sins, and its do.
struction has proved fatal to the apparently
bright prospects Of the new system. II must
bo a source Of sorrow TO its author, when no
reflects on disappointed hope and blasted an
ticipaiion |, has fallen. like Lucifer 4; and
now that it has sunk TO riso no moro forever,
let us not triumph over its ruin, though We rc-
loice at its dissolution. -.