Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-12-03
" shall the Boys Rule the COL
iege.-
\ mANcE At THE OTHER SIDE,

men with 'Alaim anu EiAel' iAV ~ '"N
TO think shat young inen in the Old Bay
State, not under the Presidency OF the
rebel General Lee, but the mild, learned,
and noble Hopkins" should rise in rebel
lion. Bat We think that abuses OF power,
no matter whore they exist; whether
they are 'ahettel ahd sustained by govern
ment or by College Faculty, should
always be open TO criticism, and refor'
nation wrought 10y legitimate means
when possible, The people are in great
measure throwing off old dogmas relative
To- Church and State. While they feel
that all resistance 10 established author
ity i,unwisc. they still cannot help feel
ing that our Colleges are behind the age
not only in the course of studies pursued,
bu, also in methods of discipline and gov
crnm,ut o. says he has not discussed
the resemblance or uureasouableness OF
College demand. This lac declares Is
not the question; but whether the rebel
lou. student may decide what laws ART
proper and refuse obedience at discretion
He declares th,t they may never rebel,
but may form opinion, a, TO the manage
men, of the College, and may appeal to
higher authority Ii they think them
selves mi-used may leave College, il they
have obcycd the law- up TO the hour OF
lcayinx but they may never leave in re-
belliou. We would here differ from O.,
and ,atr thu, il i cur opinion that the
rcasouahleuess ur uureasonableness OF
College demand. is Just the question, SC
far As it intertcrcS with the Just rights
"and aims blow at the personal homo,
AMI msnhood of the student Neither
government, nor College Faculty, hav,
rizht 20 abuse their respective powers +,
compel a citizen or student To perform
an sr' morally wrong and repugnant t,
e all sells. of honor aud duty"
O. ,ay, appeal to higher authority for
redrc,, Of your wrongs, but he does no
define tha' su'hmity. We look upon tn
general government as the highest au
thority in afIair- If Stl;e, and to wha
. higher authority" can the citizen appea
against governmental u-urpations, o
may. ro-~,hly advocate the divin" r't,h
. Of king to rule, right or wrong. II
may advocate the right of College Facul
ties To- ride rough ~hod' over the feeling
and rights of students; but he must Sc
that thyiet, uo higher authority to ap
-, peal to ,h4u the government or Colleg
-, itself Colleges are founded by privat
m"ans and appropriations, distinct fror
the State, nor can the State interfer
with ~ rules and regulations; therefor,
to the Faculty alone can the student loo
. for redress Of grievance Upon enterin
College. the student virtually acknow
edges College authority. But when tha
: authority becomes - rigorous and exec'
lng a, to interfere with the students cor
seriousness oaf duty, we believe, and o. at
, mite. that hr possesses the right to witt
draw fr,m that College, if he has nc
trau,gr,,,cl any regulations which woul
; render him liable to punishment. An
we think this right applies not only to a
individual. In; to the students as Il bod,
and thai they possess the right to seyt
!, all connection Now let Us see wh'
" O drpl,n, a, the insubordination
II the age. stu lauts Of Williams Colleg
40 in number, felt to man that the
" sense of houor' would not allow them
remain longer in college. They are NJ
boys. urged on 10 unwise actions by
foolish enthusiasm, but men in cultul
and feeling. They made a fair and hoI
; orable statement of their grievances I
:, the highest authority, viz, The COLES
faculty. They declared that certain re,
ulations were obnoxious to all sense
" "honor," and that they felt obligated
= leave the college. But if certain Law
- were with drawn they would continv
:" their studies. They did not wish to con
= pei the faculty to annul these regulation
They simply asserted their just right, |
- declaring that they were at liberty
n. leave college, conscious of not having vi
es lated the rules in the past, but also con
he cious that they were no longer willing
an abide by them in the future, The facult
Is. have their rights. The students posse
N. theirs also. The one possesses the pow
Ike to make laws as they see fit. The othe
he to choose what institutions of learnir
Ir. they please in which to complete the
he college course. o. says that they ms
A leave college, but must not leave
hit rebellion But we see, however, in /
re. cited instance that the mere act Of leavil
constitutes, in his mind, the rebellion
self, which he deplores, for they disob
eis no laws, but signifed their intention
sh' leave, and kindly pointed out to the f.
the ulty certain evils which if remedi
are would obyiate all necessity for depa
op' ure.
The
J.. We need not dilate upon the plan
-, working. which is but a relic of the
~. trict school system, for all who have be
Ia through tho "milI' know that it low,
g. the standard Of the man, and generates
" spirit of toadyism which is far from C
W On ture. Wedo not uphold either rowe
n ism or rebellious; but there certainly
- lists among the students and all friends
-. liberal culture, strong desire for
..a provement in college government and I
-, oiplint. x.Y. 2
will A MANLY ANSWER - John Stu