The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-03-28

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DR.. McCosh, President Of Princeton
College. writing of the recent riot among
the students, says:
"On Thursday, at noon. the Prosecut-
ing Attorney OF the State called on me
and asked the names of the offending
students / told him that / was most
willing that he should make investiga-
tions for himself; that / would give him
all information as to general facts, but
that the Faculty had brought about peace,
and that could not, in honor. give him
the names of those students who had put
confidence in me as standing IN loco pare7l
Gs and frankly confessed what they had
done. The Mayor called on me on Sat
urday and asked me what steps | had
taken.
Painful scenes such as have come up
here will be apt to appear wherever there
is a large body of young men collected
together-in Princeton we have 500
am not sure to what extent the college
authorities are to be blamed for an occa-
sional and unexpected outburst Of class
feeling fostered by old tradition. But
they are responsible for the way in which
they treat it when it appears. Colleges
are tempted on such occasions, in order
to avoid odium, to hush up the whole
matter, and they thus encourage a repe-
tition OF the offense. The Faculty of
Princeton College set itself manfully to
face the d fiji .ulty aud repress the evil
Some have taken the advantage of our
hour of weakness and have been doing
their best, or their worst, to lead timid
parents to think that their sons are ex-
posed to danger in college, especially in
Drin / oh n haf nnp sFntv
the nine years have been here and as
FAR back as the memory of the oldest
Professor goes, no one has been seriously
injured. The authorities have been able
to meet the emergency. We have cut off
from the college those who were guilty
of the grosser offense, aud inflicted a nit
igated penalty on those " no joined in the
disturbances.
Another evil has appeared, and it, too,
has been exaggerated so as to alarm par.
ents and guardians. | allude to the use
of firearms. One of the Sophomores who
was hazed ran with a pistol after the
Freshman who hazed him and fired blank
cartridges. One of those pursued. be-
lieving he was in danger. discharged his
pistol, as he supposed, in selidefense -
Very little harm was done, though it
might have been otherwise. There is
nothing in all this to show that students
pursuing their course orderly and keep
ing from prohibited nocturnal practices
are exposed TO any danger whatever. Our
college laws forbid students from carry
ing firearms. But there are pistols so
small that is is difficult to find them ex-
cept by ordering a personal search, from
which my whole nature shrinks as ap-
piled to a student. II parents will only
act with US and not allow their sons to
keep firearms at an early age, we hope
that this evil will also disappear and
leave our college as quiet and safe as il
usually is, and as it is at this moment.
JAMES MCCosH."
Upon which the n. Y. Tribune com
ments as follows:
There seems to be rather a msunder
standing at Princeton, and perhaps else
where as to the real force of the phrases
in loco PARENTS When young man here
in New York shoots another young man.
it is not supposed that he can settle mat
ters by going home and telling his father
what he had done. If he makes a con.
! fession even to bis mother, she may be
called upon to repeat it IN court. Sup
pose that a student at Princeton, instead
Of shooting somebody. picks somebody S
pocket. II is called before DR.. McCosh
and confesses the larceny. just then the
| policeman arrives, arrests the thief and
summons the excellent Doctor as a wit
ness. Would he refuse to testify, or
would he stand committed for refusing
to testify2 Yet assault with intent to
kill-and the law presumes the intent
is a much more aagrant offence than lar.
ceny, end it is not the less fs grant because
committed by an Undergraduate OF Primo.
ton College.
We acknowledge the delicacy OF Dr.
McCosh's position. His sympathies are
with his students, and he is nervous
about the i'll which might be done to the
college, by the indictment for conviction
of one or more of them. This sensitive
ness leads the excellent Doctor into a
dilemma little amusing when he comes
to discuss the matter of concealed wea-
pons. Our college laws he says forbid
students from carrying firearms. But
there are pistols so small that it is diff
cult To find them except 10y ordering a
PERSONAL search. from which my " hole
nature shfinks. as applied To a student
Really, isn't this uincing matters liltle?
Many college president, to say nothing