The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-06-06
SNUBBING BUTLER.
Harvard College Refuses to Dub the
Governor Doctor Of Laws.
Old Ben Says He is One of the Few Govern
ors Who Gould Have Read the
Parchment.

BOSTON, M6SS., May ol.-AftSr q session OF
four hours duration the Board of Overseers
of Harvard College to-day refused to concur
with the corporation in conferring the degree
of Ii. d. upon Governor Butler. The corpo-
ration unanimously recommended that the
honor be voted. By yea and nay vote of IL
to Is the Board of OyerseeEs refused to con-
cur. As the matter was finally disposed of it
was held that the Governors character was
inconsistent with the motto of the College,
''Feritas."
The subject was first considered in its rela-
ton to previous votes of the Board. 1t was
agreed that the precedents of the century
were not by any means binding. Resolutions
were offered setting forth that the degree was
not essentially tribute to the Office, but to
its incumbent, and that in refusing TO confer
the degree on the present Governor, the
Board implied no disrespecs to the people of
Massachusetts,.
The Governors course in relation to the
Tewksbury investigation entered into the
discussion, and, it was admitted by the men-
bers, had considerable influence upon the
decision. But that iafueuce wss not on
account of the Governors attack upon the
Harvard Medical School. Ii was considered
simply that he had descended too low 70 be
recognized by any Institetion Of learning;
that he was Massachusetts, worst eEemy, and
that for Harvard to confer upon him de-
gree, would, in reality, be sn insult to the
people of the Commonwealth
Politically every member of the Board
present expressed himself ss strongly op-
posed to Butler and "Butlerism," !" and the
gentleman who most earnestly advocated the
! voting of the degree explained that he was
as emphaiically opposed 10 the Governor
| politically as any one present.
II wGs suggested that tae decree might be
/ so worded that il should be tribute to the
| Office and not to the man. but Ii was decided
| that such action would be scarcely more
! than whipping the devil round the stump"
The rules were accordingly suspended,
! and, by yea and nay vote, the decree was
| refused
Yess-Prasident Eliot Z. ". Hooper, Stephen
| Salisbury, James Z. Cabot Alexander Mckenzie,
! labsIon Russell, Francis +. Parker, Theodore
Leve1ett saltoDstsll-n.
| N6ys-James NJ. Weed, Solomon LiRcoln, Charles
1 r. Goldman, Richard n. Hodges, Edwin II. Seaver,
| John Fiske, Henry Lee, John o. Sargent. Z. NJ.
Morse, E R. Hoar, Il. II. Kidcer, W. g. Russell,
PaiTed-RObert D. Smith, yea; James F. Clarke.
/ nay.
THE GOVERNOR is A TRIFLE SARCASTIC.
General Butler was called upon this even
] q
! interview took place:
Have you heard that the overseers of Har-
ward College have voted Is tc IL, net TO con-
fer upon you the degree Of LL.D.r
81 have so heard"
''Of course, you believe this news to be
authentic?"
THE only reason 1 have for not believing
il is that it is put upon the bulletin board of
! the Boston Journal"
Assuming that it is true, what do you
| think OF it?'
II have to thank them for doing me a very
great personal and political service. Fhe af-
front intended by their action is not upon
me- but upon the people who have elected
me- and is the verdict and execution of the
| Judgment of Harvard College upon the acts
Of the people of this Commonwealth for
daring, by q large majority, to choose
Governor without asking the
consent of thu college, and only emphasizes
| what | have 80 tin es said heretofore-that
| Harvard COLES claims the right to govern
the Commo- wealth. Having received from
more than one College Literary decree of
that rank because of appreciation by those
institutions Ct my attainments as q lawyer,
for which consideration thus bestowed upon
me l feel the deepest sensibility, the act Of
! Harvard would have added nothing TO me,
! and therefore J can have no feellr because
of its action in this behalf should have
felt very grateful for it If IL had been given to
! me, the lawyer but 10 have il given 10 me as
Governor should have looked upon il as q
oerer onious matter, G compliment TO the
| Governor of the Commonwealth and the peC-
pie of the Commonwealth, following out
custom, without sny regard TO my attainments
| CT fitness for the decree, especially as l have
! happened to know that I ann perhaps one
/ Of the two or three men who have received it
during the past twenty years who would have
| read it and translated il without the aid of 8
dictionary. I regret very much this politi-
cal action Oh The part Of the College because
| fear it may tend to impair its usefulness,
! for it is quite possible that the people of
the Commonwealth may hereafter remember
il TO the disadvantage of the College. and
come to the conclusion to divorce the Col
| leee and State, our fathers Civorceed the
Church and State, and Nay inquire if there
is any reason why the property OF that In
st1tp;ion shall be exem pied from the taxa
| ten which is 60 bardensoRse upon rs, while
they use the aims of the State so bestowed
upen them for educational purposes IN an
epdesvor to control the politics Of the State.
But time at last sets all things eVen."