The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-02-02
Yale College.
To the Editor of the Press.

To the Editor Of the Press:
The article printed by you this morning
from New Haven, Connecticut, stating that
Mr. Mason Young, Every severely arraigns
the present management of this venerable
institution, in the February New Highlander,
omitted to state also that his arraignment
was severely answered in the very same re-
view by Mr.. II. G. Kingsley, treasurer OF the
college, and by the editors of the New Eng
lander. The latter say generally, 1.-THE COM
plants Of Mr. Young respecting the govern
ment of Yale College, have in our Judgment
no foundation. He concludes with the rec
ommendation Of a change which we deem
inexpedient and not called for by the circum-
stances of the case. Mr. YoungS criticisms
relate to a corporation under which, to use
his own language, the college has grown to
be an institution of learning with 115 in
structors divided amongssix different faculties
and with nearly1100 students" Against this
Judgment of intelligent men of New Haven,
who are thoroughly conyersant with the sub
iect. both as to its own merits and the mo-
tives which prompt the assault, we have the
single opinion of lawyer in New York,
who was a candidate for membership in the
board of corporation at the last commence
ment and failed Of an election.
Mr. Kingsley also says. generally, HE
makes some statements that are not borne
out by facts, and omits to state some facts
which would materially alter the impression
made by his statements. y He shows that
what Mr.. Y. alleges as to the ''mismanage-
ment of the observatory" is very wide of the
facts, and "breaks down at every point;'
as to the charge that there is no finance
committee" that the prudential committee
is the finance committee" and as to the al
legged ''lassitude of management ana gen
eral loOseneSS in financial matters, that a
corporation which in fifteen years has in
creased its funds over 70 per cent, which has
within the same period secured the erection
of buildings which have cost about $700,OU
and which has within the same period Secur
| ed a much larger amount to be added to the
productive funds of the college upon the
termination of certain lives, cannot be
justly charged with slackness, negligence
and inability.
The animus of this attack upon Yale Col,
lege is well understood in Connecticut and
among its,alumni generally. Your article very
truly characterizes it as an effort OF the
more liberal and revolutionary faction OF he1
alumni" This seat of learning was found
ed by Congregational ministers; it was sus-
tanned through century Oh SbiuSSlco diu
hardships by religious men connected for
the most part with the Congregational
churches its charter, which when the State
constitution was adopted, was taken bodily
into that instrument, and thus put beyond
the reach of reyolutionists of any sort, fixes
the preponderating control of the college IL
a board of eleven Congregational ministers
resident in Connecticut, and thus guarantees
its character as a religious Institution Tor
ever 1t is this fact under which small
party, like Mr.. Young, has grown FESTIVE
and demands a change. The corporation
should be removed from its ancient founda-
ton and thrown open to popular control. Its
religious character should be done away
with and its administration made in the
sense which we all well understand, "liber'
al" By general consent the charter has once
been so modified as to admit six elected mem
bers into association with the aforesaid per
manent board of eleven with equal powers
these are chosen one each year, by the alum
MI But this it is contended is not enough
| the ancient conservative provision by which
| the college shall be forever retained on the
| foundation where the fathers placed it must
| be done away. Mr.. Young is one OF those
| who has been laboring most aSslduously u
| to effect this, but has made but little pro
| gress toward success. 1t is no new thlnt
| under the sun for a man who has been follet
| in his endeayor to turn and defame what he
| could not destroy. l. t. WARREN.
[The article above referred to was an AS
ISOLATED Press despatch from New Haven
| Ed