New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-04
DISSATISFIED PRINCETON ALUMNI.
DOES THE COLLEGE MEAN TO DISCRIMINATE
AGAINST ITS OWN GRADUATES.

DISSATISFIED PRINCETON ALUMNI
DOES THE COLLEGE MEAN TO DISCRIMINATE
AGAINST ITS OWN GRADUATES
TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: VIII you admit to your columns statement Of
facts that will justify the dissatisfaction of many
graduates Of Princeton College at the action Of the
trustees in the election Of presidential fact at much
Of their for several years. The graduates have
voice in the management Of the college. The
trustees elect their successors. and several members
Of this board not graduates The college Is nearly
a century and half old, and probably has distributed
over the country learned set OF graduates any
other college. No Will dispute that Princeton
ranks among the first Of our seats Of learning. In
view OF these facts, IS It not Just complaint OF the
Alumni In being excluded from all management
take up, by chance catalogue (1ee34l and find that
out of about twenty-five trustees eleven are not
graduates of the college, and some not graduates any
where That is, nearly one half Of the board are out
sders, while hundreds of worthy sons Of the college
arc overlooked. Let 1t he distinctly stated that In
this writing nothing is intended to reflect on the per-
sona character capacity Of any one The only point
is, that the graduates of this old college have rights
that should be respected but are not.
Some OF the facts unpleasant for sons Of the college
to think Of are such as follow: They have direct
influence in shaping the affairs Of the Institution.
While there are many graduates qualified for the place
president, all these paSscu oSer,
cal professor of the seminary, who is not native OF
this country graduate Of the college, is appointed
president. The president and vce-president OF the
college who have for the past few years presided arc
neither Of them graduates Of Princeton large proper
ton Of the professors graduates OF other colleges
Thus 1t IS to-day that in this old institution Of learning
several of the trustees the president and vice. president
large number of professors not sons of the college
And that too while among the graduates are men fully
4l.xt- .ro Tc tbarn UT NO IN
tfy this state OF hings Can be expected that the
alumni will have much interest in their Alma Mater
while they are thus excluded from the management
and denied places they can fill For several years
tho older graduates have found themselves almost
strangers at Princeton, and surely there is little to
excite their interest few years ago 1t was vastly
different.
Such questions as these natural. II send my
son to the college and he proves himself fine scholar
and has ambition for place 10 the faculty at some
future time, has he any good ground for hoping that
he can ever reach the positions Will not the chances
of an outsider who Is better qualified DO better than
his own7 And again, Is 1t to be understood that the
thousands OF graduates to remain excluded from
connection with the management while strangers may
have supreme control? AS things are, 1t Is possible
for tho Board of Trustees to have largo majority OF
outsiders.
Then too, the honorary degrees have been lavishly
are left in the lurch. VIII young man feel much en-
thusasm for his college If he knows that the chances
are against his ever receiving the honors bestowed,
let his merit be over so CREATE know there arc
alumni Of every college who seem TO have put NUS
pride in Alma Mater. and remain unconcerneo ABOUT
the way matters conducted But SUCH cases are ho'
probably many. / can conceive Of trustees who arc
not graduates anxious to elect anybody TO vacant
position, but cannot conceive how trustee who IS
graduate can ever consent to other than an aumnus
Would Harvard or Yale today go outside their grad-
ates for presidents Would graduate trustee ever
vote for an outsider for the place.
For twenty years Princeton has had for her presl-
dent q learned man from across the ocean, and now
the is another learned man from abroad
Can the graduates OF the college feel contented under
such state Of thngsl They do not believe that
great theooyan is the best man for this high office.
No doubt yea know, there is portion Of Princeton
graduates whose first idea and purpose concern Keep
ing the College denominationally and theologicaily
orthodox and this spirit prevails in influential places.
But all the country are graduates no less true 10
the faith who while keeping In view inc 0rghm put
from everything narrow and bigoted and enthrone u
truly catholic from sney ali That
merely theological and UNCONVENTIONAL They prefer
one who will bring &c the office that larger training
which in this age necessary for such seat OF learn
While many applaud this election. yet i should
ion For two or three years as graduates met to-
cether the question of the presidential succession 10
Dr. McCosh has been discussed and while no 5 Uhs
be a graduate OF the college was general few
days ago on a public occasion few graduates acG
might have enlightened the trustees somewhat had
they heard the opinions expressed; This accidental
mating gave expression TO what believe is widely
.rtendssde ronvlction All desired to know whether
It is the purpose OF the trustees to disregard the
claims NJ the alumni for places OF trust and instruc
lion in The collegef Hayl ing elected two foreigners
in succession for president do they propose to elect
~ The alumni are disposed to think that being
theoogtan merchant or railway King does ,,. not
tn. writer OF this has axe TO grind, has received
most ~ The honors a college can bestow IS not IN
fami,,.r with the way things are worked at Princeton
and .issyybere and hence he hopes his statements
NAV be- taken Independent Of personal considerations
'"sS 10 '"''1' ANXIOUS
.., n.u.ton N Y AnrI % 1888