New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-26
A SHOCK TO BOSTON
PRESIDENT ELIOT'S UTIERANCEs IN I1Au
DISCUSSED
MEMBERS OF THE HARVARD FACULTY rurvv
THEIR PRESIDENT HAS BEEN WRONGLY
REPoRTED-TnE MORMON COLONY
AT THE UNIVERSITY
rRY TELEGRAPH 10 Tile rkInrxR1
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TkIBUxE.1

IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TkBUNE1
Boston. March o5.-President Eot's remarks at Salt
Lake City concerning the Mormons received with
rrat surprise in Boston and Cambridge, and the hope
ia generally expressed that he has been mlSrepreentcd
Al the same time the fact is gnized that Dr. Eliot
Is frank and perhaps impulsive in speech and that on
several occasions his uerances have got him into hot
water. Professor l.. Il. II. Briggs dean of Harvard
rnversity asked 10 something about President
Eliots speech but hesated TO give any opinion with
the insufficient data which no possessed. lie did
Know Just how President Eliot stood concerning the
Mormon question lie thought. however that the
lecture at Salt Lake City might likely have been
instructed, and that President Eliot had uttered
anything very reprehensblc after all With regard to
the socalled Mormon colony" at Harvard. Professor
briggs said that ne understood that there several
men from the Mormons' country studying The unvcr
sity and spoke Of J. NJ. Tanner, Of the Law school,
an ex-president of Mormon college in Utah, who,
With several Others. on here to Harvard last
summer. Concerning these Mormon students Professor
Briggs said that he had heard nothing but good re-
ports, and he believed them to be industrious and
lnofensve members of the university.
Professor William w. Goodwin, one of the leading
members Of the faculty did not think that President
Eliot was the man to do anything rashy. He had
no doubt that the address, the report of 1t, had
been misconstrued Whether tho demonstration
Intentional remained to be proved. The best thing to
DO would be TO wait until the address itself could
be gwen. AS 10 FreSuent EuOts IaVOrllB MOrinOn-
Ism or polygamy he did not believe 1t for IN
instant 1t was one thing to be here in Boston and
critcise and 1t would be quite another matter and
might give quite different idea 70 be in Utah, and
at Salt Lake City. The address of President Eliot
might naturally have been pleasantly given, not sig
nfyng the belief Of the speaker, but only his liberal
spirit and tolerance as TO the comparison between
the Puritans and the Mormons. Professor Goodwin
didn't believe any such comparison had been mnde-at
least not In the way reported. The criticisms which
came nom the Gentle papers were, naturally, of an
untavorable nature. These GentieS had lived among
the Mormons and would be somewhat pre1udiced
against them and inclined to color somewhat whatever
was said at all in their favor by any speaker and
especially one from the East. Professor Goodwin
said he had been in Utah, and had pleasant recoec
tons Of his visit. AS a religious body throwing ont
pOygamy as essential part the Mormons had as
good right TO be tolerated in land where freedom OF
opinion reigned as Jews or Seventh Day Baptsts
Professor J. b. Thayer said that while he would not
say that he would agree perfectly with everything
President Eliot had said or might say, he knew the
man too well TO think for moment that he would DO
anything foolish. He bold Of speech, perhaps
and he would simply guess. without knowing the facts
that in a Mormon city, the guest Of Mormons, he had
wished to say something pleasant to them. News
paper reports especially telegraphic ones were rot
always correct. Then again, the Genties there IN
Utah knew the Mormons of old and had grudge against
them. They would not like anything that was sald
unless IT directly opposed Mormon doctrine lie 1elt
sure that President Eliot had said nothing and had
meant to say nothing favorng Mormonsm especially
whether or not the Mormons meant to give mp poly
camy as they claimed they had done. was hardly to
the point, although the popular mind still con-
nected the two. Polygamy in any sect or
under any creed ought not to be toler-
ated. But, taking them at their word, not
as poly gamsts, but Mormons. without polygamy az
part Of their religion they had as much right to oier
ance rs any other secarian body He had no doubt
they were every bit good Spirltualiss Harvard
had offered DO special inducements to people from Uts
That there a colony Of Mormon fellows in college
he knew. They found they could, by clubbing to-
gether live as cheapy at Michigan University where
they had previously been, and have better advantages
A leading member In that CIRCLE Of Mormon students
At Harvard that Professor Briggs referred to is Joseph
NJ Tanner, Of Logan, Utah, exprofessor In Brigham
Young College Mr.. Tanner. Who is bright. earnest
Young man, asked what he thought OF President
ElIots utterances "Mr Eliot he said came TO INC
previous TO his departure for the West and inquired
about my people. the schools, the great canals the
educational system and other features, and spoke OF
his ntenon to stop at Salt Lake. believe the report
Which appeared in The salt Lake Tribune. This think,
Is extravagant and is but example OF TINS paper
attitude toward my people snpPpPs Pos Mor6nS
are doing. His speech was prompted PROBABLY 10y
the opinion that q great many things have been done
He sees the situation Alright. Whatever else the
action Of the Mormons appeared 10 the woru, ",av
ever appeared their position, their true purpose was
religious liberty The Puritans were not always IN
dorscd: their ideas were not always accepted ana
50 it is with and President Eliot Is Just when ne
ukens us 10 the Puritans. They sought freedom oi
President Elors reputcd illusions to polyGgamy
Fathers came like thunderbolt upon the eleIgymen
Of Boston. As rule they are loah 70 believe that he
ever uttered the words attributed 10 hLh'