The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-03
pllBllC OPINION FORCED A BACK DOWN


President Andrews, declaring that they
desired only to avoid making his views
on silver representative of his instltu-
ton. and unanimously requesting him to
withdraw his resignation. The resolu-
ton goes on to say that ''the Corporation
of Brown University cannot feel that
the divergence of views upon the silver
ouestion and of its effects upon the uni
vers;ty between you and the members of
the corporation is an adequate cause OF
separation between us, for the corpora
ton is profoundly appreciative of the
great services you have rendered to the
university, and of your great sacrifices
and love for it, 1t therefore renews its
assurances of highest respect for you.
and expresses the confident hope that
YOU will withdraw your resignation"
This shows the salutary force Of pub
lie opinion. The hole through which the
Corporation crawls out is a very small
one, but it is creditable to them that
they retire1 from their original proscrip-
tive position with such good grace. The
world understands that if President An
drews had wavered an instant, the hope
of freedom of thought would have been
banished from our colleges and universe
ties. 1t was a crisis involving not alone
Brown University, but every institution
in the land President Andrews stood
up not only for himself but for every
manly professor in America. The victo-
nv he has won is signal one over the
bigotry and narrowness of such men
as Congressman Walker, but it is more
than a personal triumph. 1t is a rebuke
to the spirit of intolerance handed down
from those old Puritans who drove
Roger Williams into the wilderness be-
cause he insisted upon worshipping God
according to his conscience and not
theirs.
In addition to the protest Of the facul-
ty, there was read at the meeting petit
ton from the first educators in the coun-
try asking for the retention of President
Andrews. 1t declared that "the future
Influence of the American universities
and the interests of free thought and
free speech under just sense of accoun-
liability, would be promoted by such ac-
ton on the part of the corporation as
might naturally lead to the withdrawal
of the resignation of President An
ldrews."
Among the signers were Daniel G. Gill
man, President of Johns Hopkins Uni
versity; Charles w. Elliot, President of
University of Wisconsin; Seth Low,
President Of Columbia; T. Jefferson
Coolidge, former Ambassador to France;
w. G. Sumner, professor of political
economy at Yale; John Fisher, the his
torian; William Lloyd Garrison, J. T.
Trowbridge, the author; Josiah Quincy,
and many others.
A letter, most happily expressed, was
also read from Hon. Richard Olney, ex-
Secretary Of State, in which after COM
Intending the resolutions requesting Pres
ident Andrews to withdraw his resigna-
ton. he said:
''The true objection, however, to
the course pursued toward DR.. An
drews by the corporation of Brown
University it it's implied incubation
Of the doctrine that an institution of
learning should, above all things, get
rich, and, therefore, should square its
teachings and limit the utterances of
its faculty by the interests and senti-
ments of those who, for the time
being. are the rich men Of the COM
munity. The demoralizing and de-
grading character of this doctrine
your letter fully exposes, and thereby
entities you to the gratitude, not only
of American citizens generally, but Of
all well-wishers to Brown University
in particular"
Whenever a college or university must
square it's teachings and limit the ut
terances of it's faculty by the interests
and sentiments of those who, for the
time being, are the rich men of the
community''-that moment it will be
a-curse instead of blessing to the child
rem of men.