The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-19

The public Significance OF the Andrews
Incident will be unaffected by DR., An
drcws' conclusion to withdraw his rcsigna-
ton ar earnestly requested by the corpor-
ators OF Brown university. There has prob
ably never been 10 general conccnsus OF
opinion In a controversy involving. tho In
directly, political differences as that sus-
tanning Or. Andrews and condemnlng the
trustees and corporators of Brown unlyer-
sity for the attempt 10 discipline him for
private expressions OF opinion in favor OF
the free and Independent coinage OF silver
by the United States The remarkable
distinguished educators and public jour
nails. disrcgarding political bias have
recognized the oyerahadowing importance
OF the vital principle Of freedom OF opinion
and speech presented is splendid testimony
that our republican institutions rest on too
firm basis to be undermined by the
temptations Of partisan spirit to uphold
those OF the same political faith when by
their excuses they offend against the first
principles of freedom
The few who were hurried by bitterness
or indiscrction into opposition to what has
proved to be the deliberate and well CON
sidered opinion Of the best Intelligence OF
the country are anxious now to apply clo-
turc to the discussion WITH the termination
OF the incident itself The Galveston News
recently sajd; Like other noisome con-
troycrsies. il has lasted entirely too long.
and the public lie willing for 1t to be set
tied one way or the other. no matter
which" Indeed Though few public In
ciaents could be studied and discussed
with more enduring advantage, yet in view
of the general agreement OF opinion ad =
verted to further discussion might he pre-
termited were II not for the papable MS
representation OF facts persisted In by the
News, and apparently adopted by pres,-
dent Winston OF tho University of Texas
as the basis OF purported interview
widely disseminated by the Rocky Noun
tain News
There never has been any dispute as n
the Facts nor any excuse for misapprehcnd-
Ing them. The parties to the controversy
were amply able to state their own case
and have done 80, and those who choose 10
60 elsewhere for their facts show only
their maliunity or folly. Dr. Andrews was
president OF Brown university. He had long
been known as an International bimetalllst
but about the opening Of the late pres,.
Dental campaign he became convinced Of
the hopelessness OF International agree
ment and Of the feasibility OF free and In
dependent coinage OF silver by the United
states. He did not avail himself OF his
position either as president or professor,
for he was both, even to express his opin-
Ton, He made no proclamation OF this
modihcation OF his views either by con-
tribntion to the press or public speech.
None OF these were charged The height OF
his Offending, as conceived by the trustee.
and corporators OF Brown, was that In
answer to two or three letters by friends,
requesting his opinion during the cam
paign, he stated his views and his reasons
for entertaining them, and In one or two
instances these replies were given to the
press by the parties to whom they were
addressed. That is the whole case The cor.
poratos under tho lead OF a bitter repuh.
hcan member Of congress undertook to
discipline him. and he resigned
AZ the meeting Of the corporators Sem
temeer !. there were presented the omen
letter OF fifty-eight professors Of Brown
who were accessible at the time aud ali
opposed to Dr.. Andrews views on the sill.
yer question. protesting against their ac.
ton. also the open letter OF ex -secretar,
Of State olney highly commending IN,
course adopted and the views expressed IN
their letter by the professors. also the petl.
ton OF nfty-three eminent educators In tn,
interest of freedom Of opinion and speech
sncluding Presidents Gilman Of John,
Hopkins. Low Of Columbia and Eliot \
HAryat0gSslso to the same eject petitior
signed BY more than nifty teacher, A.
economics At Harvard. Yxie. Columbia
Cornell. University OF Pennsylvania. Uni,
versity Of Chicago and other institution,
q learning, also the protest Of over ri,
hundred Of the alumni OF Brown. Brow,
anivsrsity d under the auspices Of III,
Baptist church and II IL gratifying /,
note that With = single exception. tho
Wetchman Of Boston. the Baptist journals
Naile solicitoss ~ y amicable adjustment
- refussd % sustain the corporators.
neean~hils congrsssman Walker. under
N1ese 1ea1ership this outrage was per.