The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-07
FREEDOM OF SPEECH THREATENED.

The New York Tribune is honest e.
nough to say that president Andrews
resigned because he was unwilling
to relinquish his freedom Of speech" The
Springfield Republican, quoting this re-
mark, says:
| "Thats the truth and nothing but
the truth. Freedom Of speech is the
issue in the Andrews case, however,
much the apologists for the trustees
may try to befog it,
In view Of these utterances, the parti-
san and hypocritical spirit of the trus-
tees of Brown University will meet with
the condemnation Of fairminded men
everywhere. The members of the facul-
ty who demonstrated against the action
call attention to the fact member of
the faculty Of Brown was granted leave
Of absence during seven weeks of the
last Autumn term that he might make
Republican political speeches in the
West" This shows that Congressman
Walker, who lead the fight against DR..
Andrews, is actuated by political consid-
erations. In order to hide his true mo-
tive, he adopts the same Puritan hypo-
crisy that served to drive Roger Williams
into the wilderness, for he says "this
question (the money question: is funda-
mental to the continued progress of
Christian civilization" 1t is not the
first time mammon has worn the garb of
saints to enforce its heartless policy.
Mr.. Walker does not confine his hos
tility to DR.. Andrews to his attitude on
the silver question, for he says that
President Andrews has taught other
things than silver which were thought
to be detrimental to the progress of the
University. His position, concluded
Mr.. Walker, ION the wage question is
bad" We have seen no utterance from
President Andrews ON the wage question:
but we understand he holds that if the
people are taxed to protect American
abor, the taxes thus levied ought to go to
American labor. This is rank heresy to
men like Mr.. Walker who believe in us
ing the workingmen as plea to get high
tariff taxes and then giving the money
thus raised to the trusts and monopolists
There are men who hold that he is the
best college president who can get the
most money from the big rich men and
who will let them dictate what shall be
taught. Such men degrade scholarship
and debase intellect. They are better
fitted to run pork, oil, or tobacco con-
Germs than to teach in our institutions
Of learning. They are disgrace to their
profession. They are to this generation
what those Puritan teachers who drove
Roger Williams out Of Massachusetts,
because he would not worship God ac-
cording to their conscience were to that
generation. They are even worse, for
they are the servile agents of the money
power that seek to enslave their fellow
men. They demand as the price Of
professorship in the great universities
that man shall ''relinquish his free
dom Of speech"
Whether President Andrews or some
other scholar is president of Brown Uni
versity does not concern the whole coun-
try. But it is vital matter that con-
Germs every man whether the trust mag
mates shall dominate the colleges, and
destroy freedom of speech. If that can
be done, matter alone is mind. The
almost universal denunciation Of the
action of the trustees of Brown and the
remonstrance of the faculty indicate
that the attempt to destroy free speech
will not succeed in free America until
money has greater sway than now.
There are many scholars who prefer free
dom of opinion to big salaries and the
right Of free speech to the favors Of the
millionaires.