The record-union., 1897-09-02
DR.. ANDREWS
ASKED TO STAY.
The Corporation of Brown University
Takes Up the Case.
Passes a Resolution Requesting Him to
Withdraw His Resignation.
Ex-Secretary Of State O1ney Ad-
dresses Letter to the Faculty
Of the University Taking Issue
With DR.. Andrews in His Views
on the Currency Question.

PROVIDENCE Or. u, Sept. 1.-The
| corporation of Brown University to-day
voted, after a long meeting, to request
President Andrews to withdraw his res
ignation as President of that fnstitu-
ton. The request was embodied in a
resolution containing the following:
ITO the President of Brown Univer-
sity.
The corporation of Brown Univer-
sity has this day received with the
| greatest regret your resignation as
| President 1t most earnestly requests
that you withdraw it. 1t conceives that
it was written without full knowledge
of the position of the corporation. With
the earnest hope that a statement to
you, bearing the formal sanction and
approval of the governing body of the
university as a whole, may bring us
again into hearty accord, the corpora
ton desires to assure you that it in no
way sought the severance of our of
ficial relations, which, so far as it
knows, have been most cordial from
the time of your acceptance of the
Presidency.
THE only vote and only expression
hitherto made by the corporation bear
ing upon the question at issue was at
the last June meeting, and consisted Of
the appointment of a committee to
confer with you as to the interests of
the university. The extent of authority
thus given it's committee was that of
conference which it fully believes you
would unhesitatingly admit was a le-
gitimate and friendly exercise of its
privileges, relating in the terms of the
vote to the interests of the university,
which you have closely at heart.
TT is perfectly true that the vote in
question was occasioned by the differ
ing views entertained on the one hand
by you and on the other hand by most
and possibly all of the members of
the corporation as to the free and un-
limited coinage of silver by the United
States. SO far, at least, as affecting the
interests of the university, and the fear
that your views, publicly known or ex-
pressed. might perhaps in some degree
be assumed to be representative and
not MOI y individual. Tt was not in
our minds to prescribe the path in
which you should tread or to adminis-
ter to you any official rebuke, or to re-
sonable liberty of utterance, but sim
ply to intimate that it would be the
part of wisdom for you to take a less
active part in exciting partisan discus
sions, and apply your energies more
exclusively to the affairs of the COL
lege.
'H9Eing, as it believes, removed the
misapprehensions that occur of individ-
those Of the corporation and the uni
versity, for which misrepresentation you
are net responsible, and which it's knows
you, too, would seek to dspel, the cor
| porat:on, affirming it's rightful author
/ ity to conserve the interests of the uni
versity at all times by every honorable
means and especially desiring to avoid
in the conduct of the university the
imputation even of the consideration
/ of party questions, or of the dominance
of any class, but that in the language
Of its charter in this liberal and cath
/ olic institution all members hereof
shall enjoy full free, absolute and un-
interrupted liberty of conscience which
| includes freedom of thought and ex-
preston, it cannot feel that the diver
genca of views upon the silver question
and OF its effect upon the university
between you and the members of the
corporation is an adequate cause of
! separation between US, for the corpora
| tion is profoundly appreciative of the
great services you have rendered to the
university, and of your great sacrifices
and love of it. It therefore renews its
assurances of highest respect for you,
ami expresses the confident hope that
you will withdraw your resignation"
The vote on the subject was practi-
cally unanimous, and taken after
| speeches had been made by nearly
every member ofthe corporation.
/ The meeting was held behind closed
doors, and every precaution taken to
keep the proceedings secret The
attendance was large. The meeting
was called to order by Dr. Andrews,
but lie retired a few minutes later and
Rev. Alvah Hovey. D. D., of Newton
Theological School took the chair.
The early part of the session was
/ taken up mainly with routine business
| A letter from ex-Secretary of State
Richard Olney, addressed to the fac
ulty and bearing upon the controversy
/ between the corporation and President
/ Andrews, was read. It is as follows:
Boston (Mass), Aug. ;. 1897
+ Professor Benjamin F. Clarke. J.
Franklin Jameson, Henry B. Gard
ner and others:
Gentlemen: l thank you heartily for
a pamphlet copy of a letter bearing
your signatures and entitled AN open
+ letter addressed to the corporation of
+ Brown University by members of the
faculty of aht institution Nothing
could be more better in manner of mat
/ ter. 1t presents the grave issues raised
/ by the unfortunate action Of the corpo-
ration with singular lucidity and logi-
cal force and deals with the temper and
spirit which are every way admissible.
As yoil may know I do not agree with
what 7 understood to be DR.. Andrews
views respecting the free coinage of sill
yer, T strongly deprecate the action of
i the corporation. indeed. upon the prom
/ ise that nothing could give currency
and weight in those views-just as
nothing would a greater impetus to the
cause Of tariff reform than an attempt
by the authorities Of Harvard College
to discipline President Eliot for his
we'll known sentiments respecting free
trade
THE true objection. however. to the
course pursued towards DR.. Andrews by