Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-08-05
BROWN UNIVERSITY.
PRESIDENT ANDREWS ITS BEST
FRIEND.
Action of the Corporation Strongly criti-
cised In an Open Letter From tho FAC
ulty.

Brown University by members or the
faculty of that institution" Is the lnt-
est development of public interest Ill
relation to President Andrews resis-
nation.
The letter was mailc to-day to
trustees and fellows and to some
eighty lay and regular members or the
faculty. In substance the address
SAYS that the resignation OF President
Andrews followed as first natural
consequence of the action OF the cor
Doration of June 18th. and that Brown
University now stands In an unrortu-
nate position.
.If we are not mistaken" the letter
states, more Is involved than the ex-
igencies of single institution or the
fortunes of single educator, nut the
situation of Brown University ana its
relations to the president are, taken
alone. topics of high Importance, which
compel our consideration
Reference is made to the details OF
the corporation meeting Mt which fres-
ident Andrews was requested 10 lot
bear in the future from the promuisa-
ton of his free coinage OF silver
views, and 1t is declared that 1t was
not intended to have the vote OF the
corporation made public.
"Private and Individual remon-
strances is one thing" 1t Is declared by
the faculty; "action of the sort de-
scribed by the body which appoints
presidents is, we submit. very diff
ferent thing. 1t Is open to the gravest
objections, and rests upon n theory,
which If extensively acted upon would
eat the heart out of our cducational
institutions-the theory that the ma
terial growth of university Is OF
more importance than Independence or
thought and expression on the part OF
its presidents and professors, and that
boards of trustees have as much the
right to suggest limitations upon such
Independence.
"It Is not to be believed. and we are
far from believing that this theory in
all its amplitude was present to the
minds of your honorable body on the
occasion named and distinctly accepted
by them. But the logical conclusion
between that theory and the concrete
action taken is. on consideration. so
plain and has found so complete
lodgment in the public mind to the
manifest injury of the university, that
we respectfully beg you to take again
into consideration the principles In
volved at your ensuing meeting to
take that action which alone can per-
manently relieve Brown University
from all suspicion of illiberality or
bias.
"Recognizing that the corporation
has not been alone In thinking and say
ing that DIR. Andrews freedom of
speech ought to he restrained. we beg
leave to combat the proposition. wher-
ever and by whOmsoever maintained.
that official action leading to restrain
his expressions on public affairs is
justified.
1--WE desire to show first. that 1t can
not be justified on the lower ground of
pecuniary necessity and advantage,
and. secondly, that 1t lacks all justifi-
cation when considered from that
higher point Of view from which the
EDUCATIONAL institutions of great
country ought always to be guarded"
The address treats with the possible
benefactors of the college who would
have given, according to the trustees,
but for the public views Of President
Andrews. and says lavish gifts to pub
lie institutions are not usual in this
country and never have been.
Many other Institutions where the
presiding officers have taken no part
in political discussions have received
little money, but the faculty prefers
to dismiss empty speculation regarding
what might have happened. Hard
times have placed Brown and other
colleges in a less prosperous financial
condition. but the address says:
"If income be fit criterion. then DR..
Andrews is entitled to be regarded. rs
in n pecuniary sense. the greatest bene-
factor Brown University ever had.
More than half It's income Is beyond
doubt due to him and his lnbors. If
restraint of President Andrews cannot
be justified on these lower grounds of
pecuniary results, still less dcfensible
does it appear when viewed from high
er grounds. The general arguments
for freedom of speech it Is not neces-
sary to repeat, least of all in Rhode Is
land, where the right to such has for
260 years been cherished with peculiar
jealousy.
ION the one hand we have the prob
lematical or imaginary addition of n
great number of dollars. on the other
hand we have throughout the whole
Intellectual life of the university the
deadening influence Of known or sus-
pected repression. Our students will
know or suspect that on certain sub
jects the silence of their president has
been purchased or imposed.
.'If the resignation of DIR. Andrews
is accepted and the stigma fall on his
successor. it would stamp the institu-
llOU Ill tne eyes OIL tlle country us one
in which freedom is not permitted
when it runs counter to the views of
the community, or held by those from
whom the college expects financial sup
port"
? The letter finds almost limitless fav-
or with the New England friends of
Brown, who tonight commend its dig
nifty, straightforwardness and power.
President Andrews. while far from
being Il proselyte, has so stamped his
views and his individuality upon the
college and the educated community
of which it is the center, that in this
crisis he finds a perfect army of
friends at his back, while his enemies
are few and scattering. An eXamina-
ton shows that the protest comes
largely from the younger men of the
faculty and it is notable that the prime
movers are mostly graduates of other
colleges.
There is a growing feeling that Prcsi-
dent Andrews does not consider that
the breach between himself and the
trustees cannot be healed over, al
though it would be altogether impolitic
for him to assume the initiative look
ing toward Il settlement of the Difficult
ties.
One result of the controversy Is to
consolidate the silver sentiment in