The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-03
A Newspaper, Not a Party Organ.
THE PROTEST OF THE PROFESSORS

THE PROTEST OF THE PROFESSORS
A new factor has boon brought to bear
In the matter OF the discussion precipi-
tated between the corporation OF Brown
University and President Andrews, which
goes to show that tho last word WAS not
Said when the president sent In his resig-
nation.
This Is the protest of twenty-four pro-
fessors and assistant professors of the
university, headed by Prof. Clarke who
was acting president In the absence OF
DIR. Andrews the past year. These
twenty -four are two-thirds of the entire
faculty, clean majority.
Their action IN preparing their letter to
the corporation Is remarkable, indeed
They have presented an extended argu-
ment going to show that the corporation
should decline TO accept the resignation
of President Andrews and should publicly
renounce the position 1t took and which
compelled that resignation. Whether or
not the corporation is at all likely to do
that or whether there Is good reason why
should, il may be said that President
Andrews has a right to feel proud of the
loyalty of so great part of his working
rorce In behalf Of the position he has
taken and that prompted his resignation
The professors who sign the document
to be sure. disclaim any purpose OF per-
sonal esteem and base their protest solely
ON the merits OF the question. But as
they see the merits Of the question as thcir
president views them the protest repre-
eents a triumph OF DIR. Andrews in win.
uing the support Of the faculty to his side
and corresponding defeat OF the corpora
tion In that 1t fails to secure that support
for its action.
II we may Judge by precedent in cases
of such remonstrance as this, 1t Is likely
20 be of little avail in determining the
action of the corporation OF Brown Uni
versity. That body has "A long and thorny
path 60 travel to get back to tho point of
requesting the president TO hold on. and
there Is as yet no reason to believe that
It has any desire to go back. IL is in
conceivable, indeed that she gentlemen OF
he corporation did not anticipate many, il
not all the points made in this protest
ana voiced through other channels before
,hey appointed the committee to wait
upon the PRESIDENT AT any rate, IL is
poor question that hasn't two sides TO IL,
and without assuming to participate In
the discussion, IL strikes us at first glance
and just from strategic Wow that the
professors line OF defense is so long as TO
suggest that IL may not be wholly free
from weak places.
There Is understood to be n movement
among the alumni In support OF the as-
gressive position taken by the professors,
and altogether II would appear that the
Andrews case was not removed from con-
troyersy by the action OF the president
cut of debate by filing his resigna
tion. 1t is reasonable TO suppose, how
ever, that tho position taken by the cor.
poration Is not without sdhorents. both
within and outside Of university circles
and that before the debate Is over that
side will be heard from effectively II IL
foels calls upon TO speak at oil.
Just now, however, the case for DIR.
Andrews has the floor TO a notable degree
and after highly interesting fashion.