Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-10


educator. but alas! what pessimistic
Views were expressed by the graduating
class at COMMENCEMENT, respecting all
the economic and social problems Of the
day. They were like the Trades OF w. j.
Bryan
What degenerate patriotism prompt
ed the ang1O-maniac faculty to hang
George Washington's portrait in the cell
lar of the Walker art building beside the
door Of the lavatory? What sturdy
Americanism must the young men OF our
day inbibe from their fathers. and from
the Sun, to Withstand the polluted stream
emanating from and poured constantly
into their minds by their Godklnized,
Isryanzed Clevelandzed Presidents and
professors! What is true OF Bowdoin IN
structors Is true of those OF most 0ther
institutions.
These people are American and appeal
to American principles in one thing only:
they are proud of but one thing that Is
American and that is their individual
right as citizens under the constitution
to teach in all places and at all times to
utter any anti-American idea they please.
Your editorials referred to above. had
they been read at the graduating eXercls-
es of any college would, to say the least,
have Jared upon and been out of har-
nony with the sentiments there ex-
pressed. Those occasions are marked by
an absence OF any argument on the optl-
mistic patriotic side. The whole tenor of
ed, our government corrupt. the rich OPP
pressive and the country going to the
''demniton bow-wows."
The only bright side to this dark pic
ture is the assurance We have that the
American youth. If he does not size up
his college instructors and differ from
them. will get much of this reasonable.
unpatriotic stuff knocked out of him
shortly after beginning the study of
America and mankind instead of books.
In view of all the discussions Of the
Brown-Andrcws case, and the foregoing
respecting the HydeBowdoin and other
institutions, | would suggest to these
people that there are others" who also
have rights A majority of the alumni of
an institution may wish to decide wheth-
err their alma mater shall be represented
by its president as unanimously for free
silver or free trade and anti-M0nroe doe
:rine: but even that would be unfair to
the minority.
1t would be much better if these pro-
fessors would not seek to represent their
colleges one way or the other. They
bias even as 4 judge before "A jury TAX
ing this attitude. no one would complain
of any individual utterance.
When the president of college tele
graphs to u yellow journal condemna-
ton of an act of the President of the
United States. and brags of 1t as an IL
lustration of how his college mot only
leads in educational matters, but in po-
IItltdi. WHICH al ltCuity sttlus SiSItu
protest to a senator of the United States
against delay in action upon a treaty.
the alumni and all others connected are
represented as approving.
These men are paid salaries to do other
work and as individuals they would.
apart from their college places. amount
to little SO far as political influence goes.
II is unfair for them TO use their places
to secure undue advantages for any po
litical party or faction.
| would like to see a chair of "Amer-
lean Patriotism endowed in every COL
lege in the land as an antidote to the ex-
listing state of things!
f. A. Scribner, BoWdoin II
Boonton. N. j.. June 2s
There is in the above some whole
some truth but the article as a
whole is miscellaneous. The whole at.
mosphere at Bowdoin is American. the !
teachings are an inspiration to the best !
quality of patriotism. There can be
found neither in the instruction inn /,
parted by the faculty nor in their at |
titude on public questions that which /:
tends to Organism, fiatism or lack of
patriotism and any criticism on that |
score is grossly unjust. To speak of /
the Bowdon faculty as the anglo
maniac faculty. is both untrue |
and unjust and expresses either malice |
or ignorance on the part of the writer. !,
We do not hold some of the political !
views for which the president of the !
college is willing to stand sponsor and |
perhaps he is open in some degree to !!
criticism on account of them or rather |
the publicity which he has on occasion !
appeared willing to give to them. But !,
he is not to be classed with Andrews of |!
Brown unless it-be for seeking pub ,
Lefty for his views for he distinctly !,
disavowed last fall the pessimism and
other isms summed up in Organism.
Furthermore the Bowdoin faculty |
and the Bowdoin management are so /
liberal and so imbued with the Ameri-
can love of free speech that they would
not deny the right of a student to de- '
liver a commencement part with the !,
views of which they might wholly dis /
agree. They believe, we feel sure that |
the truth does not need to be shielded /
against such possible errors in judy |,
ment, and we should have little respect !
for a college faculty that did.--Edl |
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