Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-24
SATURDAY. ...........JUL a, 1891


President T.. y. Andrews Of Grown
University Providence. r. l.. has been
forced out of the presidency Of that insti-
luton because he refused TO be mDzzled
ana relinqulsh his constitutional right
Of free speech President Andrews be-
lldyes I'm free silver and on occasions has
given sound logical and convincing eX-
preston to the faith that is in him. No
one can follow President Andrews on this
subject without being satisfied that he
has devoted to It most careful and eX-
aaustlve study. No candid man, no mat
Ter how much he may differ with Presi-
ient Andrews touching the currency
question, can fail to recognize that he
mas approached and grasped that qucs-
ton with the same broad-mindedncss
and desire 10 get at the truth that have
characterized his historical Investigations.
and led him to do justice to the South,
more fully. perhaps, than any other
northern historian.
But It appears that the Rhode Island
test of the efficiency Of a university
president Is not whether he is honest IN
lbs views. a great scholar. broad-mindcd,
great educator. and devoted to his
work. but whether ne can draw money,
and has a conscience sufficiently elastic
to enable him TO truckle TO the mammon
Of unrighteousHcss. a short while ago
Brown University found that in order
to keep up with some of its competitors
I'm educational appliances and facilities
IL must raise "a certain sum of money,
and thercupOn it made an appeal for sub
scriptions to the manufacturers of Rhode
Island. Those magnates, however,
promptly refused to respond. basing their
refusal on the silver uttcrances of PTesi-
dent Andrews In effect they declared
that unless President Andrews was made
to recant, shut mp or go. Brown would
get none of their money, thus eylncing
a purpose to ensave the university, as
they have their employees. At the June
meeting. therefore. OF the Brown corpora
ton, the board appointed a committee
of three to confer with President An
arews with a view, as was euphemisti-
cally stated, OF endeavoring ITO induce
him to refrain from pursuing the policy
he had adopted in relation to financial
teachings" but really for the purpose
of attempting to bulldoze him into doing
violence TO his conscience and convic-
tions. This committee, in a commune
cation TO President Andrews, expressed
high regard for him personally and adj
mittrd his great services to the university
in Increasing and diversifyjng its educa-
tional facilities and efficiency and in
multiplying the attendance OF students,
but left no course open to him save that
of getting out or meelly allowing to be
placed in his mouth the gag the Rhode
Island manufacturers had dictated. As
a consequence, President Andrews has
resigned the presidency Of and his pro-
fossorship in the university his letter
of resignation being just such a manly
reply 10 the committee as might nave
been expected from one who had the
courage to treat the South as fairly as
ne has done. President Andrews we'll
says that the most ample endowment of
an institution Of learning would have but
little worth where it involved a surrender
by president and professors of reasonable
liberty Of utterance.
II the Rhode Island university idea Is
10 become precedent; If it is to obtain
In other States; If the worth of an edu-
Gator Is TO be measured by his capacity
10 draw money; II our higher Institutions
of learning are 10 he prostituted by the
trusts and combines If education and
thought are TO be chained TO sOrdidnesg
then Heaven help the rising generation
and the republic. As for our southern
colleges and universities. we would rather
that they should struggle along in power
~ forever than that they should yield
in the most inhntesimal degree to the
influences that forced Professor Andrews
10 resign