The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-03
A Mile Post i'm Civilization.

To every American who has viewed
from an elevated standpoint the cpl
sode eliminating in the resignation by
DIR. E. b. Andrews of the presidency Of
Brown university, the action Of the cor
poration of that institution on Wednes-
day in deciding, after much urging
from leaders in American thought, to
request DIR. Andrews to withdraw his
resignation, is most welcome. 1t marks
in perhaps more beneflcent manner
than can for some time be thoroughly
appreciated long stride in American
civilization-the stride from bigotry
and intolerance to freedom of honest
opinion. The inference from 1t is that
persecution no longer, among men truly
civilized, is regarded as the proper
penalty for independence of belief and
conviction, but rather the resort of
minds narrowed and infirm.
We are disposed to agree to the let
ter with our esteemed Canadian con-
temporary, the Toronto Globe, in its be-
lief that this, in many ways unfortun-
ate, incident will prove in the long, run
a great blessing to the country at large.
at means" adds the Globe, in an opin-
ion to which we heartily subscribe,
that the whole ideal and conception Of
the American educational system will
be subjected to a most searching re-
examination. Already there are signs
| of reaction. There has been too much
| specialization, too much employment
| of men Sir11DlV hpcanSa tbay Ivara ,,,ae-
| ters of one phase of a subject, regard
| less of their manhood and character;
| too much REORGANIZATION in the re-
lations of student and professor; in a
word, too much commercialization.
Mark Hopkins used to define a univer-
sity as a log with teacher at one end
| and a student at the other. The modern
American university is vast caravan
sary where the personal element is
steadily growing weaker and the ma
| terial stronger while the intellectual
| finds itself more and more specialized
| and narrowed. Schools are for the pur-
pose of producing men-rounded, devel-
oped, warm, feeling, personal men. The
historic Williams college in Massachu-
|
| that it will hereafter receive only a
| limited number of students, its aim be-
| ing to produce more man rather than
| more men,
1T will be admitted that preacher
or teacher owes something to those
who pay his salary; and when his
views change he ought to resign If the
| Nj nf 40
with him. But the constituency of a
| great university is not local; it is
| worldwide, and without the utmost
liberty of thought and expression no
school can fulfill its high mission. In
a democracy the only thing that cam
not be spared is truth; and hence there
must be absolute freedom of thought
and discussion. Truth alone is true,
and rational discussion will always
eventuate in truth. The loss to the
church and to education arising from
the suppression Of free thought on the
part CT their paid teachers is incalcul-
able. If preachers and professors have
any use it is to discover truth and lead
the people into it, This means that
| lHtN must NC liSt u traverse received
opinions without prejudice to their
standing. Instead of trimming their
views to suit the prejudices or tradi-
tions of their constituency they ought
to endeavor to bring their constituency
around, While this is beyond contra
diction there is need of the utmost cau-
ton and delicacy of regard for the pro-
prieties that must govern all Christian
and civilized intercourse. Manhood is
more than money. Truth is more pre-
cious than position"
After the defeat Of the bigots at
Brown 1t is probable that these words
win be more fully appreciated by the
community in general.
Day before yesterday the Providence
Journal said THE corporation of
Brown university will today decide