The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-08-07
BROWN CONTROVERSY.
Congressman Walker Replies to tho
Faculty's Open Letter.
He Says Andrews Is Seeking
Martyrs Crown
Presidents Silver Theories Are More Danger.
ous Than State Rights

Boston. Aug. 7--Thc famous letter on
the faculty OF Brown university de-
Tending President Andrews has called
forth carefully written reply from Con.
gresham Joseph Walker Of Worcester.
Mr.. Walker IL a member OF the corpora
ton OF the university. and his letter is
saken as an expression Of the feelings
OF that whole body. The communication
is az follows:
The corporation deeply regrets that
any member OF the faculty should have
felt IL their duty to complicate very
delicate situation, growing out Of the
wide divergence Of views between IL and
the public teachings OF it's president, AZ
TO what is truth and as to their respec.
tive duties and responsibilities involving
the attitude of the university on ques,
tions viewed by the corporation as at the
very foundation OF morality.
True TO its founders, the cry OF q noble
soul. Give me the liberty to think and
to utter freely, above all liberties," finds
now, as ever before, an echo In the soul
or every member Of the corporation 81
Brown university. II what was de.
signed to be it's governing body has ut.
tered any word or done any deed tc
abridge any reasonable action or ex-
preston Of opinion by the president OF
Brown university. or by any member oil
Its faculty, consistent with their first
obligation to the university, they are
not aware OF IL.
The determination of che corporation
to refrain from making this divergence
Of opinion public, and its efforts to avoid
any formal official or public criticism
OF President Andrews and his insistence
on its giving him q written communca.
tion, which could cover but a small part
OF the case, against the best judgment
and purpose OF the corporation, his rush.
ing into print, before the corporation
could take any action as body upon
the result and again through some mem.
bers OF the faculty, exhibits in q minor
degree, the wide divergence in opinion
OF the proprieties In their respective po.
sitions and shows how eagerly Mr.
Andrews is seeking the crown OF martyr.
dom in the cause Of the immediate anc
unlimited coinage OF silver. 1t may be
said In passing that the remarkable
statements made in the communication
signed Henry Il. Gardner" show how
little the faculty know Of the kind and
amount Of work President Andrews has
been doing in the cause of the immediats
and unlimited coinage Of silver at 16 tc
! by this country along and regardless
OF consequences.
Corporation Is Judge.
Whether that is truth or not, is known
or not, civilized society cannot exist un
less some things are assumed to havs
been proven "the truth" Those re.
sponsible for institutions organized an0
maintained to teach the things assumed
to be "the TRUTH" necessarily REQUIRE
that the teachings Of the president an6
professors Of each institution for itseh
adhere In the main to the teaching foi
truth those things the institution wa.
founded to teach, the corporation beins
Judge. The corporation of Brown uni,
versity. as in the past, so now, ad
minister its affairs In the broad spirit o,
liberality in which 1t was founded a.
to both the beliefs and teachings OF its
president and professors, but il cannot
tolerate the alienation Of the great trus,
committed to It's hands in support OF
those who would subvert doctrines ano
beliefs of Its founders, the present cor.
poration and all right thinking men IL
the community as. WELL hold to b.
truth"
Controversy is easy concerning the
existence Of things the most obvious
There is nothing so clearly discernible
tble that all men see 1t alike.
When in institutions founded to teach
q fo;t
accepts the faith Of Calvin and teaches
his doctrine and in all kindness he i,
asked to give way to one who believes
and teaches what he was original.
hired to teach, he invariably raises a cry
OF persecution.
One of the leading educational insti.
tutions in New England has an agnostit
at its head. No one takes any cogni.
zance of his beliefs or words. But LEI
activities In disseminating lis b ellie,
II, controverting the inspiration OF tn,
Bible he those Of an Ingersoll and Il
would be a base alienation Of a trust
Tor the Christians responsible for the
young men In that institution and re
sponsible for It's influences in the com.
munity to allow the influence Of that in.
stitution. inseparably connected with
It's president, to be so used in the person
OF Its president. Institutions OF learn
Ing are incarnated In their representa-.
tive head.
A Baptist college may have an in.
nuential member OF the Universalist de.
nomination. one Of the noblest men IN.
It's neighborhood, as chairman OF Its
board or trustees, and to its very great
advantage. He could not with any show
or decency assume the work of con.
vcrting all other denominations TO his
faith by entering upon an active cam.
paign as an evangelist OF Unversalism.
without resigning his office. During the
war a small number OF good and able
men In the north believed each state had
right to secede from the Union. and
that the coercion OF "a state violated the
rights OF every person I'm the seeded
states. No educational institution could
consistently retain as It's president or
as professor person active I'm dis
seminating such belief I'm such a crisis.