The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-26
SATURDAY, June 26, 1897.
WILL RHODE ISLAND INITIATE TEXAS.

For some weeks there have been rum
blings of discomfort in Texas and Rhode
Island growing out of objections by citi-
zens of those States to the teachings of
professors in the universities of the two
States. In Texas this objection culmin-
ated in a resolution of inquiry in the
Legislature. 1t seems that there was
complaint IN the State because the pro-
fessors taught history from a Northern
standpoint and taught that the gold
standard was the correct financial doc
trine. As a result of the objections
raised, the board of regents made the
following reply:
mo instruction is given in the Univer-
sity of Texas of a partisan or sectarian
character, nor have any partisan or Sec
tartan tests been used in the selection of
members of the University faculty. Pro
fessoTs have been selected with refer
ence to their qualifications. The mem
bers Of the faculty come from twenty
different colleges and universities in
America and Europe. Should any men,
Der of the faculty attempt 10 incuicate
sectariau or partisan ideas he would be
considered unfit to teach In the Uniyer-
sity, and the regents would require his
resignation. Only three subjects taught
in the University relate to political mat
ters, to wit: History, political science
and constitutional law. All these SUBJ
jects are taught from the standpoint Of
scientific investigation and not of parti-
san advocacy and propaganda. In study
ing the Interpretation Of the constitution,
for example the arguments Of lawyers,
the speeches and writings of statesmen
and public men, and the decisions Of the
Supreme court are set before the stu
dents, who study them as they would
questions in science, philosophy and
mathematics. The attitude of the pro-
fessor is partly that of an investigator
and partly that of a judge impartially
summing up the evidence. In studying
the tariff and other current questions, the
students consider not merely the writings
of all the acknowledged authorities, but
also the speeches of political leaders on
each side. The University does not aim
to make politicians, but students. 1t
teaches methods of study rather than
conclusions.
.The regents recognize the right of in
dividual professors to exercise private
judgment in matters political and reli-
gious. They regard the University as a
miniature of the State, where young men
and young women of all religious faiths
and political beliefs, of all classes and
conditions in life, mingle together, on
terms Of perfect equality, for the cultiva-
ton Of truth and the pursuit of lofty
ideals of manhood. In the student body
are Democrats, Republicans, Populists,
Prohibitionists and Christians Of all de-
nominations.
'There has never been any desire on
the part of the board of regents to en-
ploy professors or not employ professors
because Of their coming from the north
ern States. The sole test has always
been fitness for the position, which has
included careful inquiry into family his
tory and moral character.
"The courses of instruction in the Uni
versity are laid down by the faculty, sub
ject, of course, to the general control of
the board of regents. There is not now,
nor has there ever been, in the University
culated to hold in contempt the southern
people Or ridicule their institutions. The
regents believe that all teachers, every
where, to be successful, must be in SYM
pathy with the people whom they teach;
and, while the University of Texas is in
no sense partisan, sectarian or sectional,
yet it is in sympathy with the life, char
acter and civilization of the southern peo-
pie. The regents believe that an unus-
ually high standard of manliness and of
scholarship exists in the University of
Texas, and that the students themselves
would quickly resent, as unworthy of the
institution and of Texas, any attempt to
control their political or religious beliefs.
The student body is unusually mature,
and most of them have the self-reliance
and independence of judgment which
comes from self-support. They repre-
sent the liberal, independent, self-reliant
spirit of Texas, and they would not be
satisfied with lower standards of scholar
ship or poorer ideals of truth than are
accepted by the best teachers and think
ers of the world"
In Rhode Island, there has been much
complaint because President Andrews
believes in silver and was a Bryan cleo
tor. Rockefeller, whose son attends
Brown, refused to give it large sum for
endowment because of President An