The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-23
AN OLD PRECEDENT.

The trustees of Brown are not aware
that In restraining President Andrews
from expounding the Ii to silver heresy
in that institution they are following u
precedent set by two illustrious sresldonts
of the United States. Thomas Jefferson
and James Madison, when these two
statesmen were members OF the board or
trustees of the University OF Virginia
ihis fact is shown bv tho subjolped OK
tract from letter written by Jefferson
in 1925:
"In most public seminaries text books
are prescribed To each OF the several
schools as the norma docendi In tnat
school; ana this is generally done by
authority of the trustees. i should not
propose this generally in our university.
because | believe none OF us are SO much
at the heights Of science in the several
branches as Co undertake this, and therefore
it will be better left To the professors un-
I'll occasion OF interference shall he given.
But there is one branch in which we are
the best judges in which heresies may be
taught, of so inrercstinga "a character 10 our
state and 60 the United States as 10 mike
il "a duty in Us to lay down the principles
which are TO DO taught IL Is that or
government.
Mr. Gilmer being withdrawn, we
know not who his successor may be. He
may be a Richmond lawyer. or one OF that
school Of quondam federation, now con-
solidation. 10 is our duty TO guard against
such principles being d isseminated among
our youth, and tho diffusion OF that
poison, by a previous prescription of the
texts 10 be followed in their discourses
therefore incloss you "a resolution which
i think OF proposing at our next meeting,
strictly cOniiding 10 10 your own knowledge
ana to that Of Mr.. Loyal, TO whom you
may communicate IL. as 1 am sure IL Will
harmOnize with his principles. l have
communicated 10 to Mr. Madison.
The resolution to which reference Is
made enumerated the text books and
documents such as the Virginia Resolu'
tions. that were To bo studied in the uni
versity. Madison added To tho list and
observed that after all, the most effect
ual safeguard against heretical intrusions
into tho school Of politics will be an able
aud orthodox professor, whose course OF
instruction will bo nn example to his sue.
cessors and may carry with IL q sanction
from the visitors.
On the kindred studies OF law and his
tory. Jefferson had equally positive opiu-
ions regarding the text books that should
ho used i'm the university Of which no WAS
the father. In the former branch he con-
demned tho England Of Hume rs
having done more to sap the free prin-
ciples of the English Constitution than
the largest standing army OF which their
patriots have been so jealous" and the
study of which has rIade an easy step
to American toryism. In law. he repro
bated "the honoyed Manieldism OF Black
stone. which was producing "a brood Of
Tory lawyers, who no longer know what
whigPism or republicanism means,
adding that lit is in our university that
that yestal flame IL to be kept alive; it is
thence it is To be spread anew over our
own and the sister states. "
Jefferson. it is true, ras been censured
by some modern critics for having in
his patriotic ardor placed limitations on
political science" T" but his fundamental
principle was that American young men
should receive American training in the
duties Of citizenship. His central idea
In the higher education was ''to form the
statesmen. Legislators, and judges, on
whom public prosperity and individual
happiness are so much To depend TO OK
rorrt- the principles and structure Of
government. the laws which regulate the
intercourse Of nations those formed
municipality for our government and a
sound spirit of legislation, which. Danish
ing all unnecessary restraint on individ-
ual action, shall leave us free TO do what
over does not violate the equal rights of
another" From every point of view these
ideas are as sound today as whc they
/ were written. and IL there be one institu-
tion in which they are not inculoated in
their fullest sense, the sooner IL is closed
by it's trustees the better will 10 be- for the
country.
IL Is idle to quote as some of the defend
urs Of President Andrews have done in
his defense, that passage In Jefferson's
writings wherein he says that "the Uni
versity of Virginia will be based on the
limitable freedom Of the human mind, f"
and that We are not afraid to follow truth
wherever it may lead, nor TO tolerate any
error so long rs reason il left free to coru-
bat It, - That sentiment antedated by
many years the preceding quotations in
regard to heretical teachings, and had
application Co questions of character
altogether different The rampant heresy
respecting silver was condemned by him
in l7S2 Jefferson never changed his views
on the subject. and most assuredly would
not have tolerated the exposition of it as
truth and sound doctrine ny u president
or professor of his university in 1925. lie
and Madison would have put him out on
ha curu ms at ppcn