The news & observer., 1897-08-08
STlFllNG FREE SPEECH FOR THE GLORY
OF GOD.

When it was first announced that Pres
ident Andrews was no longer wanted as
President of Brown University, the trus-
tees gave as the reason that his open ad
vocacy of free silver made it impossible
to secure contributions from the rich
friends of the University. They sug-
gested that if he would keep his convic-
tions to himself, he need not publicly
recant.
The indignation of the whole Ameri-
can people at this proceeding was so pro-
nounced that Congressman Walker and
his associates were forced to fall back
upon the old Puritannical practice of in
venting some religious excuse for the
perpetration of their crime. The New
England conscience had to be appeased.
It would not publicly condone the dis
missal of President Andrews in order to
get money from millionaires. Some other
excuse to satisfy this peculiar conscience,
that seeks excuses rather than justifca-
ton, had to be forthcoming. Mr.. Walker
came forward with the declaration that
DR.. Andrews had to be dismissed for the
continued progress of christian civiliza-
ton" Here was the pious intent for
public consumption. 'We are not wor-
shipping Mammon. o, no! We are labor
ing to preserve christian civilization" !"
This will satisfy many Puritan con-
science that deep down sympathizes with
the effort to destroy free speech.
81 wonder what wickedness he is con-
,templating now" said a servant Of a
hypocritical Puritan. when he gets
extra pious he is always contemplating
some deviltry" When men like Walker
suddenly become concerned to continue
'Christian civilization" it is sign that
some good man is being made ready for
the faggots OF persecution.
1t was a Massachusetts conscience
that drove Roger Williams into the
wilderness of Rhode Island just as 1t
now is a Massachusetts conscience, SO
called, that leads the fight on President
Andrews, for Congressman Walker IS a
Massachusetts man. The causes that
led to the expulsion of Roger Williams
may well be considered to-day IN the
light of Puritan persecution of his sue
cessor, for Roger Williams and Benjamin
Andrews both were Baptists. In Arnoldf
History of Rhode Island we read:
''In reviewing the measures which lee
IL .-l~x 0Qp linY rxyE
find that they all proceeded from the
firmness with which, upon every occasion,
he maintained the doctrine that the civil
power has no control over the religious
opinions of men. To adapt this new
theory to practical life was to effect q
revolution in the existing system of govt
ernment; to sever the chain, which, since
the days of Constantine. had linked
theology to the throne; to restore to thf
free mind, the distinctive, but longf
fettered gift of deity-free agency; and
in fine to embody in civil polity thai
Reformers, which, from Wittenberg ts
aroused the spirit of all Europe-thf
right of private judgment.
"The right Of every man to worship
God according to his own conscience.
untrammelled by written articles d
faith, and unawed by civil power, ind.
plies degree of advancement in mora
science and political philosophy utterl
at variance with the one OF feeling ik
that age. II to this assertion of natura
right we add the denial Of any power if
civil government to enquire evdp
whether a citizen believes in the exiN
tence Of God, we have a proposition I'd
more bold than many which had alread
led host of martyrs to the gibbet aI{i
the stake. Yet this was the sentiment
which, in those days of political darkness,
Roger Williams had the clearness to dip
cover and the courage to defend. He
dared assert the freedom OF the soul.
Religion, ethics and politics, as now
received, are alike indebted to him for
their fundamental principle"
Ordinarily the New York Times ia hs
fair as it is able. 1t usually treats pub
lie men with justice. 1t is not GEN
orally given to the narrowness of the
More-HolyThan-Thou school that saes
nothing good or nothing for commenda-
ton outside its cred. Its editorial on "Tthe
Case Of President Andrews" is. tLeie-
fore. the more surprising. 1t reads a
written by the editor of little sl q
in the rural districts Of Connecticut I c
supported the original blue laws. 4 xit
Times says that the free silver men be
lieye in ga frightful spoliation," and til la
the opponents of free silver believe til
President Andrews is an advocate Ioi
wholesale robbery" 1t goes on to say tHat
he was either dishonest or "did not knbw
what he was doing" that is to say ''ht
was an unbalanced man, crank. mhr
unfit to be entrusted with the education