The record-union., 1897-07-17
THE ANDREWS CASE.

The case of President Andrews of
Brown University is exciting much
debate some of it being characterized
by a good deal of acrimony for which,
however, there is no excuse. Presi-
dent Andrews is a free trader and a
free silver man of the bimetallist order,
but not welded to is to l. He wrote
and published book called can Hon
est Dollar The Trustees of his Uni
versity thereupon eensured him and
gave him notice that he must not teach
economic doctrines not in harmony
with the established policy of the Uni
versity. This has brought out severe
structures upon the Trustees and an eff
fort is made to exalt Professor An
drews as a martyr.
The true consideration it seems to US
is the character of the University. The
Brown school is a private one, receiv-
ing no State aid and nothing whatever
from the taxpayer or the general pub
Inc. 1t is wholly a private education
that it's promoters have a right to de-
termine what economic doctrines may
be taught in and entertained by its
faculty, and to require its employed
give place to those who can do SO con-
scientiously. It is very different with
a State institution in which all the
people are concerned. There can be no
prescription there, without wrong. no
restraint applied that VIII not offend
some of the supporters.
The red-hot abuse that the free sill
yer and Populistic organs are shower
ing upon the Trustees of Brown is not
justified. Very different is their tone
concerning certain other actions rela
tive to teaching. In Kansas the Popu-
lists have reformed the faculty OF the
State University. bouncing out those
who do not embrace Populistic ideas,
and supplanting them with ayowed
Populist teachers. So, too, in Oregon,
the State University is being reformed
10 meet the ideas of Bryanite propa-
gandists But we hear of no loud
complainings and cries of martyrdom
on that account. It seems right enough
to the radicals to take State institu-
tions in hand, and make their economic
teachings conform to the shibboleth of
political partisans Notwithstanding
the taxpayers who support these insti-
tutions are divided IN political belief,
and one or the other large body Of
them must feel outraged that their
money is used to teach what they hold
20 be economic heresies.
Up in Oregon the trouble was that
the faculty used standard textbooks
which fail to teach that the fiat of the
Government can make four and half
cents worth of silver as valuable as a
legal tender dime. Had the faculty in
troduced Coins Financial School, as
textbook, there would have been no
kicking from the irreconcilables. But
these objectors in Oregon, and in the
case of Brown University exclaim lus-
tily against poisoning the fountain
heads of learning by the reprimand
administered to President Andrews.
But this attempt to make a martyr
Of DR.. Andrews appears to US futile
and silly. The men who built, en-
dowed and support Brown University
have unquestionably the right to say
what doctrines shall be taught in that
school No one is compelled to send
youth to the institutional is purely a
matter of choice. It follows, therefore,
that the principles of free speech, free
thought and of freedom generally must
protect and defend the Trustees.
Dr.. Andrews need not wear a muz-
zle The land is wide and free and he
is at perfect liberty to teach just what
he believes. but he cannot and proba
bly, does not put himself in the ridlcu-
leus attitude of a man who demands a
salary from a body of people for teach
ing what that body believes to be er-
ror, just as honestly as Brown believes
to the contrary.