The record-union., 1897-08-03
THE ATTEMPT TO MAKE MAR
TYRS.

A number of our exchanges are re-
peating very harsh and denunciatory
criticism of the Trustees of Brown
University and the University of Chi
Cago, concerning the cases of Professors
Andrews and Bemis. In their articles
it is charged that both teachers owe
their dismissal to the influence and
command of John D. Rockefeller be-
cause the two Professors preach fnan-
cial doctrines which are obnoxious, pre-
sumably to Mr.. Rockefeller. If the
charges were true, there would be some
shadow of reason in the bitter COM
mentaries INDUCED in. The criticism
OF one of these excited journals winds
up with this rolling spasm The blood
boils when one considers the shame Of
it ALL"
1t is bad thing to have the blood
boil; indeed it is dangerous to have the
blood reach the boiling stage; it is not
conducive of comfort, calm judgment
or health. We have no defenses to
make for Rockefeller or any one else,
but we are concerned that neither
Rockefeller nor the veriest pauper
drunkard in the gutter, shall be treat
ed unjustly Let us see then what are
the facts.
President Harper has published let
ter and it has been widely copied, and
was telegraphed at the time in regular
news reports, denying emphatically
that Professor Benis was dismissed be-
cause of his silver views. nor any other
that he entertained. He denies that
Mr.. Rockefeller ordered the dismissal
or had anything to do with it, or that
he even expressed a wish or desire in
the premises. This denial is sweeping
and emphatic and until proof to the
contrary its statements in common JUS
tice must be accepted as true.
on this subject the Evening POST
of Chicago said at the time:
We have the emphatic assurance of
DR.. Harper that Mr.. Rockefeller has
never, by word or hint, attempted to
influence the teaching at the University
of Chicago. He has not only scrupu-
lousy refrained from imposing his
will, but has been solicitous to avoid
even the appearance Of concern in the
economic and political attitude of the
University. This fact is more eloquent
and more significant than volumes of
vague charges and insinuations. Alb
solute freedom of teaching is essential
but freedom means freedom for all
sides, instead of for one. Earnestness is
one thing; fanaticism and dogmatiSm a
different thing. The trouble with
President Andrews is not that he has
taught his own doctrines, but that he
has conveyed the impression that his
doctrines We're the doctrines of Brown
University To ask him to guard
against this is reasonable and in entire
harmony with.the principle of freedom
of teaching.
Concerning the case of Brown Univer-
sity and Professor Andrews we have
the fact that's the University is a pri-
waite institution. 1t receives neither
State nor National aid, and is conduct
ed as its Board of Governors determine.
If they deem a certain line of teaching
of economics and political economy err
roneous, surely they have the right to
make the necessary correction. Let
us suppose for one moment that those
who are so bitter now in abuse of these
Trustees We're all believers in the Bry-
anism of free coinage of silver at the
ratio of Is to /, and that they should
establish a University. That when the
faculty was formed 1t was discovered
that the teacher Of political economy
and fiscal policy was instructing the
students that the. free coinage of silver
was heresy, wrong, unsound and wholly
to be condemned. Does any one sup
pose for single instant that such a
teacher would be RETAINED? Nor should
he be. AS we'll might a silver organ
give it's editor freedom TO write and
print gold standard articles in its col
umns We apprehend that such a
writer would by none be considered a
martyr if dismissed for teaching