Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-08-05

sity, was a pronounced advocate Of
free silver, Fearing that his con-
nection with the institution would
iujure il, the board OF directors asked
for his resignation, This action has
caused a vigorous protest from his
friends, The situation is as shown
below:
An open letter addressed to the COR
poration Of Brown university by men,
bers Of the faculty OF that institution
is the latest development Of public
interest in relation 10 President AN
drsws' resignation. The letter was
mailed Tuesday TO trustees and fell
lows and to some 80 lay and regular
members ofthe faculty. In substance
the address says that the resignation
OF President Andrews followed as a
direct and natural consequence Of the
action of corporation Of June II, and
the Brown university now stands in an
unfortunate position.
IF we are not mistaken" the letter
states, "more is involved than the ex-
igencies OF q single institution or the
fortunes Of a single educator.
"Recognizing that the corporation
has not been alone in thinking and
saying that DR.. Andrews freedom Of
speech ought TO be restrained, we beg
leave 10 combat the proposition,
wherever and by whoever maintained,
that official action leading to restrain
his expressions on public affairs 10 JUS
titled on the lower ground Of pecuni-
airy necessity and advantage; and it
lacks all justification when considered
from that higher point Of view from
which the educational institutions Of
a great country ought always to be
guarded.
1T income be o fit criterion then
DR.. Andrews is entitled to be regard
ed as, in pecuniary sense, the great
est benefactor Brown university ever
had. More than half it's income 10
beyond doubt due to him and bis
labors. II restraint Of President An
drews cannot be justified on these
lower grounds Of pecuniary results,
still less defensible does 10 appear
when viewed from higher ground.
The general arguments for freedom Of
speech it is not necessary 10 repeat,
least OF all, in Rhode Island, whore
the right Of such freedom has for 26O
years been cherished with peculiar
jealousy. II the resignation Of Dr.
Andrews is accepted, the burden and
the stigma falls on his SUCCESSOR. II
would stamp the institution in the
eyes Of tho country as one in which
freedom Of thought is not permitted,
when it runs counter to the views OF
the community or held by those from
whom the college expects financial
support"
Reference is. made to the details Of
the corporation meeting OF which
President Andrews was requested to
forbsar in the future from the pro.
mitigation OF his free coinage Of silver
views, and it is declared that il was
not intended TO have the vote Of the
corporation made public.
Private and individual yemon-
STRANGE is one thing" il is declared by
the faculty. ''But action Of the sort
described by the body which appoints
presidents is, we submit, very differ
ent thing. til opened to the grsvest
objections, and rests upon a theory
which, il Extensively acted upon, would
eat the heart out OF our educational
institutions-the theory that the ma
terial growth Of 3 university is Of
more Importance than independence
OF thought and expression on the part
Of it's president and professors, and
that boards Of trustees have, as such,
the right to suggest limitations upon
such independence.
1T is not to be believed, and yet we
are far from believing that this theory
in AL Its amplitude was pFe0entto the
minds Of yoEr honorable body on the
occasion named and DISTINCTLY accept
cd by them. But the logical connec-
ton between that theory and the con.
cert action taken is, on consideration
so plain that il baa found a complete