New-York tribune., 1897-07-24
RETIREMENT OF PRESIDENT ANDREWS

Tho RESIGNATION of President Andrews or
Rrowu University in consequence Of action on
the mart of the trustees which was presumably
bo,b eypected and intended to produce that re-
sult IS sure to provoke discussion which VIII
moi be altogether amicable. 1t will be said by
ncrsons in sympathy with the free silver views
of President Andrews, and perhaps by others
also that he has been harshly treated that non
est convictions on the subject Of finance ana
coinage may be not only held but proclaimed
by the head Of an educational establishment
without forfeiture Of that general commence
and GOODWILL upon which his usefulness depends'
and that the virtual dismissal of the man nm
der whose administration Brown has been re-
markably prosperous is striking example ol
narrow -mndedness In the management OF an III
s,ituton of liberal learning. 1t will be said, on
the other hand. and more truly, We think, that
this was essentially question for the trustees
10 decide; that. being vested with control or the
University and consequently with responsibility
for its welfare. they were bound to ascertain
from the evidence in their possession whether
its president was. on the whole, injuring or pro-
noting its interests: that having conscientious
" determined that he was doing more harm
than good 4 was their duty to ask for his resig-
nation. and that this obligation was in nowise
affected by the circumstance that his disability
proceeded from his prOmulgation of financial
opinions which they regarded as erroneous ana
hurtful instead of from some other source
If this latter view Is the right One as we be-
lieve It TO be, ii cannot be applied only TO the
particular case OF Brown University but Is OF
general application. If the trustees OF college
situated In frce-sver State, for example, and
dependent for its prosperity upon the conformity
OF it's teachings with the sentiment OF the COM
munity from which II derived its support, being
themselves firm believers in free silver, should
dismiss a president whose proclamation Of con-
trary views was in their judgment injuring its
welfare, they would be doing their duty as they
saw il. Directors would be at perfect liberty
10 express regret at their lack Of wisdom, and
we do not deny the same liberty TO those who
in the present case are not in sympathy with the
trustees Of Brown. Men in authority must
either abdicate their functions or exercise them
according to their own Judgment and conscience,
and the remedy for a misuse Of power is in the
hands Of those who lawfully confer 1t.
Courteous forms Of speech are sometimes con-
fusing and In this instance it Is not entirely
clear whether the Brown trustees hoped that
President Andrews would forbear 10 promulgate
his financial opinions and retain his Office or
INSIST upon his ptTSOudi pIiNueke Ol Tree speech
and resign. 1t is probable, as have said.
that they desired him to choose the latter al
Tentative, and we are sure that he acted both
wisely and honoraby in doing so. If he had
remained he would have occupied the rather ig-
noble position OF college president under du-
ress, retaining his place by the suppression Of
opinions which he had felt 1t his duty to pro-
claim, and consequently subjectlng himself to
the suspicion that he might be induced TO pro-
claim opinions which he felt 1t his duty to dis
avOw Under such conditions 1t is scarcely pos.
sible that he could have preserved his influence
and his usefulness. 1t is not to be denied that
the situation was a difficult one. From the
frankly material point Of view which the cor
,oration set forth as the basis Of its action 1t
Eas q serious thing to terminate an administra-