The herald., 1897-08-29
Y$$$$$$$S$$$$$$43394
: PLAIN TRUTHS FROM AFAR ;
xeA&AAe&&A&AA&A&S4AAA&A&Ax
The London Spectator Reviews sThe
Aggression of American Wealth"

public by the literary bureau of the
party who supported Mr.. Bryan for the
presidency. The writer of this letter as
serted that none of the instructors in
the colleges of the eastern states were
free to speak on the financial question.
He cited by name several instances of
academic tachers who had been silenced
by the wealthy men who rule the coll
leges, or at least who rule many of
them, and he went on to specify DR.. e.
Benjamin Andrews, the president of the
Brown university, who has been for
years very strong bimetallist, and who
was, we believe, the sole academic
teacher or official in the eastern states
who supported the candidature of Mr..
Bryan. According to the writer we are
quoting it was privately asserted by
well known professor of political econ
omy that president Andrews must GER
tainly be forced out of the presidency
of Brown university" What was pre-
dicted nine months ago has apparently
come to pass, for it seems that DR..
Andrews has been forced into resigna-
ton that could scarcely have been volun-
tary, and which has made such a stir
that expressions of indignation were
heard even In so uncongenial an atmos-
phere as that of the senate chamber of
the United States. 1t may be said that
Brown university is situated in Provi-
dence, the capital of Rhode Island,
which, by strange freak of fortune, is
the state founded by Roger Williams to
secure that mental freedom denied by
the stern Puritans of Massachusetts
bay. The university is an old founda-
tion but 1t has recently made great
strides, and it has come to the front
largely through the able administration
of the very man who is now forced to
sever his connection with it. DR.. An
drews Is so important and recognized an
authority on finance that he was ap-
pointed by President Harrison dele
gate to the Brussels monetary confer
ence. and his work in favor of bimetal-
lism has been regarded as the best ex-
ponent. of that side Of the currency con-
troversy in the United States. He is
also a man of wide learning, powerful
intellect and the very highest character.
| If the case of DR.. Andrews stood alone,
| if it had not been heralded by the strik-
| ing document issued during the presi-
Dental campaign, If it were at all prob
able that a very successful admins
prime of life, position which he had
been filling with singular success, moth
ing more need be said. But the case of
Dr. Andrews does not stand alone. Dur
ing the last ten or a dozen years many
rich men have secured no little renown
by endowing either new or existing col
leges and universities in the United
States The American College Year Book
Ill to
the income and resources of the numer-
Gus seats of learning in the United
States, and from it's pages we discover
that immense gifts by wealthy men nave
raised some of the leading American uni
versities to heights of affiuence which
might we'll excite the envy of Oxford and
Cambridge. Among others, the new
University of Chicago is conspicuous.
Its chief benefactors are Mr. Rookie
Teller, head of the Standard Oil cor
poration, and another gentleman
less known to those who watch
the American millionaires The bene-
factors Of the University of Chicago are
largely interested in gas companies.
Among the teachers in the university was
Professor Edward w. Bemis VINO Wig
orously denounced certain private mo-
nopolies, and who advocated the NUM-
cipalizlng of gas and all other pupnc
services in the hands of private corpora
tions. Though no fault had been found
with him as teacher, he was, neverthe-
less, summarily dismissed; and as he, mad
been threatened before the bolt fell, II
was assumed in Chicago and allover the
| United States (the case attarcting gen.
eral attention) that the advocacy OF mu-
nicipal gas and the dismissal of its ad-
vocate were related as cause and erect
| If, therefore, we connect the cases OF
| Dr. Andrews and Prof. Bemis and II we
still further recall the prediction made
| last year, we can scarcely escape the
conclusion that conspiracy exists in
America to interfere with freedom or
teaching in the universities, so far as
economic questions are concerned. We
may add that in the University OF Wis
consin the charge Of Anarchist" was
brought against so well known writer
and teacher as Professor Richard L. Ely,
who, so far from being an Anarchist,
| is leading member Of the Christian
Social union connected with the Epis-
copal church, and whose head in Eng
land is DR.. Wescott, bishop of Durham.
The absurd charge was solemnly investi-
gated by the regents of the university
and dismissed There Is good prima-
facie ground for believing that the heads
of the trusts in the. United States have
determined to lay their hands on the uni
versities and to control the economic
| teaching given there, so that nothing
shall be uttered that has not the hall
mark of monopolist approval.
How serious is the condition thus ere
ated for the American people is
apparent to every one. The nation
which, like Brutus, worshiped Liberty" I"
like him finds it a shade. The nation
which strated on its great career with
republican formulas taken almost di-
rect from the "Contrat Social" is re-
| duced almost to the situation in which
Russia finds herself. In one case aca-
demic censorship is exercised by public
officials, in the other by wealthy mag
mates who have "cornered" all the chief
necessaries of daily life To be sure
American liberty" has always been
found consistent with not a lit
tie of practical tyranny. In the
old slavery days not single
church or college south Of "Mason's and
Dixon's line" and only few north Of
that boundary, dared utter word of
protest against the traffic in human
flesh Even today theological thought
is far less free than in Western Europe
.,d eor,o raoopt procarutiOpc of ah1a