The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-07

have reasonable limitations dependent
upon his position In society, In associa-
tion with other men.
1t certainly IL "the decree OF God that
truth and error shall be loose In the nelu
TO grapple and 20 conquer. but ~ is also
the decree of God that those set In de-
fense as they see It, as is this corporation,
shall not install or keep error at the altar
OF truth
The suggestion in the open letter OF cer-
tain members OF the faculty, that the cor,
poration. as such. may enter the politicai
arena in contest with its president 10
absolve itself from boing used in support
of political and moral error, indicates
that tho signers were not wholly blind TO
the necessity OF some action by the cor
poration In defense Of what thoy hold TO
be truth"
NO JUSTIFICATION.
The further statement that political
compliance Is demanded of Dr. Anrews
by the corporation, has no justification
in the action of the corporation or IN any
word spoken by any member OF it. Such
intemperate assertions show that tne
writer of the open letter did not appronch
his subject In "a judicial spirit ana that
the sigDers did not carefully weigh its
words The corporation feel that the con
sequences involved In the question at
issue between President Andrews and
the corporation far transcends In impor-
tance any questions upon which the great
historic political parties In the country
grew up.
NO DESIRE TO RESTRAIN.
There was no purpose or desire on the
part of the corporation THAT its president
should be officially restrained" It as
sumed that he would be disposed TO think
the whole body of his most intimate and
official friends might possibly be right
and that he would be advised by them In
the matter with which they were OIL
cially charged.
Certainly the corporation would be
humiliated TO find that any professor.
much more its president. did not feel he
had perfect liberty of utterance upon
all public question, but this liberty OF
its presiden: and Of every person officially
connected with it, as of every officer In
an organized body. does not absolve the
corporation from (being humiliated by or
proud Of, as the case may be- and being
very largely responsible for the general
trend of the public and college teaching
OF Its representatives.
WORK MARRIED BY POLITICS.
Tho experience OF the centuries has
proved that like churches and their
ministers, who represent them. institu-
tions of learning and their presidents and
professors have the positions OF most oom-
manding influence for good or Ill of any
In the world. and that they invariably
mar that work when they turn aside TO
meddle.in current politics. whether right
or wrong. and that they do incalculable
damage when wrong.
The only safe source of income TO n
university is mainly from its invested
funds Brown cannot long prosper or
even exist. as President Andrews carried
It, himself being judge.
Fearing the most disastrous conse-
quenoes from this Misunderstanding of
the action OF the corporation and possible
defeat Of its most conservative purpose,
by President Andrews and mem bers OF the
faculty. the members of the corporation
can only most sincerely pray for the con.
tinued and enlarged work of the univer-
sity which has the most sincere love of
every one OF its mem bers
j. III. WALKER.
New Hampton, N. H., Aug. 6, 1897.