Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-03
Unjust Criticism Answered.


Whether DR.. Andrews shall withdraw
his resignation as president of Brown.
University, or whether he shall seek
employment of the proprietor of the
Cosmopolitan Magazine, the act of the
Brown University corporation, request
ing him to withdraw his resignation is
an act of justice to Brown University.
1t cannot be considered an act of JUS
tice to DR.. Andrews unless the sugges-
tons made to him by the board of con-
troll be regarded an injustice to him
This view we are unable to accept
1t is worthy of notice that Congress
man Walker advocated this act of the
corporation but took occasion to state
that the committee of conference re-
garded the suggestions made to DR..
Andrews as private. 1t was Andrews
who made them public and it was
through this publicity that he was en-
abled to pose in the misconception of
very many as martyr on account of
opinions which any American citizen
it was assumed, ought to be permitted
to hold
1t would seem from the publicity
given the whole affair that people gen.
orally should have a clear understand
ing of it. That this was not the case
however. is seen in the fact that it
was deemed necessary for the corpo-
ration to take the step it has in order
to remove from the university the sus-
picion, which some assumed to enter
tain, that the institution was willing 20
impose a gag rule on the views of its
instructors for the sake of securing
financial requests. However incon-
siderately worded the suggestions made
by the board to DR.. Andrews We're and
there is quite prevalent opinion that
they were open to criticism in that re-
spect, the idea that was uppermost in
the minds of those on whom rest the
responsibility of general oversight as
regards that institution, was that An
drews dcsist from PROSECUTING for the
doctrine of reputation in the name If
an institution nearly all of whose
alumni, officers and supporters. be-
lieved that doctrine to be one of the
most dangerous ever advocated in the
political controversies of this nation
Nor is there in the act of the corpora
ton asking Andrews to withdraw his
resignation the change of one iota in
this position OF. those who make Brown
University what it is.
The opinion had got abroad that
Brown University dismissed Andrews
because of his reputation views. He
was not dismissed nor was he asked to
change his views. He was simply told
that the active part he had taken in
the free silver propaganda was injur-
ing the institution, a palpable truth,
the expression of which was a self evil
dent duty, none the less so, because it
may have carelessly been so performed
as to be construed enormously
Now if Andrews remains his power
for mischief as a repudator will be
greatly impaired. Though requested to
remain at the head of that university
he will no longer be able to convey the
impression that he represents it's views
on the matter of the currency Not
long since the chief justice of Hawaii
said: when the advocates of free
silver coinage in the islands are told
that the weight of the intelligence and
the integrft y5of thes American people is
against their views, they never fail TO
reply. Is not Brown University an in
stitution of high standing? It's presi-
dent is with us. " The reply to this in
the future, supposing Andrews retains
his position, will be: THE president
of the university is with you as one
man, but the university, it's sons and
its supporters and the principles on
which it was founded are against you"
1t may furthermore be added that
unless President Andrews realizes the
obligations resting upon him as presi
dent of the institution more fully than
he did when lending his efforts
to the reputation craze his
sphere of usefulness will be greatly
reduced, Once DR.. Andrews recognized
such obligations. but that was before
he became a political martyr" before
his name became coupled with that OF
Bryan as possible candidate for the
presidency of the United States in 1900.
In those, his more modest days, in
reply to a criticism on some of his
utterances he said: DO you not think
it possible for man to speak with a
good deal of freedom while in a com
paratively subordinate position, who
would not bray out his views when
placed in station of larger RESPONSE
bility?" His critic thought so but not