The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-02

Rev. George +. Horr, Colgate Hoyt
and William V. Kellen.
The subcommittee finally submitted
the following which was endorsed by the
corporation and communicated TO Presi-
dent Andrews.
REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL.
To the President of Brown University:
The corporation of Brown University
has this day received, with the greatest
regret your resignation as president. It
most earnestly desires that you will with
draw it, It conceives that il was written
without full knowledge of the position
OF the corporation. With the earnest hope
that statement ny it, tearing the formal
sanction and approval of the governing
body OF the university as whole,
mny bring us again into hearty accord.
the corporation desires TO assure you that
it in no way sought or desired the
severence of cur official relations, which,
so far as 10 knows, have been most cordial
from the Time Of your acceptance of the
presidency of the university. The only
vote and only expression hitherto made
by the corporation, bearing upon the
question at issue was at the last June
meeting, and consisted of the appointment
OF a committee to ",onfer with you
as TO the interests of tho university.
The extent of authority thus given its
committee was that of conference which
1t fully believes you would unhesita-
tingly admit was a Legitimate and
friendly exercise of its privilege, relat-
ing, in tho terms of the vote, TO the inter-
ests of the university which you and the
corporation have closely at heart.
1t is perfectly true that the vote in ques-
tion was occasioned by the differing
views entertained on tho one hand by
you and on the other by most and prob
ably oil OF the N EN- bers of the corpora
al lx..f "A
Of silver by the United States SO far at
least as affecting the interests of the
university and the fear that your views
with reference TO it, publicly known or
expressed, might perhaps in some degree
be assumed to be representative and not
merely individual. 10 was not and is not
the purpose of the corporation in this
matter to interfere with or abridge your
Independence of individual thought or
expression.
NO REBUKE INTENDED.
II was not in our minds to prescribe
tho path in which you should tread, or to
administer to you any official rehuke, OF
to restrain your freedom Of opinion, or
reasonable liberty of utterance. but
simply To intimate that IL would bo the
part OF wisdom for you to take "a less ao-
tive part In exciting partisan discussions,
and apply your energies more exclusively
TO the affairs Of the college.
Having. as it believes, removed the
misapprehension that your individual
views on this question represent those of
tho corporation and the university, for
which misapprehension you are not re-
sponsible andswhich it knows you. too
would seek to dispel, the col poration,
affirming it's rightful authority To con
serve "the interests of the university at
all times, by every honorable means, and
especially desiring to avoid, In the con
duct or the university, tho imputation
even Of tho consideration of party ques-
tions, or Of the dominance of any class
but that in the language of its charter
"in this liberal and catholic institution
all members hereof shall forever enjoy
full, free, absolute ami uninterruDted
liberty Of conscience, which includes
freedom of thought and expression, ID can
not feel that tho divergence of views up
on the silver question" and OF. its effect
upon the university between you and tho
members Of the corporation is an ado-
quate cause OF separation between us, for
the corporation Is profoundly apprecia-
tive of the great services you have rem
dered tho university, and OF YOU saori-
flee ana love for IL. 1t therefore renews
its assurance Of highest respect for YOU,
ana expresses the confident hope that you
wilt withdraw your resignation.
Tho corporation then adjourned subject
TO the call OF the secretary, Rev. Thomas
ID. Anderson.