Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-08-12
Not a Case Of Martyrdom.

Has an instructor, minister an
editor, the president of bank or of a
college, a right TO use his position to
give currency and authority to his views
without being open to suggestion from
those who have placed him in his posi-
ton and who have afforded him the op-
portunity of making his views widely
known and Of clothing them with in
tluence?"
This is the question that Dean II. l.
Wayland asks those members of the
Brown University faculty who are en-
deavoring to make a political martyr
out of ex-Prcsdent Andrews. and
it is one that they have not as yet
undertaken to answer. AS a matter of
fact good deal of superlluous SYM
pathy has been wasted upon this man
Andrews. As plain T.. Benjamin An
age, or any other question, would have
attracted little attention. 1t was SIM
ply the title of president of Brown
University" conferred upon him by the
trustees of that institution, that Sc
cured his opinions any considera BILE
audience. That title was conferred
upon him for the performance of GER
tain educational duties in connection
with an old established institution of
learning, and not for the purpose Of
affording him the strength and in
fluence of a conspicuous and honored
tenets of political doctrine repugnant
alike to the friends, the officials and
the alumni of the university. 1t would
be difficult to estimate the damage
done to Brown University by President
Andrews open and widely adver-
| tised advocacy of the free and I'M
| limited coinage of silver at a ratio
of l6 to /. II must be remembered
| that practically all of the men
| ally would constitute the undergrad
yates Of that institution, regard the
advocacy of this indefencible doctrine,
as the advocacy of reputation for just
debts-public and private.
The feeling among this class of men
was intense. They saw in doctrines
advocated by President Andrews, with
all the weight that attached to his
position. a menace to their property
|
evident that SO long as he remained nj
the head of Brown University, these
men could not be depended upon. as in
years past. to give the institution their
support, or to send their sons to enjoy
its educational advantages. There are
many strong colleges in the east and
there was nothing in the world to com
pei any business man ia send his son
to the only one of them, where an ad-
vocate of the free and unlimited coinage
of silver at fictitious ratio just double
it's ratio in the markets ofthe world was
| These considerations might have had
no weight with those self constituted
| apostles of free speech who are has
tening to proclaim Mr.. Andrews po-
litical martyr; but they had consider
| able weight. and very properly so. with
the men intrusted with directing the
affairs of Brown University. These
men had the interests of Brown Uni
versity deeply at heart Most of them
We're almuni of that institution. They
were men of breadth. of character, OF
culture. for in spite of the vehement
and gusty protests" that have come
/ from Mugwump sources. the plain and
undeniable fact remains that by NJ
means all of these qualities associated
with the management of Brown Uni.
versity reposed under the hat of Presi.
dent Andrews.
There is. too, another and an impor-
tant consideration which it was proper
for the trustees of Brown University tc
weigh. This institution is not sup.