The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-03

Providence, r. l., Aug. AN open
letter addressed to the corporation of
ficers of Brown university by members
of the faculty of that institution is the
latest development of public interest
in relation to President Andrews
resignation. The letter was mailed to-
day to the trustees and fellows and to
some so lay and regular members of
the faculty. In substance, the ad-
dress says that the resignation of
President Andrews followed as a d.
rect and natural consequence of the
action of the corporation of June II,
and that Brown university now stands
in an unfortunate position.
More is involved. the letter states,
than the exigencies of a single insti-
tuition or the fortunes of a single edu-
Gator. Recognizing that the corpora
ton has not been alone in thinking
and saying that DR.. Andrews freedom
of speech ought to be restrained, we
beg leave to combat the proposition,
wherever and by whomsoever main
tanned, that official action leading to
restrain his expressions on public af-
fairs is justified on the lower ground
of pecuniary necessity and advantage,
and it lacks all justification when con-
from which the educational institutions
of great country ought always to
be guarded.
IF income be a fit criterion, then DIR.
Andrews is entitled TO be regarded as
in a pecuniary sense the greatest t,ene-
factor Brown university ever had.
More than half its income is beyond
doubt due to him and his labors. If
restraint of President Andrews cannot
1,a dc of
pecuniary results, still less defensible
does not appear when viewed on high
er grounds. General arguments for
freedom Of speech it is not necessary
to repeat, especially in Rhode Island,
where the right for freedom for $50
years has been cherished with peculiar
jealousy. If the resignation of Dr. An
drews is accepted, the burden and stig-
ma falls on his successor. 1t would
stamp the institution in the eyes Of
the country as one in which freedom
of thought is not permitted when it
runs counter to the views CT the COM
munity or held by those from whom
the college expects financial support.
Reference is made to the details of
the corporation meeting, at which
President Andrews was requested to
forbear in the future from the promul-
CATION of his free coinage of silver
intended TO have the vote of the cor
ooration made public.
Private and individual remonstrance
is one thing" it is declared by the fac
ulty, but motion of the sort describ-
ed by the body which appoints presi-
dent is, we submit, a very different
thing. 1t is open TO the gravest objec-
lions and rests upon the theory, which,
if extensively acted >uDon. would eat
the heart out OF our educational insti-
tutions-the theory that the material
growth of the university is of more i'm
portance than in thought and express
sion on the part of its president and
professor, and that boards OF
trustees have, as such. the
right to suggest limitations upon such
independence.
TT is not TO be believed, and we are
far from believing, that this theory, IN
all it's amplitude, was present 10 the
minds Of your honorable body on the
occasion named and distinctly accept,
ed by the committee. But the logical
between that theory and
the concrete action taken is, on consld-
Grafton, so plain and has found so COM
plete a Judgment in the public MIND, TO
the manifest injury of the university,
that we respectfully beg you TO take
again into consideration the principles
involved. at your ensuing meeting, 10
take that action which alone can per
manently relieve Brown university
from all suspicion Of illiberality or
bias
The letter was signed by the most
men connected with the uni
versity. including Benjamin Clark, b.
+. Jameson. Herman c. Bumpus,
Courtney Langdon, John NJ. Manly,
otis F. Randall, George G.. Wilson. Ed
mund 3. Delabarre, ]. Irving Manatt,
Walter C. Bronson, Walter G. Everett.
II. L. Koopman, Carl Barus, Henry
p. Manning, Hammond Lamont, John
z. Hill, James Q. Dealy, Waiter B.
Jacobs, Charles F. Kent, Edward {.
A D. Palmer, jr., Albert
D. Mead and Louis F. Snow