The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-01-24
THE STANFORD ROW.

whether in dealing with difficulties
such as have occurred boo that institu-
ton there has been shown The utmost
lack of tact. and President Jordan has
pricked the bubble Of "a reputation
which many men have thought for
long time was an inflated one. on not
opinions may differ It is easy work
managing "a ship when au is smooth
sailing, but it is when "a ship is ON lee
shore. and things look blue Co every
body that true seamanship comes i'm. IL
President Jordan is such one. Doc win
be remembered when he is remember
ed at ALL as a fine weather sailor whose
nerve gave out when "a storm came ON,
and who preferred the flesh pots Of an
easy salary under the domination of
prejudiced woman, to the honorable
distinction of resignation when his
place really became untenable.
But there is another view which may
be taken. and which doubtless many
will take. President Jordan may have
thought that by opportune yielding in
a matter where many believed that
academic courtesy and not the principle
he might save the University with it's
rich endowment TO a future Of USEFUL
ness through academic freedom If
the Ross incident had been alone, it IS
probable the immutabilty of the Uni
yersity would have triumphed over the
heetng interest IN the incident, and
Dr Ross and his manner of leading the
University would have been forgotten.
But the Ross incident did not stand
alone. The principle OF freedom was
too vitality involved and there were too
many men I'm the faculty devoted to
that principle. The result cannot fail
TO be disastrous To- the University and
to the reputation Of President Jordan.
Certainly the friends Of President )or-
dan, and they are legion, viii hope that
81 may be shown that he did not sacri-
flee the principle Of academic freedom
through any unworthy weakness; but
that his error was I'm hoping that both
the University and the principle might
be preserved.
In the Territory of Hawaii we have
considerable interest in Stanford Uni
Versity, because We have many gradu-
ates from that institution in our midst,
some Of our young men and women are
there for educational purposes, and
more have been planning to go.
It is evident that there is an utter
miscOnception as 10 what a university
should be in the minds which dominate
Stanford II Stanford had announced
at the outset that it was TO be gagged
university, that only certain lines Of
thought would be allowed there itwould
have taken its place along side insti-
buttons OF a similar KIND, instead Of
being a university II would be a college.
There is no reason why any one should
not found a college, and tie il up inde-
Hn,terV 70 certain peculiar views, We
have Baptist Colleges, Jesuit Colleges,
Episcopal Colleges and 50 forth Every
one of these has its right to repress
any particuarism and exploit IT. own.
But a university Is a totally different
affair The various chairs in the uni
Yersity are 10 expound the truth as far
as in them lies, without regard 10 reli-
gious, or any other kind Of views.
A university, as a rule, gets reputa-
ton for some speciality. Some have
the reputation for many specalties.
Thus men can go TO one for the study
Of Eastern languages to another for
the most excellent mathematical train
ing, 10 another for the most thorough
classical course, to another for the
most enlightened views upon sociology
D.. nh, tai
upon these subjects are untrammelled.
Their very freedom makes them able 10
make the mark which the institution
benefits by
Requests to places Of learning should
be left without any string. If the
string is kept I'm the hand Of the donor
the institution had better struggle on
without the money. Well conducted
working honestly for free thought, the
university however poor will even
tually rise. 1t is some times wise Il
avoid the flesh pots Of Egypt.
Leland Stanford j. University wal
raised as a monument 10 the dead soI
OF an extremely successful and wonder
fully wealthy man. 1t did seem at thu
time of it's foundation that IT was
magnificent bequest. II was as far al
money was concerned, but great men
tai elevation and education are at time
utterly opposed 10 accumulated wealth
and to the methods by which it ha
been obtained. AS far as one can judge
Mrs Stanford holds the facult.
Of the university from President Jorda
down to the janitors with a noos
round their necks and objects to an
criticism upon the methods by whic
wealth is obtained and in fact woul
like 10 set up a set Of economies 0
her own. But the men who have bee
attracted TO this Western Catafalqu
Of a dead milionaire's son, under tn
impression that it is a university ar