The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-26
a MAN OF MORAL COURAGE.

a NAN OF MORAL COURAGE.
] Mark Twain tells a good story Of a
man out West, who, while at target
practice one day. accidentally killed a
mule At the report OF the pistol the
! owner Of the mule came out and lad
/ risea" the man who had done the shoot
! ing to purchase the mule, and the; bar
] gain was then and there closed. It was
explained that the man had no use for
| a dead mule. but as the owner had
/ shot gun in his hand whef he advised"
4 him to purchase the argument seemed to
35be unanswerablc, and the price OF The
dead animal was promptly paid over.
1 We are always reminded of this story
/ when informed that the president of some
] Institution 4.as resigned at the request
l of &tiie board. Such a request is, OF
i course, equivalent to a notice to quit, and
| is mere subterfuge It is only a po-
lite way of doing a disagreeable thing.
and while we like politeness in all cases
we do not believe in subterfuge and de-.
ception and humbuggery. We are glad
to know that there is at least one other
man in the South who takes the same
view He was president of a Southern
college, and after long contest between
himself and the board he was requested
to resign. He refused to do SO, and COM
PEELED the board to remove him. In e3-
planning his position he said:
Again it is usually expected that an
Official who foreSees trouble between
himself and a ruling BODY Will Shield
himself and avoid unpleasant ISSUES pS
voluntary withdrawal. J. his course is
50 common as to have become customary.
Strained relations. especially In educa-
tional matters are being thus relieved
continually This method is mutually
advantageous. avoiding trouble. allayins
animosities, adjusting: differences and APP
parentlv smoothing over difficulties: put
it does some other thing not so laudapie,
il ignores principles compromises con-
#Nictions. .salyes sores without meaning
them avoids issues instead of meeting
them, and gives color to the conclusion
that public and private relations may
be administered by the sole rule OF eX-
pedency and unpleasant clashes avoided
Iy polite compromises. This method
brings hardslips upon individuals, setting
them alone against the impersonal and
irresponsible power of corporate agencies,
and putting them at such disadvantage
in any contest that men shrink from the
sone-Sided conflict and its almost certain
result of defeat and ruin to the 1ndi-
-vidual and immunity to the corporation.
Thus it comes about that officials under
fire are almost forced TO accept the OPP
poser's method of so-called resignation.
This form of procedure has become so
usual and apparently SO agreeable that 1t
is no longer felt as a compromise of
principles and a demoralizing sacrifice
OF truth to policy. Such a compromise
j -, rniD
ests of both sides, so conservative of rep
citations. SO grateful to flacerated Efeel-
fnss. that severance Of strained relations
are no longer coca sions of pain and trial.
but assume the favor of mutually COM
plilnentary functions and deeply regret
able paltings. An uninitiated public
might well ask in view of the laudatory
assurances and the garlands Of regretful
resolutions that crown the sacrificiai
brow OF the retiring victim, why should
there be any dissolution of relations be-
tween such complacent of1lcials2 But for
all this, the method is mistaken, mis-
leading false. If resignation is not COM
pletely voluntary it is a lie: and it is
better for all to suffer rather than be-
come parties to such self-delus;on, such |
deception of the public, such falsitication
of facts such sacrifices of principles. |
When such severance results from seri- |
Gus and unrcconciled differences the res
l
But when it comes by reason, as in this |
case. of persistent hostility. relentless OPP |
position. unfair and unjust attacks.
Of strife, and defamation OF |
character on the part of official foes. them
the man thus attacked. who consents to
shelter himself behind this miserable |
n,ake-shift of apparently voluntary, but
really enforced resignation, brands him
self before God and his own conscience
as a coward and a recreant That is why
I did not resign.
Here is the honest expression and here
is the honest act of an honest man. The
board did not want him to continue in
the position which lac occupied and ought |
10 have had the courage to remove him.
He did not intend that the board should
put its responsibility upon him. He de-
termined 10 make the board shoulder its
own responsibility and did SO, and he is
to be commended for his courage and for
the service he has performed in the in
terest OF common honesty. He has setl
an example which we hope will be imi-
tated by others similarly situated.
4