The evening Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-1902, 1902-08-13
PROFESSORS >.!::l
FREEDOM.

passed through the lower grades or
instruction, ETC., has been deemed
worthy to make full professor,
and has received what in college
circles is regarded as permanent
appointment that is, an appoint
ment with no definite time limit,
may fairly be regarded as seeker
after truth, and not simply hire
ling, whose chief aim is to draw his
pay and hold his chair. Since such
q man, SO far at least as many of
the subjects of his investigation are
concerned, has no bible to guide
him, to what standard must he
bring his ideas to test their truth OF
fallacy9 To some book9 What book
other than the Bible is regarded in
the civilized world as infallible' To
q mani What man except the Pope
and he only in religious matters, is
regarded as infallible2 May he with
perfect assurance, test his conclu-
eions by public opinion? Though
we have saying with which l in
the main agree that ''the voice of
the people is the voice of God" we
all know that public opinion is in
some instances frightfully wrong,
as the Puritans in their opinion and
treatment of the so-called witch
craft. And worthy of respect and
respected as is a board of trustees,
they will disclaim infallibility for
themselves.
Some time since gentleman who
has amassed about million of dol
lars, said to me, pointing to his head
''when question as to business
move comes up, l refer it to this
and do what it says" And he was
right We may seek all the infor-
4, maticn, all the advice, all the auth
iority we can find and give it all due
weight, but, ii we are men, we must
in the last analysis, decide for our
selves as to what is the truth, es-
recially where truth touches duty.
Imagine professor searching for
truth through the most Intricate
processes of mathematics, or the
most delicate tests of chemistry or
physics, or the profoundest reason
ing processes Of metaphysics, or
even through the full knowledge
and large and varied experience of
the practical educator, and then ask
ing q board of trustees to determine
the truth for him. The very state
ment of the case reveals the absur-
dity of such proceeding. And
yet this is precisely what i'll few
instances, but outside of religious
matters only few, be it said to t he
credit of the college world, boar DIS
of trustees have demanded.
The searcher after truth must be
free in his search, and the discov-
erer of truth must be free in its
= proclamation. A lack OF this free
dom has too often and too long
stopped the wheels of human prog
ress Society has contempt and ns-
glect for the holder Of really per-
nicious opinions; and the laws have
fines and imprisonments for the in
cit0r to wrong deeds. The college
only degraded itself when it reaches
back into the dark ages for gags
and proclamations of Punishment
for its professors.
The college is and ought to be
tho last place where prejudice and
Intolerance should be found. The
college professor rightly viewed is
10 part teacher, in part student
OF the truth already known. in part
a searcher after truth with which
TO widen the circle OF Human knowl-
edge. When we regard the col.
legs as the place where men per-
form these three dutiea under the
impulse OF broad, deep lows Of
human progress, it is evidelt that
the college should be looked npon
as II /, by the best Informed clear
est sighted aud uoblest as after the
bone and il some cases more tn an
the bone the most commanding for.
tress Of liberty the world has 10
oIer. ANY attack upon the lIosrtv
OF that fortress, be it made unwIt-
tlpgly or in a moment OF pre- Judice
or passion by Trend, or with ma.
licious Intent by an enemy should
be resented. These are the prlnci.
pies Oh which the freedom of the
college aud the freedom of the pr O..
fessor rest What OF the practl &C
in college aud university circles
The authorities OF Chicago Uni.
versity passed Oh June 80, 1899 the
following: Resolved tD That the
principle of complete freedom OF
speech on all subjects has free the
beginning been regarded IS funda.
mental in the University Of Chicago
~ has been shown by the attitude
of The President and the Boar Of
Trustees and BY the actual prac.
tice of the President and the pro-
fessors. (2) That this 'prlnclpIe
can neither now nor at any future
time be called In question. 81
That it is desirable to have it clear
ly unders TODD that the university as
such does no: appear as disput.
ant on either SIDE upon any public
question. and that the utterances
which any professor may make IN
public arc 10 he regarded as repre-.
seBting his own opinion only.
President Harper adds neither the
Teustees/ nor the President, nor any
one Of otflclal position, has at any
tiHc called az Instructor to account
fer any public ulteran which he
may have made. The Trustees owe
Tito themselves and 10 the cluse Of
iiberlsy to resign their pI aces rather
than toyield principal the sIguid.
cence Of which rises above all else 10
comparison. II an officer on perman-
ent appointment. abuses his privilege
as q professor, the university must
suffer. The injury thus accruing to
the university Is moreover far less
aar,nuc than would Follow ;f fnr ~