The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-15
THE FRUITS OF KILGoIsM.

THE FRUITS OF KILGOISM.
Websters Weekly.
We remarked last week that Prof Bas-
sets performance was the logical out
come of the Kilgo-Duke idea. We did not
have time to elaborate the thought. The
more we have reflected upon it the more
clearly has it presented itself to our mind
that Prof. Bassett is merely carrying out
the principle enthroned at Trinity College.
Trinity several years ago, to all practical
intents and purposes, cut loose from the
Methodist Church in everything except
name. It's president Boosted of its indie
pendence in a newspaper interview IN
South Carolina in 1898. 1t proposed to
seek the truth for it's own sake and no
longer be the slave of denominationahsm
In an address at Greensboro in May, 1901
DR.. Kilgo reiterated this conclusion as
fundamental and gave his views as to
what the college ought to stand for. He
was reported in the Raleigh Post of date
May 10, 1901. to this effect;
He spoke of the high ideal that had
been set before Trinity-freedom of
action and independence of thought,
the seeking of the truth as it exists
being the object of the instruction
given there Southern colleges, he
said, had been controlled by two inter-
ests. the State and the church. The
State institution was the ward of poll
ties and the church college the ward
of conference, a convention or a
synod. The institutions were surround
ed by such atmosphere of provincial
ism that it was impossible for them to
expand and develop as they should.
If, perchance spirit of independence
began to assert itself, the wrath of q
dominant political party might be in
voked and a legislature would threaten
the withdrawal of an appropriation.
If an instructor stood up for the truth
as he saw it and advanced new idea,
had his mouth closed before the young
citizens in an example of free speech
suppressed. The same conditions have
existed in the church institutions,
and out Of that atmosphere the world,
the church and society have gotten
timid men, men untitled for leadership
in a world OF action. "The church
college," said DR.. Kilgo. has been
slave to its constituency as a result
of its poverty.
Speaking of the Dukes donations of
over 100000 to Trinity, DR.. Kilgo
said it took him eighteen months to
induce Mr. Washington Duke to do
ANYTHING for the college. He found
that the only idea with which Mr..
Duke ever had any sympathy was
free institution, an institution so free
that student might hold to any polit-
x,,oIr, he ft
long as he believed what he did well
enough to tolerate the belief of others.
The idea that influenced Mr.. Duke in
making his donations, sad DR.. Kilgo,
was a desire to assist in freeing the
fettered thought and spirit of South
ern manhood. Continuing he said:
whenever l can make Mr.. Duke see
that l can take 100000 and do some
thing along this line, I get the hun
dred thousand
Here we have it without any frills Oh
ruffes that the bane of Southern col
leges heretofore has been their depend
'ence upon churches and legislatures, tina
they have been cramped and afraid, anC
the men they have turned out have beef
united for leadership. Mr.. Duke has
by his large donations, lifted Trinity ou
of this condition. 1t took Dr.. Kilgt
eighteen months to get him to do any
thing for the college, and the only ides
he ever had any sympathy with was II
assist in freeing the fettered thought anC
spirit OF Southern manhood. ''Whenevel
can make Mr.. Duke see that I can take
$1,000 and do something along this line
l get the hundred thousand" There i
is
And what has Bassett done but exercis,
the independence that Mr.. Duke purchas
ed for the whole push? He looks a.
Booker Washington and sees what he ha
done in inducing wealthy Yankees tx
build and endow college, marvellous
achievement in his eyes, and forthwith
writes him down not simply as the great
est negro, but as being ahead of all the
white folks with the single exception o.
Robert e. Lee, born i'll the South in the
last hundred years. 1t is simply carrying
out Kilgos doctrine of freeing the fet-
tered thought and spirit of Southern man
hood. Don't understand US as affirming
that Kilgo believes Booker Is the biggest
man in the South. He told old man Duke
five years ago that he was the greatest
man North Carolina ever produced
Whether he shares Bassett's views OF not
we can't say Our point is that Duke
money has made it possible for Trinity
teacher OF history to fling defiance IN the
face of Southern ideals and call on the
young men of the South to forsake the
faith of their fathers and worship at the