The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-12-08
EIGHTEEN SEVEN
THUS THEY VOTED
Senator F. M. Simmons and DR.. T. N. lvey Led the
Fight Against the Retention of Professor
BaSSett.

his followers.
The contest from beginning to end was
quite q sharp one. In his opening speech
Kilgo said that much of the trouble had
been made by newspapers, some OF them
inspired by hostility to him and the col
! lege, and that but for these publications,
he contended. but little notoriety would
have been given to what he characterized
as the useless and foolish utterances OF
! Bassett.
The faculty sent in a lengthy
cation, disappearing the utterances, but
making a plea for freedom of thought.
Kilgo said the students disapprove the ar
ticle, but wish Bassett to be retained.
The two ideas seemed to be that the
agitation was in part unfrlendly to
Trinity College, and in part political, but
that it was essential to the welfare OF
the college that the right of free thought
be preserved, and that by standing firmly
against public clamor and for independent
thought victory could be snatched from
apparent defeat and a great name made
for Trinity.
Senator Simmons, in a mastery speech,
combatted all those propositions with
vigor and ability. 1t is a thousand pities
that a stenographer could not have been
present to take down his speech so that
all North Carolina could read and ap-
plaud. He declared that the press had not
condemned and exploited the article OF
DR.. Bassett out of hostility to the man or
the institution. He said it was lncon-
ceivable that practically the whole press
of the State was of such feeling. The
criticism was not for political reasons,
for the negro was not now a voter, but 1T
was to preserve our civilization and in
response to an imperative demand of our
o.N.ol 1orl,{;O~, ES,oolno f +hn,nh+
was all right, but every man acting in a
representative capacity must in his think
ing and utterances recognize the interest
he represents and his environments. If
a professor in a UNCONVENTIONAL college
taught lnfidellty or other things IN con-
fiict with the cardinal doctrines Of Chris.
~tianity, his right so to think might not
be denied, but his usefulness and accep-
liability as a teacher IN that institution
would end. He insisted, with illustration
and with power, that it was essential in
the South to maintain our position on the
race question. He went on to say that
a professor who taught the Bassett doc
trine sought to undermine the foundation
Of our civilization, and while he might
have the right as an individual. to so
believe and teach his acceptability as an
instructor of Southern youths was at an
end.
Other speeches of like tenor were made
by DR.. Ivey, Col. Bruton, Mr.. Cole, MI.
Bishop, Mr.. Jurney and Mr.. Tyer. Some
of them argued that it was the duty OF
Trinity College to keep no man in the
faculty for whose utterances it was nee
essary to be making apologies and ex-
cuses. A college professor ought not to
be making statements that may bring in
jury to the college and reproach on the
church. The talks were earnest and Wig
orous, but in good tone and temper.
The speeches of the men on the Kilgo
side We're long and elaborate, all stress
iEg the question of liberty of Speech"
and p~raising Bassett, while not endorsing
his views as expressed in his article. But,
while they insisted that their vote would
not be an endorsement, the boys who
measure actions more than they do words,
celebrated DR.. Bassett's 'vindication,' aud
the common remark here today is Or.
Bassett was vindicated by the trustees
last night"
REPORT OF COMMITTEE.
The full text of the resolutions pro
scented by the committee and adopted by
the trustees, is as follows:
I'VE, the BOARD of Trustees of Trinity
College, duly conscious of the charge com
mitted to us, and moved by a single de-
sire to promote those high and beneicent
purposes which the college has seen to
cherish, have at all times exercised our
best care in the tasks belonging to our
office. We have Lad before us the offer
of DR.. John S. BaSsett to resign his pro-
tessorship Of History, and it is made
clear to US that it was not presented out
OF a voluntary decision to sever his con-
, ~nection with the college, but that it was
rendered under coerclve influence from the
outside, and because of a feeling that his
further connection with the college might
bring injury to it. Candor impcl!s US to
admit our regret that Prof. Bassctt has
expressed certain opinions which gave of
Tense to many, and we are glad to find
that these opinions were expressed solely
on his own authority, through a medium
which Is IN no sense an organ OF the col
lege and not at all in his capacity as a
college official, so that neither this board
nor the college can be held responsible
for them.
o the contrary, it clearly appears
that the faculty and the students dis
agree with certain of Prof. Bassett's opin-
lons-so far as we can ascertain, unani-
mously. Neither do we agree with him.
Nevertheless both faculty and students,
with equal unanlmity, have manifested
their desire that this board decline to ac-
cept Prof. Bassett's offer Of his resignG.
ton, and for the following reasons, which
seem to US high and vital, we do decline
to accept 1t:
Il. Any form of coercion Of thought and
private Judgment is contrary to one OF
the constitutional aims of Trinity Col
lege, which is to cherish a sincere spirit
OF tolerance We prefer to ~exemplify this
virtue rather than hastily to set it aside
and thus do violence to a principle great
ly esteemed by all men of noble feeling.
p. We are particularly unwilling to
lend ourselves to any tendency to destroy
or limit academic liberty, a tendency
which has, within recent years, mani
tested itself in some conspicuous Instance,
and which has created a feeling of un-
easiness for the welfare of American cor
leges. Whatever encourages such a ten
dency endangers the growth of higher
education by intimidating intellectual ac-