The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-12-08

no, 10 nunish the expression of opinions
| because they are contrary TO those gen
| orally accepted.
And. If this issue appeals to US directly
a. professors in an American college, 1t
| appeals TO US no less strongly as clti-
zens OF North Carolina and as members
Of a Southern community. As North
| Carolina claims from her Mecklenburg
| Declaration precedence in our national
movement for political independence and
| freedom, so may she find in your decision
| reason TO claim among her sister states an
honorable distinction IN the struggle Tor
| freedom of speech. As a Southerner OF
national. Of international reputation has
written in a private letter TO one OF our
number, you have the opportunity 70
make a decision which will be the most
important event in history of North Caro-
lima in our time: for free speech and free
teaching will be won there for all time to
come More than that, there IS a ques-
ton in the mind of the world whether
there is genuine freedom OF speech
throughout the South. This college has
now the opportunity to show that her cam
pus is un1eniably one spot on Southern
soil where mems minds are free, and TO
maintain that the social order OF the South
need not be shielded from criticism be
cause it has no reason to fear 1t, because
it is not too weak to bear 1t.
But the immediate concern of your hon
orable body is for the welfare of Trinity
College. We who are day by day giving
our lives to her service can scarcely be
wanting in solicitude on that score. We
realize with you that we may be in danger
of losing students, perhaps of losing friends
but we are willing to risk our future
standing on the great principle OF free
speech and to accept all the
of this choice. For we believe that our
chance to build up here eventually a great
institution among the colleges of the
world will be far better if we stand for
truth and freedom than if we silently con-
sent to yield our minds to any sort of
intellectual bondage. There is, we con-
ceive, a widespread misconception of the
true nature of college teaching which, OIL
this question of academic freedom has mis-
led many honest minds. 1t is by many
thought to be the business and practice
of college professors to lnculcate opinions
on controverted subjects. Such is neither
the right nor the accepted practice. Il
is the constant effort of every enlightened
professor to help and to encourage young
men to form their own opinions from a
fair examination of all available sources
of Information. That certainly is the con-
ception of their business and their duty
which prevails among this faculty. Trim
ity College has many claims upon our af-
lection. The thought of her ever increas-
ing usefulness, the vision Of her future,
is to US all a daily inspiration. But it
is because she has been thought to rest
upon a broad foundation, because she has
stood for the open mind, because she has
sought only after the knowledge OF what
is true, because she has been willing to
accept and defend the truth in the face
of all narrowing inf1uences-lt IS precisely
for these reasons that she has already
come to hold a good place among the
higher institutions of learning. This rep
utation is a priceless possession. To lose
it would be a calamity, to throw it away
would be objectionable folly. Money,
students, friends, are not for one moment
to be weighed in the balance with toll
erance, with fairness, and with freedom.
Surely to preserve for Trinity this char
acter and this reputation we should be
strong enough to resist the clamor of the
open enemies of the college and to rise
above what seems to be the mistaken de-
mands of some of her friends.
The undersigned, therefore, member of
the faculty of Trinity College, in all sim
cerity, and with all the emphasis they can
command, urge upon your honorable body
to decline to accept the resignation of
Prof. Bassett. We urge you to say of
Trinity College what Thomas Jefferson,
the founder of American Democracy said
of the institution which he esta blished:
This institution will be based upon the
illimitable freedom of the human mind.
For here We are not afraid to follow
truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate
error SO long as reason is left free to
combat it."
Signed: William H. Pegram, Robert L.
Flowers, w. I. Crawford, Edwin Minis, A..
H. Merritt, W. P. Few, C. w. Edwards,
William H. Glasson, William F. Gill,
Plato T. Durham, John C. Ransmeier, Al
bert M. Webb.
Signed in order Of official seniority by
every member of the faculty except one,
who IS and for several days, has been out
of town. Membership in the faculty is
limited to teachers with the title of pro-
lessor or associate professor.
PRESIDENT KILGO ENDORSED.
The last act Of the trustees before ad-
journing for the session was to pass the
following resolution:
Whereas, IN the newspapers and other
public discussions of the Bassett episode
unwarranted attacks have been made or
the president of Trinity College; there
fore be it
Resolved, by the Board Of Trustees
OF the college that it gladly takes this op-
portunity to again express its absolute
confidence in DR.. Kilgo and it's abundant
satisfaction with his administration of
the affairs of the institution.
"R. l.. DURHAM,
"W. R.. ODEIAL,
Committee"
Daaan az 4ha Gnid;ran Kainh&e