The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-11-17
THE FRUITS OF KILGOISM.

Webster's Weekly.
We remarked last week that Prof. Bias
sets performance was the logical out.
come Of the kilgo-Duke idea. we ala not
have time to elaborate the thought. The
more we nave reflected upon 1t the more
clearly has It presented itself TO our mind
that Prof. Bassett is merely carrying out
the principle enthToned at Trinity College
Trinity several years ago, TO all practical
intents and purposes, cut loose from the
Methodist Church ID everything except
name. It's president tcasted Of its inde-
r~endence III a newspaper interview IN
South Carolina in 1898. Il proposed to
seek the truth for It's own sake and no
longer be the slave Of denominationalisn.
In an address at Greensboro in May. 1901,
DR.. Kllgo 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 IS, 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 il exists
bein. the object of the instruction
given there. Southern colleges, he
said, had been controlled by two inter
cSlS, INC state ana the ClurCD. Inc
state institution was the ward Of poll
tics and the church college the ward
Of a conference, a convention or z
synod. The institutions were surround
cd by such atmosphere OF provincial
ism that it was impossible for them to
expand and develop as they should.
II, ~perchance a 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 1t and advanced a new idea,
had bis mouth closed before the young
citizens III 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
tlmid men, men untitled for leadership
IN a world OF action. The church
College said DR.. Kilgo. has been
2 slave to It's constituency as a result
of It's poverty.
Speaking Of the Dukes donations Of
over $500 900 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 a
free institution, an institution so free
that 4 student might hold to any polit-
ical or religious view he saw fit. SO
long as he believed what he did we'll
enough TO tolerate the belief Of others.
The idea that influenced Mr.. Duke in
making his donations. sad DR.. KiIgo,
was a desire to assist in freeing the
fetterel thought and spirit Of South
ern manhood. Continuing lie said:
whenever | can make Nj. Duke see
that / can take 500, coo aud Go some
thing along this line. get the hun
drcd thousand
Here We have it without any frilIs or
rufhcs that the bane OF Southern col
legcs heretofore has been their depend
upon churches and legislatures, that
they have been crampcd and afraid and
the men they have turned ont have been
for leadership. MIR. Duke has.
by his large donations, lifted Trinity out
Of tins condition II took Dr.. KiIgo
eighteen months to get him to DO any
for the college, and the only idea
he ever had any sympathy with was to
III freeing tho fcttcrcd thought and
OF Southern manhood. "Whcncvcr
l can make Mr.. Duke sec that 1 can take
$4,000 and do something along this line.
| get the hundred thousand There it
is.
And what has Raosctt done but exercise
the Independence that Mr.. Duke purchas
co for the whole push? lie looks at
Booker Washington and see what he has
done IN inducing wealthy Yankees to
build and cndow a college, a marvellous
achievement IN his eyes, and forthwith
writes him down not simply az TIE great
ct negro, but as being ahead Of all the
white folks with tho single exception of
Robert L. Lee, born III the South in the
hundred years. II is simply CARRYING
hIlso doctrine Of freeing The fet-
tered thought and spirit OF Southern man
hood Don't understand Us as affirming
that kllgo believes Roohor IS tho biggest
man u the South. He told old man Duke
five years Z that he was the greatest
man North Carolina ever produced.
. neither he shares Bassett's views or not.
we cant say. Our Point Is that Dukes
money has made it possible for Trinity's
ledcher OF history TO fling defiance in the
[ace OF Southern ideals and call on the
young 1len Of the South to fnrs3ke The
faith OF their fathers and vorshin at tbe