The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-03
Resignation of Prof. Bassett on Account of Booker Washing
 ton Views Turned Down
HIS CONDUCT AS TEACHER
 HAS BEEN HONORABLE
While Not Agreeing With Professor Bassett That Washington Is Great est Living Southerner, the
 Board Respects Him.

Raleigh, N. C.. December 1.-The trus- tees of Trinity college having voted IS to to refuse to accept the resignation of Professor Bassett, gave to the public t9- day a statement of their position in the matter which in substance is as follows: We had before us the offer of Dr. John S. Bassett to resign his professor ship of history and it is made cIcar to us that it was not presented out If | voluntary decision to sever bis connec- tion with the college, but that It vas ten dered under coercive influences from The outside, and because of a feeling that his further connection with the college might bring injury to it. Candor Impels us 10 admit our regret that Professor Bassett has expressed certain opinions which gave offense 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 college, and not at all in his capacity as a college official, so that neither this board nor the college can be held respon- sible for them.
 Disagree With His Opinions.
 "On the contrary, it clearly appears that the faculty and the students disa- gree with certain of Professor Bassctts g opinions, so far as we can ascertain, unanimously. Neither do we agree with him. Nevertheless, both faculty and stu dents, with equal uEanimity, have man. ifested their desire. that this board de cline to accept Professor Bassett's offer of his resignation. and for the following req sons which seem to us vital, we do de- cline to accept 1t:
 "1 Any form of coercion of thought and private judgment is contrary to nur constitutional aims of Trinity college, which is to cherish sincere spirit of tolerance.
 "2. We are particularly unwilling to lend ourselves to any tendency to de- stroy or limit academic liberty.
 "3. We believe that society in the end will find a surer benefit by exercising pa tience than 1t can secure by yielding to it's resentments. The search for truth should be unhampered and in an atmos- phere that is free liberty may some time lead to folly; yet it is better that some should be tolerated than that all should think and speak under the denying in- fuence of repression.
 A. The matter that has engaged our attention is of more than local interest and will be far reaching in it's results.
 Must Exercise Tolerance.
 "5. Trinity college IS animated Wltn a great church whose spirit and doc trines are tolerant and generous. and a due regard for the teachings and tradi- tions of this Christian society requires us to exercise our judgment in harmony with its spirits and decisions.
 "Viewng the matter in the light of those wider interests, and finding that there is no complaint against Professor Bassetts moral character, his scholarly fitness, his energy, his competency as a teacher, or his command of the confii- dence of his classes, we are sure that duty requires us to decline the offer of his resignation.
 we state as fact that Professor Bas- sett does not believe nor does he teach social equality and that we have confi- dence in him both as a man and teacher. fSigned) TT. F. MARR,
 ~J. H. SOUTHGATE,
 "Committee." After the announcement of the decision of the trustees. a large number Of stu dents gathered on the college campus and hanged in efigy the editor of a paper which had led the fight against the declarations promulgated by Professor Bassett.