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

fession. We cannot lend countenance 10
the degrading notion that professors in
American colleges have not an equai liberty
of thought and speech with all other
Americans.
g. We believe that society in the end
will find a surer benefit by exercising pa
tienee than it can secure by yielding to
ito resentments. The search Tor 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 dead
ening influence of repression. A reason
able freedom OF opinion IS TO a college
the very breath of life; and any Official
throttling of the private judgment of its
teachers would destroy their influence,
and place upon the college an enduring
stigma. For it is not the business of col
lege professors to provide their students
with opinions. American college student
would generally resent such dlctatlon il
if were attempted. 1t is the business
of the colleges rather to provide for young
men the material, the knowledge, and the
training which will enable them to form
and defend their own opinions. Neither,
on the other hand, Is 1t the business or
governing boards like ours to prescribe
opinions for professors. The same broad
principle holds both in the college and
the State. While it is idle to deny that
the free expression of wrong opinions
sometimes works harm, our country and
our race stand for the view that the
evils of Intolerance and suppression are
infinitely worse han those OF folly.
a. The matter that has engaged our
attention is of more than local interest
and will be far-reaching in ITS results.
It is lard to commend even the slightest
measure of coercion or suppression OF
opinion to the people of The country. We
are particularly regardful of the reputa
ton of the Commonwealth for which Trim
ity College received its academic priv
leges. We are jealous of its good name,
and mindful of its historical struggles and
sacrifices in the cause of free speech and
freedom of conscience. To subject any
citizen of North Carolina to any form Of
coercion or persecution for his opinions
sake would be to misrepresent the State,
to foster a suspicion of it's tolerant spirit,
to set our people IN a false light before
the world. Rights which were bought
with blood and suffering must not now
be endangered for want OF patience, toll
erance, and a noble self-restralnt. Nor
would we do anything which may seem
to imply the the social order of our
Southern States IN general needs to be
defended from criticism with any weapons
but reason and the truth
IS. Trinity College is affiliated with a
great church whose spirit and doctrines
are tolerant and generous, and a due re-
gard for the teachings and traditions OF
this Christian society requires us to ex-
ercise our judgment in harmony it's spirit
and doctrines.
''Viewing the matter in the hight of
these wider interests, and finding that
there is no complaint against Prot. Bas
sets moral character, his scholarly hit
ness, his energy, his competency as a
teacher, or his command Of the confidence
of his classes, We are sure that duty re-
quires us to decline the offer OF his
resignation. Great as is our hope in this
college, high and noble as are the ser
vices which under God we believe that
it is fit to render, it were better that
Trinity should suffer rather tina that 1t
should enter upon a policy OF coercion
and intolerance.
eve state as a fact that Prof. Bassett
does not believe in nor does he teach
social equality and we have confidence
in him both as a man and a teacher
ct. F. MARI,
81. H. SOUTHGATE,
COMMITTEE"