The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-12-04

Raleigh. n. c.. December 2.-The
trustees of Trinity college, having
voted eighteen to seven to refuse the
to the public today a statement Of their
position in the matter which in SUBJ
stance is as follows:
I'VE have before US the offer of Dr
John S. Bassett to resign his prof:s-
sOrship of history and it is made cleaT
to us that it was not presented out or
voluntary decision to sever his connec-
ton with the college, but that 1t was
rendered under cOercive influence from
the outside and because of a feeling
chat his further connection with the
college might bring injury to it. Can
dor compels us to 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 me-
dunn which IS in no sense an organ
of the college and not at all in his ca
pacity as a college official, so that
neither this board nor the college can
bS held responsible for them.
ION the contrary, it clearly appears
that the faculty and the students dis
agree with certain of Professor BaS-
sett'S opinionS-so fas as we can as
agree with him. Nevertheless both
faculty and students, with equal unau-
unity, have manifested their desire
that this board decline to accept Pro-
feSsor BaSsettS offer of his reS1gna
ton. and for the following reasons
which seem to us, high and vital, We
do decline to accept it:
q. Any form of coercion of thought
and private judgment is contrary to
nf "a IN Tri.
ity college which IS To cherish a sin
cere 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 eXer-
cising patience than it can secure by
Yielding to its sentiments. The
search for truth should be unhamper-
ed and in an atmosphere that IS Tree.
Liberty may sometimes lead to folly +;
yet it is better that some should be
tolerated than that all should think
and speak under the deadening Infiu-
ence of repression.
a The matter that has engaged our
attention is of more than local interest
and H'be far reaching in its results.
-. Trinity college is affiliated with
a great. church whose spirit and doo-
| trineS are tolerant and generous, and
a due regard for the teachings ard
| traditions of this Christian society re-
quires US TO exercise our Judgment in
harmony with its spirit and doctrines.
! g. Viewing the matter in the light OF
| those wider interests. and finding tha;
! there is no complaint against Profes-
| sor.' Bassett's moral character, his
! scholarly fitness. his energy, his COM
| potency as a teacher or his command
! of the confidence of his classes, we
are sufe that duty requires us 70 de-
| cline the offer of his resignation.
ave state as a fact that Professo:
Il 1ssett does not believe in nor does
he teach social equality and we naNt
cinffdence in him both as a man anc
| a teacher"
!! (Signed.) T. F. MARR.
J. H. SOUTHGATE.
Committee.
After the announcement Of the actor
taken by the trustees, a large numoe
| of students gathered on the coileg'
campus and hanged in efflgy Edito
Josephus Daniels. whose paper, tn