The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-12
WHAT IS LIBERTY
Trying to Transplant a
Sprig From Boston.
Tree of Observation-Disclosures. M. H.
TuttIe. of Hartford, Says Climate
is too Hot for it Down
Here.
Here.

To the Editor: 1t is urged by some.
who are evidently winclng under the
keen lash of just criticism and are
afraid of the light being turned on, that
enough has been said and written concern
ing the late unfortunate and dangerous
developments at Trinity College. But as
we see it there is yet not only room.
but great and pressing need for further
discussion, provided it be of the right
character-logical, temperate, liscrlpai-
mating. The truth will never be made 20
suffer by turning on the light. The more
close and searching the scrutiny tire
br ghter it will shine. The gold will only
be refined by passing through the fires.
The crlnging cry, mo more discussion, !"
will never serve as a gag law to silence
and suppress free and merited criticism
III this country Of ours. The majority
of the best people, not only of the Meth
od,st church but of the entire South.
have been grossly insulted and are right
cously indignant because of the recent
infamous utterances of certain men hion
In position among us. Bassett. Massee
and their sympathizers, aiders and abet-
tors may cry, with one OF old, Let US
alcne," but they will not be set alone
until their evil utterances are either
Withdrawn or cast out. There will be no
reGce: there can be no peace so loEf;
as the Philistire Goliah of racial equality
faunts defiance into the faces of Israel.
The firing line will be maintained until
the enemy sheaths his sword.
But a great deal of what has been
written on the Bassett natter ard the
unfortunate complications growing cut OF
it. instead of making clear the main
points at issue has only tended to muddy
the waters and confuse the mental VS.
ion. No one, so far as I have seen, has
yet correctly defined or explained the true
meaning of the term Liberty" rs 1t Il
used, or rather misused in connection
with the Bassett article and the paper
adopted by the board of trustees N pass
ing upon his case. In that mysterious
paper adopted by the board in justifica
ton of its refusal to accept the resigna
ton of Prof Bassett, there is 4 great
deal of plausible and high sounding, hut
withal, insidious, misleading and danger
Gus phraseology-such as Academic lib
erty,'' THE illimitable freedom OF the
mind" etc. 1t clearly appears from tht
boards explanation, use and application
of these pompous phrases that its idea
of liberty as set forth in the paper j.
The think, say, and do as yon please
theory" The teaching of this paper. in
Its claim for unrestrained academic free
dom and lawlessness of thought and
speech, turns true liberty into heerse
There can be no true liberty without law
and well defined limitations. The more
perfect the law, the more clearly defined
the limitations, the more perfect thu
time that liberty has been falsely uelinel
liberty; This is by no means The first
and used, to the great detriment OF in
dividual character and of the public
good, as meaning license. From TIL:
standpoint liberty simply means freedom
from all law and restraint. The save s.
has such liberty: and it is such lib
etty as the devils claim-"Let us alone
The devils definition of liberty is, Think
sreak, and do what you please. Els
tablish this idea of liberty and act on
it. and the world would at once go int
the hands of the devil. Pandemonianisrn