New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-03
TAKES ISSUE WITH DR.. BOVINE.
Dr.. Hall Grasps Cudgel in Defence Of
Men OF Other Times.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: According TO the brief report, Feb
ruary IS. in the reliable New-York Tribune.
the address of Dr. Borden p. Bovine, pro-
fessor of philosophy in Boston University,
delivered on Washington's Birthday to the
illogical students OF Harvard and Boston
universities. was certainly a terrible ar
raignment OF the men and times OF a hun
dred years ago TT took thirtyfVe bar
rels of cider to see many ministers families
through the winter. Those considered
saints at that time were ''drunkards and
slave traders" Union College, of New
York. lUilt with funds obtained
through a lottery The politicians of
thirty years ago were far more unscrupu-
ious than those OF to-day. The pres
ent politician is much more pTesentable
and decent
The memory OF the present writer does
not go back quite 'one hundred years" but
in his early personal relations and ny close
historic touch he did know much about the
saints of that early period. He knows
that lotteries had nothing TO do with the
founding Of Union College; through the
united. persevering and seif-sacrihcing eff
forts Of the people Of the upper Hudson
this me-honored institution had its birth
was created in 1885 and. after many earnest
petitions from the people. college charter
was granted in 1874 The few American
colleges existing at this date were all
strictly UNCONVENTIONAL. but the founding Of
Union was the keynote OF church fedora
ton"
At this time New York was a slave state
and lotteries were prolific source of in
come. During the first ten years Of the
college history the state Legislature gave
to the college from its lottery fund several
small amounts. aggregating $500. BY q
special act OF the Legislature IN 1914 the
sum Of s2o0,0n0 was granted TO the college
from the lottery funds. 1t is true the col
lege received these legislative gifts. but, it
is exceedingly questionable If they were
much more corrupt than many of the gifts
obtained through modern graft now
cheerfully accepted by our religious and
benevolent enterprises.
One hundred and six years ago Ehphalet
Mott was called TO the presidency of Union
College, holding this distinguished honor
during the long period Of sixty-two years.
While pastor in Albany. preceding his call
TO the presidency of the college, Dr. Mott
pronounced TO an immense audience his
memorable address on the death Of Alexan-
der Hamilton. This address gave him a
national reputation. and never was the
awful sin Of duelnng presented to an Amer
lean audience with greater force and effect
The saints identified with the early
educational work Of Union College were
as free from drunkenness and as self-Te-
specting as are the saints" OF modern
colleges.
More than fifty years ago politician vas
sent from the writer's church congregation
10 the Legislature in Albany. Because OF a
powerful speech, in which he made 4 vigor-
Gus protest against the dishonesty in legis-
lation. his position was made 50 uncomfoTt-
able that he resigned and returned 10 his
home. He was very soon returned 10 Al
hany by his constituency.
How much better is the political condition
at Albany to-day than it was fifty years
ago? More than fifty years ago CS5N New
York State passed a prohibitorv Law. which
was vetoed by Governor Horatio Seymour.
A. the next gUbernatorial election the most
active temperance man in the Legislature,
Myron II. Clark, was elected Governor over
Nj. Seymour, on the issue license or no
license The law was re-enacted. signed
by the Governor. and became the law Of
the state Evidently some of the saints
Of that day were not drunkards.
If the same issue was presented to-day
what would be the vote of the state? In
the mighty tidal temperance wave that
passed over the nation more than half
century ago many Of the states of the
Union passed prohihitory laws. The writer
has before him a statistical temperance
volume published at that time by himself
and brother the result of worldwide cor
respondence.
From an extensive personal acquaintance
with the Church (ministeriaD fathers, the
writer can recall no instance where thirty
five barrels of cider were required to win
ter one family. He believes that such q
statement is q scandal upon the saints a
hundred years ago" In his early youth
every saloon was legally closed in his own
native town. Professor Bovine should re
member that accuracy is an important fac
tor il a scholastic, historic address.
LEANDER HALL
New Rochelle, y. y, March :, 1910.