[Letter] March5,1895,Amherst [to F.H. Giddings]

March 5, 1895, Amherst.

Dear Friend:
           Thanks for
the full letter. My
acceptance had been
mailed that morning,
but, as President Low
had sent me two
telegrams, I thought
I might wire him
to the effect that
such a letter was
en route, as I said,
"notwithstanding strong
pressure here." I have
done my duty to Amherst,
and President Gates sees
it. For myself it is
best to be more lightly
loaded than the
double connection would
mean. All is well.
 A rather bitter
and petulant letter came
from President Gilman.
He went to the verge
of saying that I violated
an understanding
with him. After a
week I replied to this
intimation; and as I
happened to possess the
facts, the reply was
probably conclusive.
After asking whether it
was conceivable that I
should bind myself to
accept a position that he
was careful not to bind
himself to offer, I
quoted the exact words of
a letter in which I
refused to so bind
myself. I said that during
three months following
the first conversation
he could have had me for
the asking; but that when
the trustees discussed my
appointment and could
not unite in voting it
the situation changed.
I added that any man
worthy of his consideration
would have taken a
different attitude after
such prolonged hesitation
in making the appointment.
I have a good conscience
on that side, for I
have certainly violated no
pledge expressed or
implied. Letters from
Sherwood and Hollander
take my view of the
case, and are very kind.
Sherwood says that good
work can be done at the
Johns Hopkins, but that
it cannot compete
with the 'Columbia Trust'.
I think President Gilman's
feeling is based on the
fact that he sees the
Johns Hopkins steadily
losing its preeminence
in graduate work.
He can get a good man
in Political Economy;
but he needs more
than one. Before the
young men reach the
point at which they
can do what is
needed a long spurt
will have been made
by their universities.
Even the million
dollars just secured by
the sale of Clifton will
not save the relative
position of the university.
This does not mean
that it is not still a
great institution, able
to afford to a professor
a large opportunity.
The men who know
say that my decision
has been wise, and I
am very sure it has
been so.
 We are fitting up
our house for temporary
occupancy. Come and
see us in it. We
have room here for
all.

     Yours Very Truly,
        John B. Clark