Word: cannot
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...cannot...
...seems to be highly fashionable at present to criticise the management of our excellent Library. Why this should be so just when such great changes and improvements are making, whereas no one used to complain of the time honored inconveniences under the last regime, we cannot imagine: we hope it is because there is greater interest in the question; but even this reason cannot excuse such a superfluity of ingenious fault-finding. Doubtless its defects have been more evident this year to the mass of students, because they have used it so much more; but anybody who knows other libraries...
...when any one talks ridiculously about getting drunk, or shamefully about buying fraudulent examination-papers, the hearers were to let it be understood that they considered such talk as the former silly, and the latter disgraceful, they would ultimately prevent much of the indecent talk now so familiar. We cannot expect to put an end to vicious practices themselves by keeping the fact prominently in view that they are held unworthy of gentlemen, because some persons in college do not feel that this is much of an objection. But we can at least make men prefer to keep their misdoings...
...easy to understand that persons who are careful never to express disapprobation at foolish or vicious acts or speeches should imagine that it cannot be done in a gentlemanly way. They assume that it is necessary to "blurt out" abusive censure, forgetting that censure is often clearly expressed simply by silence. Their argument seems to be that in any case they would give offence, and no gentleman should give offence, - a principle the folly of which is exceeded only by its harmfulness. For, when principle is at stake, as in buying fraudulent examination-papers or talking ridiculously about getting drunk...
Many of us are familiar with attempts in private conversation to justify reluctance to express disapprobation at indecencies however great, but such attempts in print are rare. That there should be at college a live and healthy public opinion cannot be doubted, at least until those who defend non-expression of disapproval show good reasons for so doing...