The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-28
The agricultural and Mechanical
ColIege.o

The agricultural and Mechanical
CoIIege.''
1. The State needs system of free
common schools to fit its citizens, un-
able to educate themselves, either by
their own means or the means of their
parents, to become voters and jurors.
The citizen is entitled to nothing else
from the State except its civil protec-
ton.
2. The State needs q university, as
the apex of all its schools. For this,
the Constitution makes ample provi-
sion. All parties are interested in this
matter.
8. Each county needs q good CLASH
cal and scientific academy. The sale
of county lands will secure such scad-
emies, as to buildings, and some en-
dowment, so as to cheaper tuition.
4. Denominationsl colleges, whether
needed or not by the public, will be
required by the necessity of church or
ganization and extension, as we'll as
for private education. They will ex
list so long as the Christian religion
exists.
''The Agricultural and Mechanical
College" Is q national affair, adopted
in the following words of the Constitu-
ton of 1875, article 3, section Is, page
45: "The Agricultural and Mechani-
cal College of Texas, established by an
act of the Legislature, passed April
IL, 1871, located in the county of Bra
zos, is hereby made and constituted a
IT -.
instruction in agriculture, the me-
chanIcal arts and natural science con-
nected thereto. And the Legislature
shall, at it's next session, make an ap-
preparation, not to exceed forty thou
sand dollars, for the construction and
completion of the buildings and im-
provements and for providing the fur
niture necessary to put said college in
immediate and successful operation.
About $500, 900 IN all have been ex-
pended on buildings, furniture and ap-
paratus. The correspondence of the
name to the fact is matter for the
directors to explain. But let writer
in Virginia say how such colleges are
regarded in the sold Dominion"
''The Virginia Agricultural and Me-
chanical College was formed IN 1872
upon Federal grant two-thirds of the
proceeds of the land scrip donated by
Congress to Virginia. The institution
came into existence, not to meet the
demand of the public necessity, but
simply because the Legislature was
willing for Congress to found an insti-
tuition of learning in the State if so
inclined. The land scrip was voted to
the Olin and Preston Institute, now
the Virginia Agricultural and Mechan-
ical College, on the distinct under
standing that the treasury of the COM
monwealth was to be in no way charge
able with its support. And yet this
new claimant upon the commonwealth
is hardly christened before March 81,
1871 1t secures an appropriation of
OF $40, 900, and again april 9. 1879
an additional bonus of $16, $50, max
ing sol, $50 in three years and six
days.
So much for Virginia, so much for
Texas; with this variation, that Texas
takes out of her treasury about $780,
900 for building, and sells the land
and pays interest on proceeds of the
land to support faculty and give free
tuition, not to INDECENT population of
the State, but to such as Can afford
to pay expense of board, matrlculation
and medical fee, and for uniform. The
question of practical agriculture and
practical mechanics, 4. {. muscle placed
behind plough, and muscle applied
to the anvil, the saw, the jack-plane,
the screw, and the file, 1t is understood
is adjourned sine die. The military
feature is the offspring of the war be-
tween the States, and originated in
1862, when the government at Wash
was exercised in agony over the
question of perpetuating the Union and
bringing the seeded States back to
the Unions embrace, by scourge of
war. The whole history is one of deep
interest to the lovers of the Union, as
well as the lovers of States fights.
6. The question of religion in such
colleges has not been agitated, but a
writer in the Terds Baptist Herald
signing himself (O Occasional,
wrote an article last fall, giving
the UNCONVENTIONAL connexions of |
four of the professors whom, it stated,
belonged one each to the Methodists,
Presbyterians, Episcopaliaus aud Bap-
lists. There are six professors, it is |
supposed. II the statement of the re- |
lIgious preferences and professions of |
four was intended to induce Baptists, \
Methodists, Episcopalians and Presby- |
terians to patronize the institution |
what good reason induced Occasion
al /" 10 suppress the religious profess
sions of the other two. Occasional " |
should explain, or let the reflection |
necessarily follow that ''suppressio Ueri |
est sugQesti0 .falsi" The directors owed |
nothing to denominations, were under |
70 obligations to elect professors of |
any religious persuation to please them. |
But if they intended to please them,
most assuredly they should have con-
suited them In their selections.
The institution should be what the |
government of the United States aud |
the State Constitution designed it to |
be, practical college of agriculture |
and mechanics arts, designed for such |
as intended to prosecute the tilling of |
the soil or the welding or managing
Of machinery, as the business of life
an Institution in no way conflicting with |
q true State University. the denOmina-
tional college, nor playing the part of |
q mere high school for boys. Every |
citizen of the State Will approve of |
such a school and will favor its full de-
1elopment with moderate appropria-
lions to carry out its true interest.
SAM II. Dixon.