The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1878-12-12
THE AGRICULTURAL AND ME-
CHANICAL COLLEGE.
A Protest.
BRENNAN, TEXAS,
December 2, 1873.

December 2, 1878.
Editor Examiner and Patron:
As the time for the assembling of
the legislature is now rapidly APP
preaching, and before which body
the Patrons of Husbandry of this
state, have directed their Executive
Committee to present the subject of
the Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege at Bryan. when it shall have con-
ycned, and to ask of it some addi-
tiOnal legislation, or perhaps more
probably additional appropriations.
lnow desire TO say few words upon
that subject, which may perchance
fall into the hands, or catch the eye
of some member elect, and cause
him 10. investigate the matter more
thoroughly, and TO devise some plan
to carry out more generally the orig
inal design of said Institution. do
not propose to critisize too severely,
nor, is what may say, done with a
full-iinding spirit, but that l may
show, that there certainly has been
mistake made, and that il is now
time, that there should be some eff
forts made to correct il. The great
mistake that has been made, is, that
the directors have commenced at the
wrong end of their work, commenc-
ing at military tactics, when accord
ing to our understanding of the mo-
tive, and the literal meaning of the
act of Congress creating those insti-
tutions, were especially 10 establish
schools for the instruction and eleva-
ton of the Agricultural and Mechan-
ical classes, enabling them the better
TO develop the great resources of this
vast country, realizing the fact, that
the wealth of the nation is produced
chiefly by the deyotees of those
branches of industry. In accord
ance with that view, and with the
wording Of the said act of Congress.
agriculture first, Mechanics second,
and these being established, then mil
llNry tactics should be taught, per-
imps including the drill, to which l
should not object if done in modera-
lion. My opinion is, that too much
Importance is attached to the militia
ry feature by the directory or the
secretary, as find in the last cata-
IoSue issued from said College, refer
ctncc made in two instances to the
law, requiring the military feature of
The College TO be maintained, and not
single in,imation made concerning
Tie other two departments. Why
should this be given such prominence,
while the others, the basis upon
which il is established are totally ig-
horcd! And again / find other laws
bearing upon the subject, that GER
'elhiy deserves some respect.
Constitution of the State of Texas,
Article Z, Section 13, reads thus.
me Agricultural and Mechanical
college of Texas, established by act
o. the legislature, passed April II,
iio'S, located in the county of Brazos,
= hereby made and constituted a
branch of tho University of Texas,
ior Instruction in agriculture, the
Mechanical arts and the natural SCI
enceS connected Herewith," now
why disregard this provision OF
ieNas law? She certainly is entitled
s W some respect, having spent nearly
s-Vo,oO0 of the peoples money in the
Enterprise, and the Texas cOnstitu'
.ion says 1t is TO teach Agriculture
ana Mechanics (Which means thos,
suDlects in fact), and the sciences
connected Herewith. Now, my
opinion is, that TO teach Agricul
lure or Mechanics successfully vol
must have q farm, implements
stock, seed, tools and material, al
wen as the driH and arms in teach
lhg Military tactics, and that elias.
~ farmers who never see til,
neld, or implements generally prov,
70 DE failures, whenever they I'M
uertake the practical part. Again
nnuer the present regime of the Col
rye, course of or 4 years strict,
ulllltary Is sure to create desire fol
mat Kind of life, and thirst for mil
Jury fame, therefore the graduate
would wait for and seek out sucl
! vents ard positions as required thei
Ssili, hence we should have hord
y vi military drones in our midst
again, Texas has been principals
beopled by bold, energetic men, henc
sneir offspring are rather pugnaciou
any way, and do not need such grea
raining in the arts of war, TO onabl
ahem TO defend their rigbiSnust
mould be trained and en~'N9 tnow
,ne civil pursuits EDITOR, disiike
wealth and valuable, ana l .hst II.
uefend -, this Is a topic thn' y.