The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-08-25

the town lots certain eligible sites
for a university and other public
buildings and purposes. The COM
mission, composed of some of the
most venerable and eminent men OF
that day, did survey and set apart
forty acres for university site i'll
the northern part of the city of Aus
tin. And the original field notes OF
the Austin city tract, now on file in
the general land Office of the state
show that the location is marked
and designated on the map. Call
them whatever name you will-fa-
theirs, pioneers, settlers OF Texas
the men who surveyed and set apart
that ground at Austin were the men
whose blood, sacrifice and wisdom
won the independence of Texas,
moulded its constitution and di-
rected its first footsteps on the path
way of existence. They found this
country a waste and have lett it q
garden. They reclaimed its terito-
ry from foreign despotism, and
with all the fond solicitude of patri-
otic devotion, tried to shape It's des-
tiny and forecast its future
in accordance with what their
wisdom taught them to be-
lieve was most conducive to its
growth and grandeur. We are told
that there is no sentiment in this
question. Is there no sentiment in
trying to observe the wishes and ex-
ecute the designs of the founders OF
Texas liberty? Is patriotism thing
not to be cultivated and fOstered
Are not state pride and love fol
the capital our fathers built, and
which our whole people have three
times endorsed and chosen as their
own, most fit and proper cOnsidera-
tions, to be weighed in determining
this great question? A people who
never look back to their ancestors
will never look forward to pOsterity
Whenever any state or nation for
gets the traditions of its early life
tramples with indifferent scoen upon
the sacred memories of its heroic
history, and disregards with profane
contempt the wishes and plans OF
the fathers, then | tell you that peo-
pie has fallen into evil paths, and its
destiny will be darkened by the
cures of ingratitude and irrever-
ence. | believe it is the patriotic
wish of every citizen of Texas that
i'll all possible respects we shall fol.
low the ideas and designs formed by
the heroic generation who framed
our government. One of these
ideas was that the state university
should be
LOCATED AT THE STATE CAPITAL
beneath the watchful eye ofthe peo'
ple's Representatives, where every
section of the state could feel that il
was an institution of and for the
whole people. They therefore sci
apart the most beautiful spot in al
that beautiful city as a sacred reser'
vatiOn for this purpose. While tho
men who selected it have been gath
cred to their long home, while peace
and war have brought their changes
and revolutions, while all the vicissi
tudes ofpolitical strife have agitateC
and altered the institutions OfTeXas
that spot has been kept inviolate
waiting for the time when the peO
pie in their patriotism and wisdom
should confirm the choice of Oul
fathers, and crown its lovely heights
with an institution of learning
founded and managed in the inter
est of all classes and of every sec
tion of this broad state. Nature anC
natures God, with lavish hand, have
showered upon your capital every
charm that lends beauty to the land
scape and inspiring influence to the
surroundings of stream, valley anC
mountain. There eternal spring
clothes the hills i'll green. and rosy
health rides on every breeze. Thus
blessed by nature, consecrated by
traditions and pointed out by tht
voice of heroic ancestry, Austin
| asks your support as your capi
tai, as the city worthy to be the sea
and centre of learning i'll the years
that are in store for Texas. Tht
day will yet be when northern, east
ern, central and western Texas will
blend their strength to make this ;
grand domain of wealth and pro
gressive civilization, each CONNER
cial and growing town will thel
look to Austin, not as a rival TO
business pre-eminence but as rep
reseptative of Texas in her cos
mopolitan entirety, not as a loca
metropolis or sectional centre, bu
as the pride of all Texas. In tina
day the university, if located there
will draw its students from ever
country on our borders, there t.
meet in the pursuit OF learning
there to drink from the fountain o
Texan history and tradition, an(
from thence to go back to their sew
eral homes with a friendship TO
each other, love for our state,
pride in her career, a true apprecia
ton of her imperial destiny, and al
abiding faith in her indivisibl
| greatness.