The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-09-01
where should the University be Located.

There can be but one answer. Ii
is a state institution, designed to
unity and compact the state by train
ing her ingenious youth under the
purest and most exhalting influences
1t is to be grand central focus,
in which shall be concentrated, con-
densed and intensified, and whence
shall radiate in best and brightest
effulgence all the emanations of our
schools, academies and colleges, and
it should be located at the political
centre of the state.
The natural political centre of q
state is determined by the centres
of area, wealth and population, and
is that point the sum of whose dis
tances from the three centres men
toned is a minimum. The natural
political centre of state may be
wholly inadmissible, from local con-
siderations, as the site of any i'm
portant state institution.
The actual political centre of a
state is the point at which, for con-
trolling reasons, the capital has been
located. AS the CAPITAL is the source
of law and the centre of administra-
ton, it should, too, be the fountain
head of state education-all pains
being taken to make it the point of
union, the pride and the joy of ev-
cry citizen, the Jerusalem whittier
the people go up to return full of a
love, so noble and exalted, for the
whole state that all efforts TO divide
and debase her shall ever be futile
That it was the intention of the
fathers to associate the capitol and
the university, there can not be a
doubt. The former they did erect
in Austin; and there, too, they indi-
Gated a site for the university, with
the fullest assurance that, in the full
ness of time, the people would set
up thereon temple of learning that
should be the glory of the whole
land.
When laying out that Beauty's Bower,
In eighteen thirty nine
Viewing the coming of the ages
They set aside, as Learning's Dover,
tor IL the muses. pine
Choicest retreat for youth and sages
Moreover, the people have
several times endorsed the location
of the capital at Austin, and so have
approved, indirectly it may be, yet
emphatically, of it as the site of n
grand state university. Every con-
sideration of sentiment and of pa
triotism, tradition, historical asso-
Citations, veneration for the fathers,
perpetual unity, all cry out for the
location of the university at Austin.
To sweetly dwell in unity,
And strike division dead
Brothers and sisters all the way go
Let's place the university,
just where the fathers said,
Growing the dashing Colorado.
Are we told, with breath and
tongue further than the sins imput-
ed, that Austin is ga cage of unclean
birds" den of vices and corrup-
toni "If it were so, it were a griev-
Gus fault" But whosel That of
Texas.
Can a stream rise higher than its
source? a fountain sends forth, at
the same time, water both pure and
poisonous? Austin is the head and
the heart of the state.
If "the whole head is sick and the
whole heart faint" it is because
"from the sole of the foot even unto
the head there is no soundness in it
but wounds and bruises and purify
ing Sores"
Shame upon the "unclean bird,''
that to gain q little prey, would
foul its own nest and smirch its
own mother!
Austin. doubtless has its vile and
corrupt places, but what place has
not2 And who is fouler than the
wholesale slanderer of his people2
VOTE FOR AUSTIN.
Division will never divide,
Dissension never rage,
II, making our capital the ceutre
OF education, we provide
Our youth there to engage,
Striving the loftiest fields to enter.
JOHN M. RICHARDSON.
LEEsBURG, Camp County, Texas.