The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-08-11
Location OF the University.

the sixth day of September. Since
it is agreed that dOrmitOries are to
be dispensed with, a city must be Sc
lected, and since the idea, spirit and
real meaning of the term univer-
sity is for the teaching of universal
knowledge by gathering together
into one body and in one place the
most eminent professors of all the
sciences known" the city selected
| should be determined from its ad-
vantages already possessed to en-
title it TO the proud epithet of the
university. city. While none DIS
puted Rome's title, Commercial
Mart of the Empire" all as cheerfully
yielded to Athens the still higher
claim of being the educational GEN.
ter. There is much i'll the place
much in the surroundings much
as there is in the teachers. This is
beautifully expressed by Cicero in q
letter to his son:
"Quamquam tie, Marco fill, annum
am audientem Cratippum, idque
Athens, abundare opOrtet praecep-
It's institutisque philosopl lac, propter
summam ct DOCTORS auctoritatem
ct urbis, quorum allies tie scIentia
augere pOtest, altera eXemplis."
Science, steam and electricity
have worked wonders-have revOlu-
tionized the physical world, but the
intuitions of the mind, the world
of thought, are to-day as in the be-
| ginning, whether determined by the
Roman pdtTeS or the Texan fathers ;
hence, i'll this matter of location.
the same reasons which prompted
Lamar, Burnet, Rusk and their co-pa-
triots to select and designate Aus
tin as the seat of the University OF
Texas, should induce us OF to-day to
decide likewise, in favor of Austin.
And especially since, now Austin
seems to present, as enumerated
through her "citiZens," so many of the
leading advantages necessary as sur
rOundings to a great institution OF
higher learning.
THE UNITY OF THE UNIVERSITY.
argue that the locale of this uni
versity should be one:
First-Because it is state institu-
tion-owes its origin, its organiza-
ton and its perpetuity to the state
has for its object the training OF
young men who are to be largely the
controllers of the state, whether in
the humber walks of private
citizens or in the higher and more
responsible duties of professional
life. The people of Texas at pres
ent are from "the ends of the earth,' ,
but the sons Ofthese fathers will have
oneness of country and oneness
of purpose in life, the developing
and improving and Ornamenting
their state, making her famous
among her sisters. A state pride
will be fOstered; then will be an
understandable crystalization of the
higher sentiments-duties to OuI
country and to ourselves
in morals, manners and reli.
giOn-brought about by attending
this university. Young men meet.
ing and mingling together, laboring
and rejoicing at the same time, il
the same departments of learn
ing-in the same Lecture-ROOms
in the same Laboratories, in the
same Libraries, in the same Muse.
ums, in the same Gymnasium, upon
the same Play Grounds, in the same
Social Circles, in the same Churches
at the same Affairs. These are the
associations that cultivate impercep
tibly the esprit de corps, the per.
vading spirit of culture and study
that must and does infuse itself into
the minds and hearts of a body o.
young men receiving, and impartins
too, the daily instructions of learned
and enthusiastic teachers, all wei
coined and hallowed by the sweet
influences of polite society.
Second-lt is only proposed tC
locate the medical department at {
different point from the university
proper, and for the reason that fol
"clinical practice" and for the pur
pose of procuring proper subjects
for dissection"
And the position is taken that fol
this reason alone we should break
up the unity of a great university.
Let us try this proposition by the
facts and figures: 1t is well known
by all medical men that the "sub'
jects' are not from the locality OF
the medical college, but always
| lTOlll ~ NllSIduCC.
And as regards the "clinical prac'
tice," if the medical knowledge of to.
day, as heretofore, was confined to
prescriptions, pills and powders
there might be some excuse for be,
ginning this work backward. But
when, as all well-informed per.
sons know, that the province
now of medicine embraces, in
addition to the literary studio:
usually considered the foundation Of
professional success, all the scientific
branches, whether of nature or mind
and these so grouped and arranged
as to engage at the same time the
brain, the eye and the hand of the
student of medicine-that in the
laboratories of chemistry anC
physics, as well as in the anatomical
halls, he must be able to test fol
himself-verifY by experiment, every
principal taught.
1t is claimed that Galveston OF
Houston can offer more facilities fol-
the practical part of medical educa
ton than any other city-that the
maritime service and railroad disas.
tiers will furnish greater number Of
cases for treatment than any interior
city. But, if even this be true, arc
they better for the medical student!
Suppose the medical department
of the university of Texas could
unIoOSe the tongues, restore the
sight and reddjuSt the minds of those
unfortunate inmates in the crowded
asylums that stand around upon the
distant hills of Austin, would not
that faculty receive greater enco.
miums than all other discoveries
since the days of Esculapius him
self?
Besides, compare the time devoted
to this part of n medical education
Examine the catalogues, and it will
be observed that entirely too much
stress is placed upon this part OF
a medical profession, by the friends
of the separate location of this de-
partment. The time also in the
leading medical schools has been
heightened in order to accommo-
date the numerous branches and
distinct parts of a medical educa-
ton, so that it would be infinitely
better to study the theory, with the
laboratory and anatomical practice
at the university, making frequent
excursions to the marine and other
hospitals-indeed this is now be-
coming the fashion.
Third-But l argue from another
standpoint the unity of the uniyer-
sity. The medical schools in con.
nection with the universities require