The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-09-28

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the ladder of education, the free
common schools being at the bot
tom, it is the point towards which
the ambitious youths of Texas may
climb, out of the gutter at the base
of the temple to the shining figure
at the pinnacle. AS we learn from
the Ne,0s and Courier of Charleston,
the good people of South Carolina
are laboring to give their state uni
versity forward movement. There
the people are more than ever
aroused upon the subject of higher
education, while the object with
them has to be pursued under
greater difficulties than in Texas
but they are going to sue
ceed, because they realize that
the common school system
cannot be made perfect without the
university. Prof. Charles S. Vena-
BILE, of the University of Virginia,
says: "The great hope of the higher
education in the south is in her state
universities. Each state should
cherish her university, and promote
its efficiency in every way, and there
should be no hesitancy or stinginess
about it." The report of the visit
ors of this university shows the
influence of that institu-
ton upon education in Virginia
and in the south, the remarkable
fact being shown that since 1865 the
private gifts to the university
amount to $440, 900, being more than
100000 in excess of all state appro-
priations for the same time! Here,
verify, is "bread cast upon the wa
ters." What lesson is here taught
in favor of state foundations to
which their private muniGcence may
gravitate, The same lesson is taught
all over the country. Nothing less
than a strong foundation can secure
the ends of the higher education in
literature, and especially in science.
Concentration is here the only true
and safe principle. $40 those who
have shall be given" is true in edu-
cation as in religion. Happy is that
state which, like Virginia, has laid a
foundation so broad and so secure as
to command the confidence and sup
port of all her people. Every dollar
invested there is multiplied by every
dollar previously invested, and is Sc
cured by the pledge of grand his
tory and by every aspiration of state
pride. Had Virginia allowed her
university, after the war, to languish
and uIe on account of poverty, she
would have been poorer to-day not
only by the money gifts beyond her
own appropriations, which the uni
versity has attracted, but infinitely
more by the loss of all the benefits
and all the prestige which the uni
versity has conferred upon the state.
Since the war the legislature of
Virginia has doubled the annual ap.
preparation for the state university, a
lesson learned in defeat, disaster and
financial decline. In poveriy the
grand old state has learned that
there is W wealth in higher education
and thus she builds up the charac-
ter and standing of her great institu-
ton. What Virginia has gained by
her university may also be gained
by Texas, and even more, for Texas
has wealth with which to endow her
university not possessed by the
Mother of States and OF Statesmen.
The university is needed to COM
plete our educational system, and
] the next legislature should ehdow it,
while it may, with fund that will
keep it from beggary, as has been
the case with the South Carolina
university. Touching the question
of the maintenance of a state uni
versity, the Neaos and Courier says
In some quarters it seems to be
imagined that the state support OF
the university may be uniriendly to
the denominational colleges of the
state. On the contrary, it will be
their most efficient help. These col
leges do their special work, and they
do it well. No good citizen will
wish to see their sphere restricted or
their usefulness impaired. But
this sphere is limited aud this
usefulness is partial. Each one OF
them comprehends a segment only
| of the people. No one of them can
represent the state, in its highest and
largest sense, in which all the people
are one in comprehensive and al
embracing citizenship. The state
university here no more than in Vir.
ginia will interfere with these col.
leges. They will supplement and
support each other. Tine colleges
are the pillars on which the univer
sity should rest-the university II
dome which should crown the
colleges. The colleges will lead from
the graded school to the university
in the university they will find theil
own consummation. There is nc
more conflict between the colleges
and the university than between the
colleges and the schools. A state
like South Carolina can have bu
one institution for the highest edu
cation; but that one is indispensable
to the state. We are assured, OF
official information, that it is th'
purpose, as it will be the duty, of th'
authorities of the university t.
move it forword as rapidly
as possible to that higher wort
which belongs to it, and to i
alone. This work requires endow
ment, expenditure, equipment. pre-
paration. These things require con
centration. Thence will come radi
alton and illumination, which viii
reach every college and every schoo
in the state. They require, too, pa
thence and faith. Let us not be pen
nv wise and pound foolish-bu
rather, like Virginia, let us try t,
turn our pence into pounds, througl
the incalculable benefits of the high
est education.
II