The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-11-23
Adequately endowed and equipped, with

daughter of Texas almost without money
and without price the waters OF life, to
the poor, to the rich, to every one, sons,
brethre1, fellow citizens, all of the great
state of Texas.
There is another misconcepti N, shall
say of duty? Some persons object stren-
uOusly to being taxed for the
education OF other peoples children, be
they rich or poor, at an university.
/ shall not stop here to enlarge on the
beneficial influence on society. the reflex
influence, if i may SO call it, of body of
hightoned accomplished men going forth
annually from an university OF the first
class. Taxation is q burden and its un-
wise increase is just subject OF COM
plant, of denunciatiOn. But what Is the
fact in the matter before US? The estab-
| lishment OF the university does not, can
not add one dollar to the taxes of the
people. The constitution forbids the
smallest appropriation from the general
revenue for the support of the university
or for the erection of university buildings.
The legislature cannot for this purpose,
il SO minded, add a mill on the hundred
| dollars to the present taxes. And fur
ther, if in disregard of the requirement of
| the constitution, the university was post
poned and nothing done for forty years
towards putting it into operation, 1t
| would not diminish our taxation by
one cent. In the first cOnstitu-
/ tiOu VI luc AcPuUllC VI 1e4ds, IOTI1-
| SIX years ago, an university was
| declared q public necessity and means
| were then set apart for its support. The
| same policy has been solemnly affirmed
| in each successive constitution of Texas
| AS a state dOwnt t. and including the one
under W hice we now live and act. If we
postpone action, IL in folly and prejudice
non-action should rule the hour, the uni
versity funds remain q lifeless property
they cannot be touched, cannot be ap-
prOpriated to any other use. Shall we not
rather utilize them, and promptly, for the
| high object for which they who fought
| and achieved our independence at San
! JacintO fret set them apart-a policy OF
wisdom since affirmed by vast majorities
of the people of Texas? Not one cent OF
the university funds, not one foot of the
university lands, can be used for any
other purpose than for the university.
This is matter suggested by mention
of means for the support OF a university
which is often wholly misunder-
stood, and which should be clearly
stated. 1t Is the misapprehensiOn that
funds appropriated to The support of the
university are or may be SO much with
drawn from the support OF common
schools. This Is the mSappreheDsiOn OF
ignorance, 4 complete mistake Of the facts
OF the case. Tue university iund and the
common school fund are in no sense COM
have nothing in common. WHAT'S apprO-
priated to one cannot be transferred TO or
appropriated to the other The support
OF the university subtracts nothing from
common schools. As have always stated
the constitution forOids any funds to be
appropriated to the university from the
gener, Il revenue. On the other hand, the
constitution authorizes the setting apart
annually of portion OF the general
revenue for the support of public common
schools, and this Is u0ne. The university
lands and the common school lands are
wholly distinct and separate in apprOpria-
LiOn and in management.
While on the subject of one relation
which the university and common schools
bear to each otuer, there is another rela-
Lion between them on which there exists
not simply misrepresentation, Jut n
grave error. Some persons labor uuder
a vague impression that there is or may
be an ill-detned rivalry, opposition, con-
nict OF interests and purposes between
the university and common schools. In
their deep interest for common schOO
education, they conceive dlstrust and
entertain not very clear idea of Opposi-
tion towards the university. In this dis
trust they take refuge in tae notion that
1t is safest TO perfect first our system of
common schools, and to postpone the
university. Now, so tar from there
being any rivalry, opposition or conflict
OF interest between the university and |
common schools, the exact reverse IS the |
fact. They are indeed the best friends, |
each OF the other, and especially Is it |
true that the university is the great anu |
efficient practical friend of common |
schools. Common schools commence the |
supply of students for the university. |
They are together the compliments, each |
OF the other, OF a noble sS stem of the best |
education of the people. l beg to invoke |
authority and'experience that will not be |
gainsaid.
Mr.. Jefferson was pre-eminently the |
apostle OF the people. He has left on |
record his opinion that the benign influ- |
ehces of a higher education, an university |
education such as now given in the Uni
yerslty of Virginia, such as contemplated /
to be given in the University of Texas,
will permeate the masses and diffuse /
knowledge, the blessings of the common
schools, among the people. These are /
Mr.. JetfersOn's words: ''Make the uni
versity as good as possible and the spirit
OF education will permeate the masses, in
the end securing them 1.-THE massesl the
highest possible attainments."
Mr.. jefferson wrote his own epitaph
"ThOmas jefferson, the author of the Dec
laration of Independence and Founder OF
the University OF Virginia." This is his
epitaph written in the maturity of his
years and wisdom, in view of the solem-
nifty of the grave, with the fruitful expe-
rience OF his university before him.
Founder of the University" is his appeal
to the grateful remembrance OF future
ages. Let no man hereafter delude him.
self with the idea that he is a Jefferson
Democrat when he repudiates the funda-
mental idea of Thomas Jefferson.
Have Mr.. Jeferson's lofty anticipatlons
Of the blessings 20 flow from the univer-
sity of which he was the founder been /
fr1ld Iad ho ha1ndad wi /
And are those among us who shake their
head in distrust OF an university or stitten
their neck in hostility to it the wise coun-
sellors of the people? Let US see. 1
appeal to the record, to the annual report
OF the University of Virginia, for last
year. With honorable pride, with proud
satisfaction the Rector, General Alex. II
ii. Stewart, and the visitors report to the
governor of that state as follows: "The |
record of the achievements OF the uni
versity In advancing the cause OF educa-
tion In Virginia, and In many OF her sister
states, must be gratifying to every patriot.
Her " ork has been a grand one, and she
has acconfplishedit nOOly. Her influence
Is daily feitthrough more Than one-half
the Union. She has performed the office
of the great heart of the system OF soul
ern education, sending with strong pulsa-
tion warm and invigOrating liie-blood
through every part of it down to the hum
Grating lie-blOod down to the humblest
primary school," This is experience,
this is fact. Let US then, OF Texas, rise
above idle suspicion and ignorant
dIstrusD and gird curse YES in
earnest for performing the same noble
Office for this grand country of the Amer
lean Union south and west OF the Missis-
sippi.
1 beg your attention here 10 another
weighty fact. Railroads have established
between the United States and the great
northeastern states of Mexico an inter-
course of commerce, social relations and
iriendship-an Intercourse rapidly be-
coming more intimate and vastly larger.
These great states OF Tamaulipas. Nueva
Leon, chihuahua, Coahuila and Sonora,
and probably others more interior, ,all with
their numerous population and vast in
dustrial resources, will naturally look TO
the United States for instruction In sci.
ence, the industrial arts and, to no inconN
siderable extent, in other departments of
knowledge. 1t belongs to Tex by right
Of our geological position to furnish all
this instructionst0 our neighbors on the
otner side of the Rio Grande. When we
educate their sons, when we diffuse our
knowledge among them, we shall not only
bind them to us In friendly relations but
we shall command their commerce, an in
flowing ocean stream of silver and gold.
Our great interest and our duty are here
united. A university of Texas Of the first
class is an indispensable means.
The question has been sprung whether
il Is not premature, too early to establish
an university of the class In question.
Why, Texas has at this moment popula-
ton of nearly two millions of sOuls--about
double the population of Virginia, slaves
included, at the time when Mr. jefferson
founded its university three times the
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