The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-11-23
NO. 16

hopes and designs Of the founders OF th,
Republic. The fifty leagues OF land were
surveyed and set apart.
In 1858 the legislature passed law pro
Vldlng for the establishment OF the uni.
yersity, gave IL 800 900 in bonds of the
United States then owned by Texas, and
provided that one-teDth Of the sections OF
land surveyed for common schools in con.
| nection with the railroad donations
should be selected and set apart for the
university. This law was not carried
into effect except as to the bonds.
In 1873 the constitutional convention
gave the one-tenth section 10 the common
schools, and as q substitute therefor
required the legislature to have set apart
one million Of acres OF land to the uni
verslty, which was carried into effect by
the action of the legislature in 1879.
The lands taken from the university
and turned over to the common schools
amounted to about one million seven
hundred thousand acres, and had there
been no such action by the convention,
tue lands Of the university from that
source would have amounted to over two
millions OF acres more than the amount
they gave as q substitute. Hence there
was an effort made in the legislature of
1881 TO set apart to the university two
millions OF acres OF land, TO be taken out
oil The lands that had been reserved to
pay the public debt.
Notwithstanding that effort then failed,
the dominant party In this state. acting
through the delegates OF the people In the
convention at Galveston, during the pres
ent year, manifested their appreciation
OF a liberal endowment and support Of
the university.
The legislature of 1881 passed a law
submitting the location Of the university
TO the voters OF the state, and for Its or
ganization and establishment, under
which the present honorable board of
regents were appointed, and have acted.
BY their intelligently directed efforts this
great event, which we have come up here
this day TO celebrate, has been brought
about.
Thus will 1t be seen that during the
long period of iorty-three years, the
establishment OF this institution si learn
ing has been almost constantly present in
the minds Of the highest or Ter OF men in
Texas, and has II ON time to time up TO
the present enlisted their patriotic
efforts.
therefore repeat that 1t cannot be that
the people Of this great state will allow
the University OF Texas to be anything
below frst.class. as required by the con-
stltuti0n OF the state.
Let 1t not be supposed that all this
yearning desire and we'll directed efforts
OF those who have gone before US, and OF
those ofthe present time, originated only
from an abstract love of learnin OF high
order rs an end; the mere besto VINE nt OF
literary and scientific excellence for It's
own sake alone. Far from IL. They
regard IL as a means more than as an nd
means OF development, in all of the ele-
ments OF higher and higher civilization
to progress perpetually. The great and
leadlng motive has been and is the asplra-
ton ofpatrJoLism.
For be it known now, and TO be remem.
bered sarule deeply founded in the very
uAture oil social organization, that national
greatness is hOme-made-a homemade
material, not exotic, not imported, but
produced aud reared on the soil that IL
ennobles. The history OF all nations, that
have been or are great. demonstrates II.
Who made Greece what sue VAST An
swer, Greeks educated In Greece. Who
gave Rome universal empire in her
dayf Answer, Romans educated In
the EN- Ire. Who made England,
France and Germany what they are to-
dayf Answer, sons OF their own soil ed
ucated NJ home. The thirteen American
colonies did not even assert their inde-
Pendence OF power three thousand miles
across the ocean until they had built up
home, who filed their council halls. So
II has ever been, and ever will be, that no
state or nation will ever approach the
acme OF its greatness until its own native
born sons, educated at home, Inspired
with q common purpose, trained In assim-
Hated modes Of thought and action, shall
direct Its destiny. We that are here
merly, have come here with respectively
different training and modes Of thought
and action In public affairs and, however
much has been done for the good OF the
state, we can never hope such harmony
and unity OF action by us as to produce
the greatest possible results.
But let our common school system, for
which an ample provision In expectancy
has already been made, become fully de-
veloped let the intermediate high
schools be fostered and let the university
and Its branches be more amply endowed.
organized and put into full operation as
hrstClass university-the guiding head of
our educational system, then will this
state have put on her armor to vie with
other states and nations for superiority,
And then, after q time, future genera
tions will proudly point to the University
OF Texas as the brightest Jewel in the
crown OF our greatness as q people and as
q state.
After another selection by the band.
Col. j. II. McCleary spoke for a few
moments TO the assemblage as follows:
ATTORNEY GENERAL McLEARY.
Brethren Of the Masonic fraternity and citizens
of Texas:
This day. this hour, marks an epoch
in the history Of Texas. Our fathers
laid the foundations of this university
deep in the constitution and statutes Of
our state, but it is reserved for us 10 Law
the material cornerstone of this first
building, which we fondly hope may be
the beginning Of a grand monumental
pie OF structures devoted TO the nooIe
cause Of higher education. This classic
spot was chosen in the early days of our
young state as the most fitting for the
site of the great university wherein the
sons and daughters Of the Lone Star
state might drink deep from the peren-
nial fountains of knowledge. No more
pleasing prospect greets the eye from
any hill top or mountain peak within
the limits of our broad domain. Here.
then. let our children congregate TO
listen to the words of wisdom as they
fall from the lips of sages, and through
printed pages hold converse with The
master spirits Of the mighty desd. The
halls Of this institution should be open
and its lectures free to every son and |
daughter of Texas who is sufficiently |
TO profit by the lessons which |
will here be taught Our fathers have
dealt with this favorite seminarywith no
sparing hand. Let not Texas, as she
grows older. contract and foster that |
vice peculiar % age, ard at all tunes so
1espicable, the sin Of avarice. The en-
iowment given to her university should
Dc made worthy of the great state of
Texas. No successful rival should be
ound for it on either side of the Allan
ic. To make II such as il should be
will require time, but we have been
ruly taught that "Time, patience and
conquer all things Here
n this temple OF knowledge may our
children. for a hundred gen.
.rations, offer the sweet incense Of
,tudy and thought on the altars Of sci
nee and art. And we now from our
learts say to this cradle Of higher
rocked here in the balmy
reezes Of our southern gull. warmed by
he genial rays Of our semi-tropical sun.
With loving eyes by the best of
III nurses. our Spartan mother, the
,reat state Of Texas, "Esto perpetua."
Thus concluded these important cere-
Monies, and the various organizations
gain taking position in line, returned to
heir homes.
The group upon the stand was photo
,raphed by Hill during the proceedings,