The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-11-16
rHEUNIvERsITY DEDICATION.

The sixteenth of November should
be made memorable day in Austin.
On that day one of the ancient and
honored forms of all civilized peo-
pie is to be celebrated in this. city,
and the occasion should be one of
rejoicing aud of display. Leading
citizens have been invited to be here
from all parts of the state, and many
will come to honor the occasion
with their encouraging presence.
On that day the regents of the state
university have determined TO
lay the corner stone of the
university buildings now un-
der course of construction, and TO
dedicate the temple that rises above
University Hill to the sacred cause
of higher education. On what oc-
casion should our people more prop
erly take time for pleasuring rec
reation than on the sixteenth, when
this public ceremony is to take place {
They should open their houses to
visitors, and show by generous re-
ception that the people of the capi-
tai city of Texas appreciate the dis
tinctions conferred upon Austin, and
that they will sustain them as far Us
lies in their power, with proper
pride. This university is
the beginning of thing grander by
far than expensive capitols and leg
islatures and executive departments
and courts. Towards this university
ambitious youths of Texas of both
sexes are to mount in a delightful
search after knowledge of an order
that elevates; towards this univer-
sity the poor boy of brains may
mount through the public schools
and, with the advantagethat knowl-
edge gives, reach after the highest
honOrs in the various walks of lite.
II is to be the fountain from
which the poor may drink as
freely as the rich, from which the
farm boy that loves nature and its
study may gain strength to struggle
up in time to an exalted place, where
he may teach natural sciences, even
himself as u great professor. This
university is to be the home Of
learning for Texas in it strong
youthful minds are to be trained to
grapple, little further on in life,
the great questions of science and
the problems of the age in which
they live, to educate and solve
them to the understanding of others.
The university of Texas must pro-
duce class of men like those of cul-
tivated Athens, must produce think
ers like those of Berlin and Bohn,
Leipsic and Heidelberg, Cambridge
and Edinburg, like unto the intel
lectual lights that burn brightly at
Harvard and Yale, and at Princeton
and Hopkins and Virginia univer-
sity. The day will come when not
only Texans will point with pride to
to their university, but when the lit
erary societies of the world will
honor it. Great and rich as
is Texas, so must its uni
versity become great and rich and
commanding, because of its accumu-
lated wisdom, elevating to people,
exalting to their institutions.
Surely the people of Austin can
take deep interest in this ap-
preaching formal ceremony. The
sixteenth should be a gala
day in the capital. All business
houses might close for short time
during the ceremony, so that all per-
sons may add interest to the occa-
sion. Our municipal government.
our charitable organizations, and our
bands of brotherhood, military and
fire companies, might all turn out to
welcome guests and do honor to the
infant university. All should COM
bine to make the honored custom of
the day impressive. The people of
Texas have entrusted to us the uni
versity, and at its very birth let us
bow down before it and offer it gifts
from our hearts.