The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-06-10

Old capitol that once stood on that hal
] wed spot. What patriot heart but
.hriIls al the mention of such names of
high renown as Sam Houston, the hte-
long friend of Andrew Jackson; Thomas j..
Rusk, j. Pinkney Henderson, Stephen
f. Austin, Burnet, Burleson,
Lipscombe, Hemphill, Williamson,
DIETER known as "three-legged
Wiliie") Navarro. Bee. Ochiltree. Darden,
Lee, Volney Howard, Mayfeld. Kaufman,
| Van Zandt, Van Ness, Kinney. the Harde-
mans, the Jacks, the Scurrys, the Whar-
tons the Hollands, Mckinney, Maynard
| Menifee, Ben Franklin, Bache, and man I,
others scarcely less renowned.
There, on that memory-haunted spot,
their voices were heard in high debate or
grave deliberations; and thence rang out
upon the young but giant state, waking
its slumbering talents and energies to
those deeds of wi e renown, those achieve
ments in the fed and cabinet, in the arts
of peace and war, which have since at
tracte2 the attention of the world and
drawn hither from her sister states, and
from lands beyond the seas, tide of en-
ligntened emigration, which has gone on
increasing from year to year until now it
is only a question OF a decade or
two before Texas shall be crowned the YER
liable "empire state" of our Ocean-bound
republic, imperial in population as a ter
ritory, in fertility of soil, salubrity of
climate, in mineral resources and in all
the developed elements of wealth, power
and worldwide renown
There too, in that old barn-like hall, by
courtesy styled a capitol, was originated
the present liberal educational system of
Texas. There, i'll the cong tess of the re-
public, the idea of great state university
was born, which has since rounded into
glorious form, and is now marching for
ward to full fruition under hap piest au
spices. From the congress came the orig
nal grant of forty acres of Austin ground
upon which the university building now
stands; and from the same source
came that splendid donation of
half hundred leagues of land,
which, added to still more munihcent
grant of one million acres by recent
legislature of the state, forms its chief
endowment, and is destined to make it, in
the near future, under the good provi-
lence of God the finest seat of learning
on this continent, if not on the globe.
The forefathers, whose genius and hero
SIN made the old capitol site ''Mecea Of
the mind" and heart to all true Texans.
clearly forecasted the brilliant destiny of
their infant state and munificently pro-
yided for the education and training OF
he com ny gencrali rs. 1t is to them
we are chiefly indebted for the interlocked
system of cOmmol,, hig her, and university
education, now moving forward to mag
uiticent success under the most fattering
aus pices.
List us commemorate their noble deeds.
Let us prove to the world that republics
are not always ungrateful. Let US show
our gratitude by building them durable
monument, or ''brass and marble memo
rial of some kind, on the cherished spot
where they labored so effectively for our
benefit and for the benefit of our children,
and our children's children.
Let us, in fine, decree them a peerless
memorial pavilion, and ourselves "a state
ly pleasure dome" on yonder cd capitol
hill, which shall be for all generations, as
long as sun and moon endure!
Old TEXAS