The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-06-19

had been two attempts by the legis--
lature before 1881, which had failed.
Surely the condition of the country
and the increased necessity for home
education of higher standard de-
manded its establishment, and that
there should be an effort to inaugu-
rate it, with the means that had been
! or might be furnished. 1t could not
have been expected, however long it
might have been deferred, to be started
into existence as first class Univer-
sity in every respect, but only to be-
first class in all respects when 1t was
practical to make it so in the progress
of its development, as many other
first class Universities have been
made. There was only one way that.
was then practicable to start it upon
high standard looking to its ulti
mately reaching the first class That
was to establish only such a number
of professorships as could be paid
competent salaries, by which able
professors could be employed, whose
teachings would be of a first class
order. That plan was adopted in the
origin of the main University. From
the desire to increase the courses OF
study and number of teachers, and
from the want of adequate means Of
support for those objects, that policy
has not been strictly adhered to. Its.
Importance will be appreciated when
,eilnroI that onpnnntnnt
teachers generally make teaching the
business of their lives. They are val
liable according to the ability and
reputation which they acquire in the
business, and as their services
will be in demand. Unless they have
reasonable surety of permanent and
adequate compensation, according to-
their merits, they will be forced to be-
in the market for the highest bidder.
Thus the University may from time to-
time lose its best teachers. Deserving,
teachers ought not to be subjected to-
such precarious position, but should
be placed in position to feel them
selves permanently identified with the
University, and to have a personal
pride in its prosperity and high stand
ing. A university should not be de-
pendent for its reputation upon any
one professor, but sucE body of
teachers should be kept permanently
in its different branches as would es--
tablish and maintain its high charac-
ter, irrespective of the public estimate
placed upbn any one of its professors
so that the loss of any one of the n,
would not detract from the institution
itself.
While each branch and department.
of the University is essential in a sys-
tenn of public education, the academic,
department of the main University at,
Austin should be regard as the most
important, and as deserving the most
liberal support to secure its prosperity.
1t, above all other schools, must be
looked to as fixing the standard of eX-
cellence in education, whose influence
should permeate the whole State and
set the example OF thorough and ac-
curate teaching in all the schools. 1t,
in its nature, is capable of great ex-
tension in the objects to which it may
be devoted when their enlargement.
may become practicable. The efforts
of the State of Texas to promote ed
ucation will be judged of at home and
abroad largely by the character it may
be made to acquire and maintain.
Unlike other schools, its sphere of OPP
Grafton is unlimited. Itmay be made.
to embrace the learning of the world
in literature, art and science. The de-
partments of law, of medicine and of
agriculture and mechanics are special
schools TO prepare persons for their
life work in Texas. 1t is proper that
they should be instituted and carried
on for the promotion of their specific
objects. The government and laws IF
Texas are in many respects peculiar.
which can be learned here better by
law student than in any other institu--
ton outside of the State. The law
department, as well as the academic
department., has suffered some disad-
vantages from the want of proper
number OF academies, or intermediate
high schools, to prepare students with
the proper degree of education to.
protitably enter the University. Still
it is believed that enough of them
have been prepared to receive the fulh
benefit of the teaching here that will
reflect credit on the institution.
In favor of medical department it
may be said that Texas, like every
other country, has phases of diseases
and curative principles, to some ex-
tent peculiar to itself, which will make
that department advantageous to our
medical students, as we'll as beneficial
to those upon whom they may prac---
tice afterwards.
The agriculture of Texas has di-
versity OF productions depending upon
its various conditions of climate, to-
Biography, meteriology, rainfall and
fertility of soils Of different kinds that.
would make the study of it in all parts.
OF the State comprehensive science.
in itself. There is no branch of edu.
cation that would be more useful to,
our people in a material point of view
than it could be made. Today we need