The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-14
DIR. WOOTEN'S ADDRESS.

| Following is the address OF DR.. Thomas
r. Wooten. chairman OF the board of re-
gents OF the university. delivered at the
inauguration OF President Winston, on
The Duty OF the State to the University"
The University Of Texas has reached
notable and important crisis in Its his
tory. Hitherto 1t may be said to have been
In It's formative and experimental stage o!
development, under the tutelage OF f.
primitive organization and struggling with
the difficulties OF its youthful inexperence.
But it has now arrived at maturer propor-
| tions, and n somewhat stalYart vigor OF life
and growth. This gradual approach toward
the cherished ideals Of those who guarded
its infancy and have Sostered its strength.
improvements In its administration, tho
most momentous OF which is the recent
election OF president of the university.
| The necessity for personal represent
ative and executive head OF so great an
educational foundation has always been
recognized, and his selection has heretofore
been postponed only by the exigencies OF
the universitys financial and administra.
tive conditions. Now. that the institution
has at last been supplied with its chief
executive officer In the person of a dis
ltinguished and capable scholar. a practical
and experienced educator, and wise aud
efficient organizer of university enterprise.
the board of regents have felt warranted
In making II. to some extent an occasion
Of public celebration and general rejoicing
The Significance OF the event. alone, de-
mands some formal recognition OF Its i'm
portance and the opportunity 1t affords for
taking some account OF the past. present
and prospective status and needs OF this
great public enterprise. In our judgment.
ought not to be permitted to escape UNI
noticed and unmproved
AS one who has been identified with its
every interest, and champion of its every
demand since it began Its feeble existence
fifteen years ago, I may be permitted. on
this occasion, TO advert briefly to some of
the considerations that ought reasonably
10 commend this great institution to the
lberality of our legislators. the loyalty of
our public officials and the stcadiast en-
couraGement and patronage OF our entir6
citizenship.
The cause OF public education was one OF
tho first interests that challenged the sup
port and received the Endorsement OF tho
fathers OF Texas. Their devotion 10 it--not
merely common school instruction. but
academic and university training--was not
limited by the difficulties OF their own ma
terial environment, nor was II permitted
to langush amid the distractions OF other
and louder claims upon their attention. In
nothing else did they SO clearly demon
strate their fitness to found great State
and their capacity to frame and maintain
a free government.
In the midst OF tho perls and problems
OF pioneer life surrounded by the terrors
OF savage warfare, exposed to every danger
and deprivation of the wilderness, and
threatened with the despotic oppression OF
an unfricndly government. tho Texan COL
onists OF lsS5-36 determined to rsk every
thing upon the desperate hazard OF revoin
tlon for the sake Of Independents. en-
lightenmont and progress. hut among all
tho practical and pressing issues OF those
days--issues that Involved the very right
TO live and prosper--they did not forget
the supreme value OF popular education as
an Indispensable factor In all true life and
prosperity. One Of the grievances prom,-
nsntly and emphatically declared as a sur
hcient cause for taking up arms against
Mexico, was the fact that the government
OF that country had failed to establish
|sny public systsm e education. Although