The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-12
DISTINGUISHED men
Who Have VISITED
s ST. PAUL

the mississippi Ill a canoe
233 Years Ago, and In
cludes Many Illustrious
Statesmen and Presidents.
The, past ten days have been busy
ones for st. Paul, and it is only the
oldest inhabitant who could afford to
pause for reflection. A few days ago,
for instance, when every man, woman
and child was kept busy contributing
to the entertainment OF the two dis
tinSuished visitors within the gates Of
the Sanity City the oldest inhabitant
alone was able to withdraw to a sunny
corner and give himself up to the de-
light of dwelling in the past.
Old times are always the best for the
Oldest tnhabttant, so that it. is not sur
prisfng that, in recalling the visits paid
to st. Paul by other great men and on
the entertainment prepared for them,
he should be firmly convinced that
these far surpassed in Splendor the
demonstrations held in honor of Rresi-
dent Roosevelt and Admiral Schley.
Even If the oldest inhabitants conclu-
sion is not just, his "reminiscences are
interesting, for many noted men have
from time, to, time honored the city
with their presence.
OF course even the very oldest in
habitant cannot remember the visit of
the first great man who came to st.
Paul. He came up the river in a canoe
rowed by painted and blanketed saw
ages, and there was no committee of
prominent citizens, no brass band, no
waving bunting to welcome him.
Father ChampIain the First.
His name was Father Champlain,
and his memorable visit was paid just
233 years ago. the last day of this
month. The great men who followed
Champlain remained here, if not per-
manently, at least for long time. so
that it is not until over a century later
that one finds. any record CT a flying
visit paid by great man. In fact, IA
cll1t1eS before that time did not permit
of flying visits.
But in the next century, in the latter
part Of the forties, Willard Fillmore
came up the river from Rock Island,
and the little village put on gala attire
to receive him. Mr.. Fillmore was not
president then, but he was a power in
national politics., Shortly after his
visit, Minnesota was made a territory,
and Alexander Ramsey, in 1849. was
appointed it's governor by President
Zachary Taylor. whom Fillmore sue
ceeded. 1t is believed that FilImore's
representations to the president had
much to do with the comforting of ter
ritorial honors on Minnesota.
In the fall Of 1860, Hon. William III.
Seward, one of the presidential possi-
b1llties in the contest for the national
office that fall, and later appointed by
a II In
testant, secretary of state, paid ST.
Paul visit
Predicted ST. PauPs Future.
He delivered an address at the state
capltol on Ihe Duty, Responsibility
and Future of the Northwest" and in
1t painted roseate picture of the fu-
ture greatness of st. Paul There is a.
pretty, story told in connection with
Mr.. Stewards visit
ON the day of his arrival he was
g1venAa drive about the1city. When
the party reached the bluffs that over
hang the river in the vicinity of
Dayton's bluff, the members alighted,
and Mr.. Seward. gazed thoughtfuliy for
time UP and down the river Finally,
| ne turned to the men who were enter
! tanning BIN and remarked:
Gentlemen, predict that within the
next halfsa century a splendid city will
| be built up here. $ Railroads will con-
meet you with every part. of the CONT
| nent, and these. together with your
river traffic, Will make you a great
| commercial center"
| Since it has proven true, "Seward's
| prophecy, as 1T is called, has been fire.
| quently quated, although it seemed al
| most as exaggerated then as did, later,
| Proctor KnDtks famous speech con-
| corning the%glbrious destiny of Duluth.
| Horace Greeley the Next.
Horace Greeley came to st.PauI Sept.
| Is. 1871. At that time the jealousy
which has always existed between ST
Paul and Minneapolis was particularly
| strong. Greeley has been engaged to
| deliver lecture in Minneapolis at the
fa1r that was held there in opposition
to the state fair held yearly at Kittson-
dale, in StsPaul. The address In Min
| neapol1s was to be delivered out OF
doors, and st. Paulites concluded that
] 1t would be spp breach of etiquette to
! engage the famous editor for lecture
| to be delivered the night before in
this city. Mr.. Greeley made no objec-
tons, and the lecture was delivered in
the old Grand opera house on Bridge
| square.
The next afternoon H. P. Hall, who
was then reporting for a st. Paul pa
per, escorted Mr.. Greeley to the town
up the river. The lecturer went to
/ the N1collet hotel, where it had pre-
vious1y been arranged that Mr.. Greeley
should stop, but there was not a Min
neapolis man there to meet him. The
| city was strange to him, but the lee
turer managed to find his way to the
! exposition building, in front of which
| he was to make his address. He was
| greeted coldly and his address was re-
| ceived in silence.
| At it's conclusion, the chairman of
| the committee thrust into the lectur-
! er's hands roll of bills and turned
away. Mr.. Hall secured a carriage and
took Mr.. Greeley back to the hotel.
| The latter was naturally bewildered
| by his frigfd reception, but when he
| heard of the jealousy that existed be-
| tween the two towns the mystery was
! explained.
| With the lecturer on that trip was
| William H. Vanderbilt, son of Commo-
I dore Vanderbilt. He was warm. per-
| sonal friend of Mr.. Greeley, and the
| two stayed atzwhat is now known as
| the Metropolitan hotel during thei7.
| brief visit to st. Paul.
President Hayes,Visit.
The nexto distinguished visitor was
not a presidential possibility, but a
real president, Rutherford B. Hayes.
His visit again aroused the slumbering
flames of Jealousy, but this time it was
st. Paul who suffered.
The president came for the purpose