The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-11-21

SSlldIlVGS at washington ny lue f1Ou.
]. Proctor Knott of Kentucky in 1871.
Its object was to ridicule the grant to
the bayfield, and ST. Croix railroad,
which was to run from Hudson, Wis,
to Bayfield, and Superior, Wis. Con-
gresham Knott was friend of the
projectors of this road but understood
the terminus was to be in Duluth,
while in fact it was to give Duluth the
go-by and terminate in Wisconsin,. He
made such humorous speech and
speech OF such length that when it
was finished the time had expired for
taking vote and the land grant bill
did not pass the session. Duluth par
ties at that time were opposing the
grant. The Lake Superior and Mis-
sissippi railroad was then in it's in.
fancy. and upon the forfeiture of the
St. Croix Land Grant grant was Sc
cured for the Lake Superior and Mis-
sissippi railroad, the predecessor of
the st. P. & d. railroad, now merged
into the Northern Pacific The cit
liens of Duluth were quick to wire
congratulations to Mr.. Knott and Of
fered him the best lot in the town at
that time for thus unintentionally
giving Duluth boost. Its 1000 popu-
lation of 1870 was soon doubled and
trebled until now the number has al
most reached $4,000. Proctor Knott
in his famous speech said:
Mr.. Speaker: Ii 1 could be actuatcd
by any conceivable inducement to be-
tray the sacred trust reposed in me
by those to whose generous confidence
am indebted for the honor of a seat
ON this floor; if l could be influenced
by any possible consideration to be-
come Instrumental in giving away il,
violation of their known wishes, auv
portion of their interests in the public
domain for the mere promoting of any
railroad enterprise whatever, should
certainly feel strong inclination 20
give this measure my most earnest and
hearty support; for I am assured that
its success would materially enhance
the pecuniary prosperity of some of
the most valued friends l have on
earth; friends for whose accommodation
would be willing to make almost any
sacrifice not involving my personal
honor or fidelity as the trustee of an
express trust. And that fact of itself
would be sufficient to countervail al
most any objection might entertain tc
the passage of this bill, not inspired
by an imperative and MEMORABLE, sense
o. public duty.
| But. independent of the seductive
influences of private friendship, to
which I admit ! am, perhaps. rs sus-
ceptible as any of the gentlemen sec
around me, the intrinsic merits of the
measure itself are of such an extraor-
binary character as to commend IL
most strongly to the favorable consid-
GRAFTON Of the House, myself not ex-
copied, Notwithstanding my constitu-
ents. in whose behalf alone am act
ing here. would not be benefited by it's
passage one particle more than they
would be by project to cultivate an
orange grove OH the bleakest summit
oe Greenland's icy mountains. U4augh-
ter.)
Now sir. as to those great trunk
lines Of railroads spanning the CONT
nent from ocean to ocean, confess my
mind has never been fully made up.
II is true they may afford some trin-
ing advantages to local traffic. AMI
they may even, in time. become the
channel of a more extended commerce /;
yet have never been thoroughly sat-
isfied either Of the necessity or ex-
pediency Of projects promising such
meager results to the great body Of tie
people. But with regard to the trans
cendant merits Of the gigantic enter
prise contemplated in this bill never
entertained shadow of a doubt,
| NLduSHleI.J IedtS ago, "nen l hrct
heard that there was, somewhere in
the vast terro incognita, somewhere H.,
the bleak region of the Northwest, q
stream Of water known to the nomadic
Inhabitants Of the neighborhood as the
river St. Croix, ] became satisfied that
the construction Of railroad from,
that raging torrent, to some point in
the civilized world, was essential tn
the prosperity and happiness OF tie
American people, if not absolutely in-
Gispensable to the perpctuity OF Re-
publican institutions on this continent
(Great laughter.) had An abiding
rresentment that, some day or other
the people Of the whole country, fire.
spective Of party Affiliations, regardless
OF sectional preindices. and "withou.
distinction Of race color. or Of previous