The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-02-12
VIEWS OF OTHERS.
J. Proctor Knott.
Editor Irish Standard:

Observation-Disclosures
J. Proctor Knott.
Editor Irish Standard:
Sir-Last weeks Standard contained
an article copied from the Catholic
Columbian which states that proctor
Knott has gone down in history, known
only as the author of the humorous
speech Duluth delivered in Congress
years ago."
The implication in the above sem
tence that Proctor Knott la dead
has gone down in history"-comes as
a painful surprise. When he celebrat-
ed his golden wedding last year he was
still in the possession of all his splen-
did mental faculties. II he has since
died, the American press has been wo.
fully wanting in it's duty to the pub
lie by not giving wider publicity to
such an important event. In any case
the Columbian writer's estimate of Mr..
Knott is defective and needs to he re-
cast. Proctor Knott will go down i'll
history"-if the history be truthfully
Written-as one of the most distin-
guished sons Of state that has been
prolific in eminent men. Nor will he
be known only as brilliant wit.
Whether we consider him as statesman,
iurist, orator or scholar, he is entitled.
to place in the very first rank This
late Judge Jere S. Black of Pennsyl-
vania-surely q competent authority
pronounced his argument against the
fourteenth amendment to the constitu-
ton to be zone of the most profound
expositions of the American polity of
government ever made in either house
OF Congress" For years he was chair
man of the House Committee on the
Judiciary, position that is never CIV
en- to men Of lnediocrity. His public
speeches are models of classic elo-
quence interspersed with apt illusions
to, and quotations from, classical and
historical literature which show at
once the broad scope of his scholar.
ship.
The man chiefly responsible for this
attempt to belittle Mr.. Knott is one
VIM. E. Curtis-a syndicate writer bet
ter known for the fecundity of his pen
than for the accuracy of his state
ments, as his late letters on the con-
dition of Ireland abundantly prove. A
couple of years ago Curtis, in allusior
to Mr.. Knots Duluth speech, said:
1T is a singular fact that the Ken
lucky representatives reputation for
wit and satire rests upon no other
foundation. He never made a funny
speech before or since, although he
was known for his good stories and
his ability as mimic
"A singular fact!"-very singular, in
deed,-one of Curtis facts. Evidently
Mr.. Curtis wrote either in total ignor~
ance of the facts, or with the intention
of misstating them. When Proctor
Knott made his Duluth speech his rep
utation as wit was already estab-
lished. Not only at home in Kentucky,
where he kept his audiences in roars
of laughter, but in the halls Of Con-
gress, his fame for hulnor Of the finest
flavor was secure. The Duluth speech
was made during the sessions of the
Forty-first Congress. In the previous
Congress Mr.. Knott made a speech on
motion for an appropriation to pave
Pennsylvania avenue, which many per-
sons think even superior to the effort
on which, we are told, his reputation
chiefly rests. My readers may judge
for themselves from The following quo
tation for the length of which offer no
apology:
But, Mr.. Chairman, have heard
one reason very frequently urged for
the passage of this bill which, oandor
compels me to admit, almost convinces
me that we ought to appropriate. not
only this sum of $4,000, but any 9TH
er amount that might be necessary to
repave Pennsylvania avenue at the very
earliest possible period of time; and
that is, that it is much used by the
horde of ofhceholders who throng the
thoroughfares Of this city in numbers
almost equal to the hosts which were
hurled with Lucifer from the battle .
ments of heaven. For, sir, II there is
being on this earth for whose COM