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I see it stated here that there is a vast scope of territory, embracing an area of over two millions of square miles, rich in every element of material wealth and commercial prosperity, all tributary to "Duluth.”

Look at it, sir [pointing to the map]. Here are inexhaustible mines of gold, immeasurable veins of silver, impenetrable depths of boundless forest, vast coal measures, wide-extended plains of richest pasturage-all, all embraced in this vast ter ritory-which must, in the very nature of things, empty the untold treasures of its commerce into the lap of “Duluth.”

Look at it, sir [pointing to the map]; do you not see from these broad, brown lines drawn around this immense territory that the enterprising inhabitants of "Duluth" intend some day to inclose it all in one vast corral, so that its commerce will be bound to go there whether it would or not? And here, sir [still pointing to the map], I find within a convenient distance the Piegan Indians, which, of all the many accessories to the glory of "Duluth," I consider by far the most inestimable. For, sir, I have been told that when the smallpox breaks out among the women and children of the famous tribe, as it sometimes does, they afford the finest subjects in the world for the strategical experiments of any enter prising military hero who desires to improve himself in the noble art of war, especially for any valiant lieutenantgeneral whose

"Trenchant blade, Toledo trusty,

For want of fighting has grown rusty,
And eats into itself for lack

Of somebody to hew and hack."

Sir, the great conflict now raging in the Old World has presented a phenomenon of military science unprecedented in the annals of mankind, a phenomenon that has reversed all the traditions of the past, as it has disappointed all the ex

pectations of the present. A great and warlike people, renowned alike for their skill and valor, have been swept away before the triumphant advance of an inferior foe like autumn stubble before a hurricane of fire.

For aught I know the next flash of electric fire that simmers along the ocean cable may tell us that Paris, with every fiber quivering with the agony of impotent despair, writhes beneath the conquering heel of her loathed invader. Ere another moon shall wax and wane the brightest star in the galaxy of nations may fall from the zenith of her glory never to rise again. Ere the modest violets of early spring shall ope their beauteous eyes the genius of civilization may chant the wailing requiem of the proudest nationality the world has ever seen, as she scatters her withered and tear-moistened lilies o'er the bloody tomb of butchered France.

But, sir, I wish to ask if you honestly and candidly believe that the Dutch would have overrun the French in that kind of style if General Sheridan had not gone over there and told King William and Von Moltke how he had managed to whip the Piegan Indians?

And here, sir, recurring to this map, I find in the immediate vicinity of the Piegans "vast herds of buffalo" and "immense fields of rich wheat lands."

"

[Here the hammer fell. Many cries, "Go on! Go on! The Speaker-Is there any objection to the gentleman from Kentucky continuing his remarks? The chair hears none. The gentleman will proceed. Mr. Knott continued:]

I was remarking, sir, upon these vast "wheat fields" represented on this map, in the immediate neighborhood of the buffaloes and Piegans, and was about to say that the idea of there being these immense wheat fields in the very heart of wilderness, hundreds and hundreds of miles beyond the ut

most verge of civilization, may appear to some gentlemen as rather incongruous, as rather too great a strain on the "blankets" of veracity.

But to my mind there is no difficulty in the matter whatever. The phenomenon is very easily accounted for. It is evident, sir, that the Piegans sowed that wheat there and plowed it in with buffalo bulls. Now, sir, this fortunate combination of buffaloes and Piegans, considering their relative positions to each other and to " Duluth," as they are arranged on this map, satisfies me that "Duluth " is destined to be the best market of the world. Here, you will observe [pointing to the map], are the buffaloes, directly between the Piegans and "Duluth;" and here, right on the road to "Duluth," are the Creeks. Now, sir, when the buffaloes are sufficiently fat from grazing on those immense wheat fields, you see it will be the easiest thing in the world for the Piegans to drive them on down, stay all night with their friends, the Creeks, and go into "Duluth" in the morning.

I think I see them now, sir, a vast herd of buffaloes, with their heads down, their eyes glaring, their nostrils dilated, their tongues out, and their tails curled over their backs, tearing along toward "Duluth," with about a thousand Piegans on their grass-bellied ponies yelling at their heels! On they come! And as they sweep past the Creeks they join in the chase, and away they all go, yelling, bellowing, ripping and tearing along amid clouds of dust until the last buffalo is safely penned in the stockyards at "Duluth."

Sir, I might stand here for hours and hours and expatiate with rapture upon the gorgeous prospects of "Duluth," as depicted upon this map. But human life is too short and the time of this House far too valuable to allow me to linger longer upon this delightful theme. I think every gentle

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man upon this floor is as well satisfied as I am that "Duluth is destined to become the commercial metropolis of the universe, and that this road should be built at once. I am fully persuaded that no patriotic representative of the American people, who has a proper appreciation of the associated glories of "Duluth" and the St. Croix, will hesitate a moment, that every able-bodied female in the land, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, who is in favor of " woman's rights," should be drafted and set to work upon this great work without delay. Nevertheless, sir, it grieves my very soul to be compelled to say that I cannot vote for the grant of lands provided for in this bill.

Ah, sir, you can have no conception of the poignancy of my anguish that I am deprived of that blessed privilege! There are two insuperable obstacles in the way. In the first place my constituents, for whom I am acting here, have no more interest in this road than they have in the great question of culinary taste now, perhaps, agitating the public mind of Dominica, as to whether the illustrious commissioners, who recently left this capital for that free and enlightened republic, would be better fricasseed, boiled or roasted, and, in the second place, these lands, which I am asked to give away, alas, are not mine to bestow! My relation to them is simply that of trustee to an express trust! And shall I ever betray that trust? Never, sir! Rather perish "Duluth!" Perish the paragon of cities! Rather let the freezing cyclones of the bleak northwest bury it forever beneath the eddying sands of the raging St. Croix.

DIAZ

PORFIRIO DIAZ, a distinguished Mexican soldier and statesman, presi

dent of the Mexican Republic, was born at Oaxaca, September 15, 1830. He was educated in the Institute of the State of Oaxaca and after beginning the study of law abandoned it to enter the national guards when the American army invaded Mexico. In 1854 he engaged in the rebellion against Santa Anna and for the next twenty years was incessantly active in the numerous revolts and insurrections against the successive governments of Mexico. He attained the rank of general in 1861 and took part in the defence of Puebla against the French in 1863. Upon its surrender he made his escape from a short imprisonment within the French lines and took command of the Mexican army. In spite of many obstacles and reverses he maintained the Republican cause through the period of the French rule under Maximilian, which was brought to an end by Diaz's capture of Puebla on April 21, 1867, and that of the city of Mexico two months later. In October of that year Diaz was an unsuccessful candidate for the presidency against Juarez, and for the next eight or nine years was usually in opposition to the government. He headed the revolt against the administration of President Lerdo in 1876, putting Lerdo's forces to rout in several engagements. In 1877 he was elected president for four years, but his administration was an unquiet one and he was principally occupied in putting down revoits. He secured the election of General Gonzalez as his successor in 1880, and on the expiration of Gonzalez's term of office in 1884 Diaz was elected president a second time. Through successive re-elections he has continued in office as chief magistrate ? Mexico until the present time (1900). He is very popular throughout Mexico and in his administration of affairs has exhibited wisdom and executive ability. Under his government the trade and manufacture of Mexico have been greatly augmented, education has been advanced, the resources of the country have been developed and railroads and telegraphs have been extended.

PEACE ROOTED IN THE HEARTS OF ALL

SPEECH DELIVERED AT A BANQUET GIVEN IN HIS HONOR,
DECEMBER 1, 1900

G

ENTLE EN,-In responding to my distinguished

and good friends, Governor Obregón and the honorable deputy Chavero, I begin with manifesting to them and to their respective constituents, in whose name they have honored me, my profound gratitude for the deli

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