National Republican., 1878-03-05
ROBERT EMMETT.
THE ONE HUSDRETH LSHITERSARY
OF HIS BIRTH.
How n Was Celebrated In Warrington
LIfc and Character Of the Great Irish Pa
triot as Portrayed by Hon. A. NJ. waddsii
s.n 10

trfot as Portrayed by Hon. n. N. "auoeh
ball Of the Hibernian Society.
The one hundreth anniversary Of the birth Of
Robert Emmett the Irish patriot, was celebrated In
this city last evening, both by lecture upon En-
met from the lips Of distinguished orator and
ball. given under the auspices OF Washington City
Hibcrnia Benevolent Society, No. 1.
| The lecture Of Hon. A. n. Waddcll. Of North
| Carolina on the life and character Of Robert En-.
met, at Fords operaiiouse called out a large au-
dcnce Of the admirers Of the celebrated Irish pa
| triot" A committee Of Arrangements consisting Of
MeSSrs Moran, Brosnan and Glll, had charge OF the
| decorations of the Opera. House, and performed
| their duties very cleverly.
| A large portrait OF kmmet occupied coiispcu-
ois place IN front of the lecturer over which was
| the following inscription:
"The tear that we she'd,
| while IN secret Il rolls
| Shall long keep his memory
Green In oiir souls
The stege and boxes were drapsd with the !Amerl.
can Irish and flags, aud the stand from which the
| speaker read his manuscript was covered with \
| beautiful green silk banner.
| The knights Of ST. Patrick turned out as guard
OF honor and escorted the lecturer from his hotel
The f foiiowins gentlemen occupied seats upon the
stage: Senator Jones, OF Florida; Patrick Cara
| her, commander Knights OF St Patrick; Cornelius
Ryan NJ. 4. UrclI, Dr. Antisell, and James Inckcy.
senator Jones was introduced to the audience,
and said:
Ladies and gentlemen. the occasion which has
| brought us here to night j. not an ordinary one.
| The memory Of the man whose birth we celebrate
will ever be green IN the hearts OF his cOuntrymcn:
This Is the first time since his death that general
manifestation Of the regard in which he Is held has
been made throughout the word. The time has
not yet arrived To write Robert Emmets cpitaph,
hut II is time that we should vndcate his motives.
The history Of Ireland II written In tears and blood
| II would not have been difficult for Emnet To have
achieved honor, fame, and authority, had he been
willing to sacrifice his country. Hut am not here
to make q long speech aud now take great pleas
urc in introducing Hon. A. ". Waddell, Of North
Carolina, who will speak OF the virtues and petri.
otism Of the man whose memory Will ever be green
in the hearts N his beloved cOuntrymen.
THE LECTURE.
Mr.. Waddeil said:
'Mr. President ladies and gentlemen. in St.
| Michan's churchyarN In Dublin. there is q
large granite slab without any inscription, which
marks a spot Of earth dear 10 the hearts Of every
tue lrishman wherever his home may be; for there,
iningling with the soil he loved 10 well. lies the
dust which. when instinct with lic, crowned with
genius, and glowing with patriotism men call Rob
Crt Emmet. SeVcnty.ivc years have passed since
tho cNcCutiUncr held up before the horror.stricken
multitude his severed head. and turning the pale
hut placid face toward them, proclaimed him a
traitor aud suffered the dogs to lap up his blood as
II drippCl from the scnfOld aud here to-day In an
other land 5000 miles acrpss the sen and amer the
lapse OF three quarters Of Il UCaury men gather tu
do honor to his memory, and tn erect monument
where That scailold was. Oh what an avenger is
! The rcstnrer OF the Just
The bcnutiher Of the dead"
with what steady and meSOrablc hand does
>istory pen the record Of unsuccessful "a well a.
! victorious
y STRUGGLES TOR LrRERTY.
/ and how hopcles. Is the task which force attempt.
when ii seeks to destroy what i inpershnble. Suc
ress makes heroes aud pal lots the want OF II
! traitors aud criminals. Such /. the judgment u
mankind for season: but there j. u rcy0mpcnse In
. the years. and though 1t he all too late for tho
cAuSe, 1t vindiCatcs aud inmortalizcs the men who
4 peTished with Il.
. "Rebclom! foul. dishOuOriug word,
9 Whose wnIngml blight 50 on has stained
!, | The hOlest cause that tongue or SN ord
OF mortal ever lost or gained.
How many spirit born To bless
Hath sunk beneath that whitening name
II Whom but days, an hours success
Hath waited 10 eternal fame,
J. As eNhalatiOns when they burst
=. From the warm earth, IL chilled al first
II Ifcheck'd in soaring from the plain
Darken 10 fOgs and sink GGnin
~ But II they once triumphant spread
IS Their wings above the mountain.hcaG,
y Become erthTJned IN upper air
So And turn to sun.brght glOTlcS there,
ts Let lis examine the character, the education. tn
a, surroundings Of this young lrihmHn, and the phi
u t!cuIar period at which he llvel aud let Us con
'e slider very briefly the history OF his country beipr
Of uncholy career"
.o The lecturer then proceeded to give biograph
4. cal sketch Of Robert EEmct, during which h
as quoted the opinions Of Gretal, Moore, Byron. an
Of us an orator patriot, and statcsmun In closing
ID Thank God the day for which this eloquent pt
III tr!Ot walled aud earnestly hoped has long sinc
ve dawmed, although IL sun has not yet risen a
ip splendor to cheer and bless his beloved coumtr!
10 some Dl lHt tnltl ODlttl> IOT WHICH IIt lnllS
cr lrishincn cpntended have been accomplished.
s' CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION
g. was secured nearly Gfy years ago. the mllitaT
IN atrocities by which the Irish people were torture
es have long ceased, and just representation IN III
ne English Parliament has long been accorded
= them.
4: ireland Is no longer the Ireland of the past II
is harp OF Erin though not yet walked To jubllaI
n. strains OF triumph, rings With more cheerful SCUM
is and Hope SMILES once again upon the green bill
.e and beautiful wales Of that
Ia - Loved island of s1TrOW,'
of The absolute independence Of their country an
st. her establishment rs free state, which has for cc
tures been the cherished dream Of her SONS Is Sti
Ise unaccOmplh he'd. and whether II Is best that
should remain So and that the Union, with Il
rd be preserved or not iS and Of right ought TO be,
he question solely for the people Oi Ireland TO dcte
to, mine. But whatever may be the result until u
his erty in its fulncss shall bless the dear land, Il
1of voices OF Emmet and his cOmartyrs will iOrcv
in speak to the hearts OF lrshmcn from the tomb,
sh | solng them in their Affections, cheering them
h. their conflicts. and perpctuaiy guiding them o
to ward 10 that gOafin the efforts TO reach which tn
nd themselves suffered and died That which h
nd always constituted the hope and pride of lrelaE
and has attracted the admiration and sympathy
in. the world Ii the undying incradcable spirit on
cal psSaRe Ipsa Her poet Was only stimulating 1t "he"
But, alas, for his country! her pride is gone
/. And that spirit is broken which never wou
MI bend;
~, Der tGeruins her children In secret must sigh
eN For It's treason TO love her and death to defer
Au There has been ruin and death among thC
i'u enough 10 melt lnu NDtU 10 Dut,
by every calamity. aud fresh nS the Ncrdure on
Ter | everlasting hills that spirit has risen again a
b. again from each accumulated oppression of
soT centuries aud lives to-day immortal and inext
.ro. guishable in the hearts Of her people.
W. II there Is still In
no. THE FUTURE
Iar, more calamity for Ireland (which may God e
,Ta bid and II the heroic spirit OF her children sh
rgs ever tor moment falter in Its presence, let
image Of that young man, as he stood in the pI
40 ! Oners dock In Dublin on the 18th Of Scptemb
Cn.. 1873, rise up before them-let them catch the
las spTaion OF that calm courageous soul rs he look
r, unquailing in the eye of death-let the mighty
re- Of His eloquenCe sweep again their heart
nd let them hear the brutal Judge pronounce upon
inv noble victim the vilest felOns doOm-let them q
= upon the sratiod scene and catch that last div
Ion utteranCe, sly friends, die In peace with sci
.e.s mcnts OF universal love and kindness towards
rinv ! lnen-and oh let them see again that final
AZ | ture of thc executiOner holding out the seve
,eTv head before the shudderng multitude lille
dogs Tapped up the crimson stream but above
let these words Of his Immortal speech ring IN q
ears: When my spirit Aall have Joined Il
bands Of mArtyred heroes who have shed u
hi!e blood Oh the sCaOld and IN the field In deicnS
N a their countryShis Is my hope-that my mem
4 NJ and name may serve TO animate those who sur\
~ me-.
iild' Pure spirit! thou hast joined that blessed c
ned paEy, and thy hope Is fulfilled
|