Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-03-05
IRELAND's IMMORTAL PATRIOT.

There is no name dcarcr TO the Irish
heart, or that arouses more enthusiasm,
than that of Robert Emmett, the bold,
| heroic and brilliant agltator and reyolu.
tion,st of 1929. lie was born March 4,
ITS, and died at the hands of the execu-
toner Sept. 20, 1903, in the prime Of his
manhood and in the zenith of his ambi-
ton for the amelioration of the condition
OF hls fellow countrymen. Though he
may have acted from mistaken policy,
and rushed recklessly into the British
lions den, there can he no mistake OF
question Of the unselfish rcctitude of his
motives. In the shadow of the gallows
be maintained the justice of his cause
and relinquished nothing of his zeal until
the gibbet forever sileuced his eloquent
tongue in death.
At the conclusion of the trial for trea
son, when the court asked him If he had
anything to say why sentence of death
should not be passed upon him, he arose
and addressed the court, and through the
court the civilized world and its unborn
generations, 10 speech which for soul
stirring patriotism and impassioned elo-
quence stands matchless and inimitable
in the English language to this day, and
which few elocutionists attempt to read
before an audience, for none can do 1t
justice. That memorable and immortal
speech is rcpublished every recurring an.
niversary of his birth and is read over
and over again by millions of people.
The 4th of March is now annually cel-
ebrated in Ireland and by the Hlbernian
societies IN America. This veneration for
Ireland's heroic advocate and martyr to
her cause is highly praiseworthy on the
part Of Irish-American citizens, and
every true American citizen will honor
them In its observance and encourage its
continuance. No person who loves and
honors the land Of his birth and its patriot.
ic heroes, will dishonor the country of his
adoption, and thousands Of those who
annually join in commemorating and
honorDg the name Of Emnet faced the
musket and cannon in defense and vindi-
cation of the American flag during the
war of the rebellion, and would do so
again il the emergency of war requirej
defense.
The heroic period of Robert Emmet's
life ended on the scaffold and the pathet-
Il sequence followed Immediately after
wards. The great and illustrious Irish
advocate aud barrister. Curran, admired
the gifted and brilliant young Emmett
and took deep interest IN his advance
ment. Emmet and daughter of Curran
rere engaged to be married but before
the consummation of the event the young
nan was arrested for treason, tried, con-
demned 10 death and executed. The
young woman soon afterwards died Of a
broken heart which event called forth
from the pen of Thomas Moore, the fa-
nous Irish poet, who was about the same
age as Emmett, the beautiful and touching
poem: 'tShc is Far from the Land where
her young Hero sleeps" and which her
father, then 81 years old, commemorated
in sorrowing verse, of which the follow
ing IS q stanZa:
"But memory with more than Egypt's art,
Hmbalmlg every grief that wounds the heart,
Sits by the altar she hath raised to WOO
And feeds the source whence tears forever fl ow!''