Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1888-03-06

sary of the birth OF Robert Emmct, hel
under the auspices of the Irish Nationa
lists Association Of this ely.
The following persons were seated o
the stage:
General Michael Kerwin of New York
Hon. Robert Emmet Monaghan OF Yves
Chester, Pa, General II. r. Kenney @
Dover, Hon. John B. Pennington, Johi
Pyle, Charles Kyle, Owen Hession, j. J
Dougherty, Hubert Cassidy, John J
Crogan, John Guthrie, John NJ, Newell
Charles W. Grant, Thomas Manlo Fur
gus Kelley, John Bolen, Martin Keogh
James Finnegan, Patrick o'Gory
William II. Stewart james McKenna
Daniel McCusker, John Carr, David Nc
Orather. Lawrence Farran, Luke Cassidy
Y. D. Dougherty and John Russell
Inc societies participating In the exer.
elses were met at Fifth and Market
streets and escorted to the Opera HOUSE
BY Troop B, FIrst Cavalry and Company
+, First Infantry. The soldiers seated
among the audience with their bright
uniforms formedea pretty sight beneath
the crossed flags OF lreland and the Uni.
ted States.
James A Burke was chose N chairman
oil the meeting
lie was proud. he said, of the honor OF
presiding over meeting to commemorate
the birth ol ireland's greatest patriot,
Robert Emmet. He was destined to give
MS life for the cause of Ireland. "Em-
met is dead" said he "but thank G ID
the principles he advocated still live.
The chairman then introduced Alju.
tant General II. K Kenney of Dover, who
said that he had been invited to say few
words about one whom every Irishmau
should adore The temple of fame is
resplendent with the names of Irishmen,
but beneath the sod lies one whom ali
should honor. Ireland can claim many
great men but liberty claims Robert EN-
met for Its own. The speaker then gave
briei history of Emmet and his execu
tion. kmmet had said when sentenced
to be executed, "When my country takes
Its place among the other nations OF the
world, then let my epitaph be written,"
and the time would surely come when
that epitaph must be written, and the
time surely cannot be far distant.
The Hon. Robert Emmet Monaghan of
West Chester, Pa, was then introduced
and said
"One year aud eight months after the
Declaration OF Independence babe was
born In Dublin He was born in the
1 tktOfAANhNN VI hpd lul buC dufduCtUlEut
OF an idea. Emmet is not honored for
the great things he did but for implanting
In the Irish mind an idea, which will
never he eupplanted until Ireland
aehieyes her independence. Emmet's case
was peculiar one, young man, rich
and with influence, throwing away every.
thing but his one idea OF Irish liberty
and in the defense of that going fearlessly
to his death. History will show that
when England was still barbarian ma
ton Ireland was the home OF science, lit
erature and religion, and II there Is one
nation In the world that is capable of rul-
Ing Itself, that country Is Ireland The
battlenelds OF America are rich with the
blood OF irishmen, II was on the Heights
OF Abraham that the gallant Irishman
Montgomery fell. An Irishman led the
army OF the English at Waterloo; another
won for Der the great naval battle OF Ira
falgar, while in later days Me Nahon,
another Irishmsn. led the French people
against the tyranny of Napoleon III.
ireland has been accused OF using
cruel means to free itself from the Eng
lish' The Irish people own Ireland ns
much as the people of Pennsylvania own
their State. If 1t were possible for Eng
gland to reclaim Pennsylvania and to
send over Lord Lieutenant what would
We do' As God is my helper would
fortity myself behind every ash barrel
and hreplug and shoot him down. Eng
land has taugh: Ireland to be cruel She
has taught more lessons of cruelty than
were ever needed.
Would" said the speaker, THAT
were play-writer would write a
play that would stir the people TO action
would picture seven centuries Of wrong
and oppression of the Irish people, aud
then in the last act | would have Eng
land and ireland united, happy and pros
porous / hope that lreland's hetty
may be peacefully achieved. pray God
that it may be so.
Both General Kenney and Mr.. Mona
CHAN were loudly applauded.
General Michael Kerwin OF New York
was then introduced and said:
When l came here l had q speech al
ready prepared, but It Is all knocked out
of me, for here | find Americans more
Irish than the Irish themselves have
concluded TO take inspiration from tn,
men OF Pennsylvania and Delaware
will take my text from the following let
ter written by your own Gray" to the
chairman;
81 am In receipt of your favor of thu
9th ultimo enclosing an invitation to at
tend the Emmet demonstration and ban
, quet at the Opera House on the evening
OF the 9th instant. | should be glad Il
unite with you on this or any other os
caeion, In doing honor to the memory o
lreland's patriots. None but high ant
sacred emotions ara kindled by the namt
of the man whose birthday you PROPOSE
to celebrate. Ireland's cause can never
suffer eclipse SO long as it's defenders
gather their inspirations from the PUT
sources which produced the unselish pa
triotism and civic courage of Rober
Emmet, | fear that my engagement
here, which are becoming more exacting
| as the session advances, will prevent mt
, from attending the demonstration ant
+ banquet to which you have SO kindly in
. vited me. ] remain yours respectfully.
i, GEORGE GRAY"
. "I honor" continued General kfr
win, "the man who utters such senti
mepte, and honor the State thai CAV
him birth"
"There Is not q quarter Of the globt
Ia which Irishmen are found, and Their
Is no quarter where they are not found
that they are not holding just such cele
/ brations as these. Emmet is accused o
rushing into q rash rebellion, but thi
la not true. He consulted the greatea
/. men of his time. TalleyFand and th
great Napoleon were his friends, nnt
3 after seeking their advice and loarniDl
that France WIS about to enter into I
war with England, he gathered tn
choicest spirits of h,s country to bin
and proceeded to act. A distinctly
q feature OF Il Enmet's character was tn
ability to unite men best fitted for tn
most Important work. II Emmet hai
Succeeded hs would have been one o
tho worlds greatest heroes, but fsilur
has given the world chance to belittl