Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-03-06
EMMET'S BIRTHDAY
Anniversary Observed BY
SarsfIeId Association.
THE HON. JOHN F. FlNERTY


An sppreciative though h not large audi
ence was present In Music Hall Saturday
evening to assist In the celebr alton of the
ll6th anniversary Of the birth OF Robert
Emmet.
The exercises were under the auspices
OF the Sarsfield Association, TO whom great
credit is due for bringing such an orator
as Hon. John f. Flnerty to address the
people of this city.
On the platform. were seated ex-Gov.
Davis. Aldermen Davis and O'Reilly, Rep
resentative Mulholland of Providence,
Hon. w. II. Haskell, Councilmen O'Brien
and Clark, Messrs. George l.. Littlefield,
Thomas w. Robinson, James f. Murphy,
Col. James Larkin, Drs, Granfield, Kelll.
her andHeffernan, John ii. Black, John
Walker, Frank E. Fitzsimmons and
others.
The entertainment opened with a solo
by Robert j. Casey, followed by a duet by
Messrs. L. j. and w. s. McCaugh hey, which
were exceliently rendered. c. J. Farms
worth sang "The Minstrel Boy" SO effec-
lively that he had to respond to an entbu-
siastic encore with "Kilisrney." Prof.
Cansvap presided at the plano.
Ex- Mayor Hugh J. Carroll then intro.
duced ex Gov. John w. Davis as the chair
man, who was received with loud applause.
The Governor expressed himself as
glad of the prospect of early legis-
lation looking towards the ameliora-
tion of the condition OF Ireland.
Gov. Davis closed his address by in tro-
ducing the orator Of the evening, Hon.
John f. Finerty OF Chicago.
Tremendous applause greeted Mr.. Fin
esty as he arose. He graphically dis
cusse the Irish situation and after re-
viewing the early history or Ireland
he referred to the organization
of the society of United Irishmen with
which Emmet was connected. II was
formed for the mitigation of the wrongs
under which the Catholics suffered. With
this society all the the Irish leaders afiil
lated, and there arose a mighty opposi-
tion to England, but the aid promised by
France, that the Irish patriots relied upon
never came and they were defeated.
I Robert Emmett deserved the tribute of
every man Of his race, for when the hour
came for action, although his comrades
were few and not all OF them implicitly re-
liza ble, yet he exhibited q commendable
bravery.
Obedience was the first duty OF a sol
dier, and lack of allegiance had ever been
a drawback to Ireland when a struggle
was about to be made for her betterment.
This expression applied to recent occur
rences as well as to the time of Robert
cursed by tendency to divide at critical
periods.
The nobility Of Emmet was shown In
his desire to avoid the shedding OF Irish
blood in a useless insurrection, although
he shrank not when the time came tor
execution were matters OF history, said
the speaker, and his eloquent words in the
dock were burned into the hearts OF al
true Irishmen.
He commented on the fidelity OF
Emmet's housekeeper, Annie Devlin, and
then addressed himself to the present
situation and showed conclusively that
the promise of Home Rule was not due O
Gladstone, Parnell, Mccarthy, or the
Parliamentary party as whole, but first
to God and next to Robert Emmet and
the men who emulati his principles and
practice them.
The speaker closed with an eloquent APP
peal In favor of home rule for oppressed
Ireland, and alluded TO the sympathy ex-
pressed by Americans In the movement.
He was freely applauded, and received a
perfect ovation at the close.
On motion OF ex- Mayor Carroll, Glad
stones home rule bill was indorsed, and
after few words by Hon. George l.. Lit
tlefield in behalf Of the native Americans
present, MIR. Farnsworth sang another
song and Robert J. Casey led off in sing
ing "God save Ireland" In W which the au-
dience joined.
After the lecture many came to the
stage door to shake hands with the elo-
quent ex- Congressman.
Yesterday morning Mr.. Finerty left for
Lowell, Mass, where he addressed a large
sssemblage In Huntington Hall and this
evening he speaks In Lynn.