The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-04
TO ROBERT EMMETT
Celebration in Honor of
His Memory.
ERIN'S SONS ENTHUSIASTIC.
The Exercises at Metropolitan
Temple.
ERIN'S SONS ENTHUSIASTIC.
IMMENSE AUDIENCE PRESENT.
Thomas B. O'Brien Delivers an
Address ExtoIliDg the Character
of the Patriot.

lne 1amlllar Story Oh hODeTL EmmeI 5
devotion TO his country was rehearsed at
the Metropolitan Temple last night. The
pathetic and inspiring tale was listened to
with as much intentness. and stirred the
souls of Ern's sons and daughters as
deeply as upon any of the preceding cele-
brations of the birthday of the executed
patriot.
There was splendid attendance. Be-
fore the doors of the temple were opened
a large crowd gathered on Fifth street and
waited patiently in the cold in order to be
sure of good seat. By the time the chair
man was READY to proceed the house was
full, upstairs and down, and there was not
even standing room TO spare.
The celebration was under the manage
ment of the knights Of the Red Branch,
and q committee from that organization
had given the stage an appropriate setting.
In the center was a large and very fine
Oil-painting of Emmett, and at the sides
the stars and stripes and the green sur
rounding the gold Of the Irish harp.
Palms were arranged along the front OF
the stage. The X. X. b. Rifles occupied
seats behind the speakers.
EX-Judge Cooney was down on the pro-
gramme as chairman. and the first mum Der
Judge CoOney has been chairman very
often and he refrained from approDriating
much of the audiences time, which he
knew would be scarcely lengthy enough for
all tn at was to come.
This is the one hundred and sixteenth
anniversary of the birthday of Robert
Emmett, he said, and imm edlately there
was storm OF applause. His memory is
as green to-day as it has been at any time
since he stood upon the seaffold and was
prosecuted and sent to the grave. 1t is a
noteworthy fact that wherever there are
1rishmen his name awakeDs the greatest
enthusiasm and patriotism
The chairman then introduced Alfred p.
Black. who rendered a cornet solo, and
then Frank L. Shea recited Emmet's IA
nous Speech From the Dock" which was
received with acclamatiOns OF approval.
Mrs. Nellie j. Donovan sang kathleen
Mavourneen" and was compelled to give
another Irish ballad. Then there was a
song, Kerry Dance" by Mrs. ). j. Toby,
and recitation, 1.-The Patriots Grave"
by T. c. Maher.
This brought the audience to the adj.
dress dress OF the evening. by Thomas B.
OBrien. At the outset Mr.. 0'Brien was
somewhat disconnected by the ready
tongue of one of his compatriots. The
speaker began by saying that the commit
tee had expected an eloquent orator from
Chicago, out that he had failed to arrive.
uuly VI ucllNcIluR Tue auuTGSS had
fallen upon him so late, Mr.. O'Brien said,
thathe had had very little time TO prepare.
Tut, tut, man." said a voice in the rear
of the hall, you have had plenty of time,
and you've plenty of good notes, too
The laugh which followed was general.
and the speaker joined in it as be drew
from his pocket some rather Voluminous
memoranda.
He then spoke fluentlY upon the life,
character and sentiments of Robert En-
met. The political situation of ireland
toward the close of the eighteenth century
was briefly but clearly set forth. England
had passed penal laws which Fortescue
had pronounced such as might well have
been conceived in tribunal of he'll. The
enactments which she had imposed upon
Ireland were aimed, not only at the body
physical Of Irish men and women, but at
their c0nsciences.
The speaker recalled the names of Graf
tan, Flood. Curran and other patriots, and
when he reached that of Emmett in the
long list bis voice was drowned by the
elhudits of bis auditors. lie arraigned
England for having TesOrted to bribery to
abolish the Irish Parliament and stigma
tizea those who had sold their votes as
traitors. Getting down to the close of the
address he said that Emmett, being man
OF liberal education, had read OF the deeds
OF the heroes OF the past and had deter
mined to sacrifice everything for his
country. he had read of William Tells
revolt against the tyrant who oppressed
him and of all the great wars that had
been waged against oppression and wrong,
and he had also read Of the immortal
Washington.
1T has been said of him by some histo-
rians." he said, that he was an enthusi-
asst and that he was rash, out he had
weighed the questions before him and
carefully considered what should be done.
de had gone TO France and had had inter
views with Napoleon and TalIeyrand, and
ne bad returned to Ireland encouraged to
take the step that led to his death. He
had a well-prepared plan, and but for an
accident 1t would have resulted differently.
For emulatlng Washington he was called
rebel and a traitor"
The address called forth prolonged ap-
plause, and when order had been restored
there was song by Miss Kelly. recita-
ton by Henry Tobin. cornet solo by
WIN E. Bates of the Vienna Prater, song
by A: NJ. Thornton. song. Angels Sere-
made" by Mrs. Tully and Miss Reagon,
with clarionet obligato by Jennie Reagon.
Hazel Journel and Jennie Belden, little
girls from Oakland. danced the highland
fling. ana the audience sang "God Save
Ireland" and then dispersed.