San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-03-13
ROBERT EMMETT.


sion by Henry Ryder Taylor and read by
Pat f. O'Hara at the Emme celebra
ton. held in Shafer e Braden's hall, SaI
Antonio, Texas, March 5th, 1894, under
the auspices OF the Ancient Order o.
| HibernianS. Division No l..
PUBLISHED BY REQUEST!
In the annals Of old Ireland.
| Among her days of fete.
| There's one that's dear to Irishmen
And one they celebrate
! IT, the day Of Robert Emmet'S birth
Who died for Freedoms cause
| Died rs man at dury'S post.
And not for vain applause.
| In "9S, when Ireland sought
To throw off Britain'S yoke.
! The boys so hard had struggled then,
Till they were badly broke.
| But Irish hearts and Irish hands
Were still alive to duty;
And manhood rallied round them there
Beneath the smiles of Beauty.
And in all Irish homes were told
The tales OF IreIaud's wrongs,
1t spread abroad in every way,
And found Its vent in songs
In Emmet'S home father gray.
Told well that grand, old story
Or persisted was her glory
Among the sons who heard him then,
Were Tom and Robert, young,
But they listened TO that story
That fell from fathers tongue,
And both by Freedom were inspired;
Tom fought, until he failed,
And Brtain's might and Brtain's spite,
Had got him safely jailed.
And Robert he to Dublin went,
To '"Hrinity.' Of fame,
That's turned out many patriot bold,
Who's won an honOred name.
4 scholar good, aud in debate
He never was eXcelled.
But he always pleaded lreland's cause,
And for this was expelled.
United lriShmen were then,
A solid, secret band,
Twas they that met and tried TO give
Fair freedom TO their LAND.
'Tis true a remnant then remained,
And these. indeed, were few,
But honest hearts were there to fight,
BY leaders tried and true.
With these young Emmett cast his lot,
And for them sailed to France,
TO get the aid OF Bonaparte
and interests advance.
Twas just, for at great Fon teuoy.
The Irish famed Brigade,
Gave France a glorious victory,
And earned claim for aid.
The scheme was good, 80 Frenchmen
thought.
And so did Bonaparte.
And Talleyrand he quite agreed.
1t was tactic part
OF Frances plan, that then was formed,
TO crush Great Britain'S power,
So Ireland got the promised aid
OF France for Freedoms hour.
Again young Emmett proudly sought,
His loved and dear old sod,
Prepared to make old Ireland free,
And trusting in his God.
And secret letters then were borne
To every part of Erin,
In which the plot was well detailed,
In manhood careful hearing.
Twas then expected, with good cause,
That nineteen Irish counties,
Would rally round the standard raised,
And share in Freedoms bOunties.
Alas twas wrong, as facts have proved
They apathetic lay,
And where a hundred should have come,
One only came that way.
With ardOr, too. more fierce than wise,
Young Emmett gave the call
For vital struggle to the end.
And calling one and all,
Twas in hope to gain the Castle.
Secure big vantage,
That caused the premature alarm
And babe the warfare rage
Alas, too soon, The friends from France
Had not reached Ireland's shore;
The funds were scarce, the men were few.
Though true unto the core,
And Lord kiiWardeu'S murder there.
BY partiZan's unwisG,
Threw around glare Of terror,
That baked them Of the prize.
Emmet found his plaEs were futile,
And he wisely took d rest,
But the British hunted him and sought
To break his noble crest.
And they tracked him to his hiding.
Though his courage did not fail,
And then in chains, with letters strong,
They carried him to jail.
Short respite then was given him,
For he was soon on trial,
With all vindictivCDess that comes
From ont of Wrath'S foul vial,
And NOrbury, Of hanging fame,
Sat there in judgments seat.
And there too was sorry crowd
The patriot to greet.
In such court on treasOn's charge
The penalty is death.
And the case was quick decided,
As each man held his breath.
And then the Judge, in accents grim,
At which some stood aghaSt,
Asked Emmett why deaths sentence then
{ Should not on him be passed.
And Emmett stood erect and Spake.
There was no sign OF fear;
For Ireland he had boldly fought,
And gave his life most dear,
But he could not bear aSperSion
That prosecutions teach,
! tInr bo