Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-03-14
lRELAND'S MARTYR PATRIOT.
Eloquent Portrayal of the Char
actor of Robert Eminet.


His Birthday Anniversary by tho Robert
Emmett Literary Association by Patrick
c. ID. o'Donoyan of Philadelphia.
The feature Of the Robert Emmet
birthday celebration at the Academy of
Music, Saturday week, by the Robert
Emmett Literary Association Of this city,
over which Father Birmingham pre-
sided, was an address by Patrick G. B.
O'Donovan, Il rising and eloquent law
yer OF Philadelphia, which is published
by request. He SAID:
Reverend Father, Ladies and Gentlemen;
would not be true to the traditions of our
race if failed to acknowledge the warmth
| OF your greeting, or to express how deeply
have been impressed by it, on my first
| public address in historic Wilmington.
As time rolls around and shorlcns our
span OF life we, Of the Irish race in exile,
on one night in the year come together to
| testify to the world at large our devotion
| to the cause of lreland's freedom, and to
| pledge to that Island of Sorrows our eternal
fealty and allegiance
Tonight in every section OF the civilized
| world may be fuunu assembled men and
| women OF the Celtic race, listening to clo-
quent addresses on the question of Irish
independence and freedom, enthused by
| the strains OF the sweetest Of voices caroll
| ing Irish airs and enraptured by the soft
melodiolls tones of Firms harp.
But in the midst of their enthusiasm the
life tales of voungardent.mag
| pure-souled patriot are depicted. and song,
speech. and music are alike forgotten in
the memories, feelings and passions con-
lureu IN each breast at the mention of the
| name of Robert Emmet
Emmett first saw the light Of day in the
City OF Dublin on March 4th, l77s, and was
reared in the cradle Of Irish revolution.
His father. one OF the most eminent ply
sicans in Ireland at that time was an
acknowledged sympathlzer of the few
brave patriots who were striving to gain
prominence for the doctrine of Irish
nationality and Catholic emancipation.
At his house they met in council; there
were their ideas promulgated movements
thoroughly canvasscd, and plans laid and
formulated. Amidst such surroundings
and teachings our young martyr was
brought up, and 1t is needless to add, that
he drank deeply from the well Of free
dom, in which he was immersed, Having
become a firm believer in the doctrines Of
lrelands complete and absolute indepen-
dence he entered Trinity College at the
age OF Is, and by his wonderful mental
endowmenis. geutility OF manner and
nobility of character won the respect and
lasting regard of his fellow-students. lis
speeches. at that early date, reflects the
genius OF his intellect and the intensity OF
his patriotism In fact, to say he was
patriotism personiiied," would scarcely
do him justice. On every possible OCCASION
IN his debates before the Historical Society
OF Dublin, he brought the question of Ire
, land and her wrongs to the fore-notwth-
standing that political questions were
strictly eXcluded-and so eloquently and
powerfully did he plead his country's
cause, that not single member of the
/ board could cope with him. and they were
reluctantly compelled to bring one of the
most distinguished scholars of the Uni
yersity to try, if possible, to overcome, or.
II not to moderate the effect Of the youth
full orators eloquence.
Is it any wonder that such noble soul
could not escape the malignant vigilance
of the tyrahnical government he opposed !
Could his democratic principles and ut
terances be disseminated without marking
him as an intended victim for British ven
geance?
In consequence Of his vehement love fol
Ireland, III lI9S, he was expelled from tn,
. University on the seditiOus charge Of
!, spreading within its sacred walls the doc
trines OF the United Irish Society.
The habeas corpus act-the bulwark o
= liberty and the death knell to tyranny an,
[, oppression in every English speaking
country except lreland-was at this tim
suspended. and the family of our youth
full patriot deemed it prudent that H.
should leave Ireland for time.
/. Accordingly, he fed to the continent
" and was soon planning another revolution
with the escaped leaders of the IS move
!. ment. The great Napoleon was inter
viewed and warmly favored the project
but when the time came did not send tn
promised aid. The result of this cont
l. mental confederation of the Irish exile
was that new rising under the chic
D. dictatorship Of Emnet.
5. The habeas corpus act having now bee,
restored, he returned to Duslin, and wa
soon in earnest consultation with the mel
who still had hope in the cause.
e. BY his irresistible eloguenGe and in
petuous energy he instilled into them re
newed animation and vigor and, in fou
months later, preparations were almo,
completed, for the most gigantic "uI
rising" the island ever saw.
But alas His efforts we're in yair
Every child knows the issue. lis to
painful to recount.
lie fled to the mountains, where he ws
o. followed by some Of his co-consuirators
discuss new plans, but mis- gentle natul
had received too cruel shock Ills Ell
thuSIastic dream was dispelled and he hu
no trust in the future.
OF the arrest, trial and judicial murde
| have this to remark-Thut in executin
Emmett England ignited the lastly d
IT, cayng sparks of nationality and ind,
pendence within the breast Of the Iris
peasant. She sent one to an eternal slice
and aroused from their lethargic sluilbt
Of oppression, misery and tyranny, I'll
whole Irish race to a real awakening {
the fact that they were the descendants ,
q free and mighty nation, celebrated
:. all ages for its sanCtty, valor and learninI
\ nation that had Kept alive the sacrt
fires OF the arts and the sciences when ii
I. rest of tine known world was sleeping
barDaric ignorance. A nation that La
given saints to the church. and sOldie
aud scholars to the universe. One tn
had national parliament OF its own
the first century when England WI
leOpled by barbarians and was enslayt
by the might Of the Roman invader
rs. whom Ireland had proudly and valiant
hurled from her shores.
With the sudden and wide awakeniI
VS.. came the desire for freedom and Ii
thought of vengeance, and am proud
declare that from that date to the preset
~ moment, not single generation of o,
people has passed away without leaving
protest, written in blood, against the cru
wrongs anu brutal outrages Inflicted al
prrpetrated by the Saxon eusiayer,
N, And | am prOuder still to declare I
.r, night that herein the land OF the free
Il. there exists u patriotic organization, no
II. sectaran in its character, nnnpoitIcll
AZ its constitution, seeking the unity OF bot
81 Catholic and Protestant in one solid bod
I'll Under the tri-colnr OF graeu. white al
re- orange, animated and inspired with ii
is, desire for freedom and the hope Al
rs prayer of free and glorious Ireland !
- curing only one MISUNDERSTANDING Ia n