The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-04-25
Two wv FAMOUS A IRISHMEN I. !.
An Elegant Tribute Paid to the
Memory Of Emn,et and
o'connell.
----.-- - - ---- = ~ ~ ~. --
The Life Work of the Latter and
His Great Grief for His
Native Land.
A Glowing Picture of What the
Future Has in Store for the
Unhappy Country.
(By Thomas Augustine McCann.)

In the history Of all nations we find a
considerable portion directed to the
lives of eminent men. The historian and
biographer vie with each other in re-
counting their great deeds, and handing
down to after generations such glowing
eulogiums as will stimulate the ambi-
tious to initiate if not to excel those who
have gone before. The lives Of many are
so full of interest that the very mention
Of their names, long after they have. pass
ed way, is sufficient to cast halo of
glory over the illustrious dead. Every
country has its own long category and ac-
cording as it's people are sensitive or not,
so may it's enthusiasm for it's brilliant
men be measured.
Ireland, which in days gone by: had so
justly deserved to be proud of the isle
of Sages and Of Saints" presents long
array of biographical sketches, to equal
which, much less excel, you search the
histories of the other nations in vain.
Whether in the military line the scien:
tifc, the poetic, the theological. the
bench or the bar, you will find that the
very summit of fame has been reached.
But among the many who have left be-
hind them brilliant records, there are two
to whom all Irishmen will ever turn with
feelings of enthusiasm and sentiments of
pride;, two of her noblest sons. whose
ideas, though prompted by the same pat
riotic impulse and destined to accom-
plish the same humane purpose, carried
them into both extremes of the lawful
measures for Christian redress. The one,
to experience all the cruel vicissitudes Of
redress by military force and. strategems;
and the other to suffer the sings Of ar
l'ogant and wicked politicians in his
peaceful endeavors to agitate justice for
Irelands bleeding cause. The one, the
hero, the martyred Robert Emmet, the
other, "'The Great Liberator,' the imnor-
tai patriot of his companions In arms,
Daniel OConnell.
OF the former, my lear friends, your
very name indicates that you have at all
times some virtues of Emmett under con-
sideratioD: but of the latter, perhaps you
do not have occasion to speak of so fire.
quently. Therefore, tonight [ will divert
your attention and coufne my remarks
to the "Great L.berator." Undaunted by
the discomforts of prison, undismayed
by all the foul epithets and base calum-
MES that one man can hurl against an
other across the floor Of the British house
of commons, he withstood it all and by
his matchless eloquence and indomitable
courage rescued his country from the
most CALLING slavery to which humanity
could be subjected. To recount the
deeds of. this great man would impose on
the time and patience of any audience,
and as much has been told from father
to son. much that might be said would be
superfiuous.
AS lawyer he had no equal; as a de-
batter in parliament he stood on a plane
of the highest enlinence, and as a Chris
tian man he left few imitators. The
great act of his life was the passage Of
his Emancipation bill'' This, which
only gave equal rights and buried the
foul blot of religious persecution. was op-
posed with vigor and vehenence begot-
ten of ignorance, and bigotry that Grim
soned with shame the cheek of many an
eminent minister of the gospel When
he had passed his monday and was de-
SStllE IllC SoOSl WI AC u0A ~
we'll begun about to crumbie to pieces,
seeing also a famine equally as direful as
that which smote the land Of Egypt rag
ing. among his beloved people; seeing the
death, through hunger and want; see
ing also the emigrant ship leaving his ma
tive shores loaded with the refugees from
starvation, and as they stood on deck
their last adieu being -.
.sWith thee. my bark, I'll swiftly go,
Athwart the foanling brine:
Nor care what land thou bears me to,
<, But not again to n1ine.'
Having seen all this, and having plead
ed in vain with the imperial parliament
for aid, broken hearted he turned toward
Rome. He never reached his destina-
ton. At Genoa fever came on him and
the hand Of death passed over his brow.
His last words were: My soul to heaven,
my heart to Rome, and my body to Ire
land His remains were conveyed to
his dear native land and buried with cere-
monies that the obseQuies Of the greatest
monarch could hardly equal. His name
lives among Irishmen, 70 matter in what;
quarter of the world they be; and time
nor distance SHstll; i!eHSF SlldCSs lIOHi htu5
heart of the true Irishman a profound re-
spect for the memory of Ireland s great
son, Daniel o. 'Contiell. # III n
And now after briefly recalling some
OF the deeds ofsyour patrons, cola borers
for Ireland's cause. with nlournful recol-
lect:ons turn to that melancholy grave
in the bosom of old Ireland where your
!. young hero lies..p turn in admiration
to the; names and records of many Irish
men famous for their deeds lot valor and
patriotism, for the ind dependence OF this
great nation, and hope springs In my
breast that one day through the merits
Of these men Stephen Moylan. general
5Cf the Continental army; of the 81 mem
bers3 Of the Sons OF st. Patrick who sub
scldhed s$517 500, !. OF more than one-th
of, 81 100000 subscrib bed by the merchants
sof fPh. h.ladelphia for the sustenance off.
Washsngton s arm b 81 ts, many more
stripus Irish. American a sa5r
hape sternal klayy,; q