Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-18

than an Irishman. but doubtless He never
did. No one, he said could but welcome
an assembly like that present. Irshmen
have many noble traits They are brave.
generous, bright, and hospitable / ven
ture to think that there is no people in
the world to whom to-day the principle
Of civil liberty is dearer. He spoke Of
the time when Irishmen were free. and
drew attention to the history Of Ireland
for the last 800 years. 1t had been one
desperate struggle for freedom. What
other people have chung so long and so
vehemently to the principle Of religious
liberty? he asked.
! CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
THAT which / love to think Of most"
said Father O'Reilly. "is the part Irish
men have taken i'm securing civil and
religious liberty for our own dear coun-
try, America. Fifteen Of the ffty-fve
signers Of the Declaration Of Indepen-
dence were Irlshmen, and the man who
wrote the Declaration was an Irishman
and the man who first read IL TO the
people was an Irishman. Thirty-nne
officers of the Revolutionary army were
Irishman. and ten OF the .majo generals
OF the army were Irishmen. There are
some who say, or would deny TO Irish
men, the right 10 govern themselves, YET
they have shown an amazing ca.
pacity for governing others. There are
always those who will judge Irishmer
by their worst specimens. / ASSUME
and assert that the principle Of civil and
religious liberty is fundamental in the
Irish people. If you ever see an irish
man who IS faithless 10 his duty you
have man who is recreant to all irish
tradition and 10 his blood
TOAST TO ROBERT EMMETT.
The last toast on the list was, Robert
Emmett
Far dearer the grave or the prison,
Illumed by one patriot name.
Than the trophies Of all who have risen
on Liberty's ruins TO fame
Coupled with this toast was the name Of
Mr. Charles A. Taylor. In responding TO
II, he said: at the dawn Of the sixteenth
century your beautiful green isle of Erin
was overcast by dark clouds Of gloom and
desoaton There was no rift through
which the light of hope could cast a
CLEAN upon its suffering patriots The
revolution Of 1898 had failed, and its ac-
tors paid with their lives the forfeit OF
it's failure. Despite the gallant deeds of
the men of Wexford and Of Wicklow
revolution had sunk TO the level Of re-
bellion. and hope had given place TO de-
spair Following close upon this disaster
the legislative union between Great
Britain and Ireland was formed-that
union which took from unhappy Ireland
her Parliament. the last emblem of her
nationalty-and reduced 10 a province
the land of the victors of Clontarf.
CLOUDS OF ADVERSELY.
Lower and lower did the black clouds
of adversely settle over the land. Sud
ID
its brief life the patriotism that still
animated the sons Of old Ireland but,
alas! also revealing their impotence TO
burst asunder the chains Of her bondage.
This flash was the attempt of Robert
Emmett to kinde afresh the patriotic
fire that lay smouldering I'm the Celtic
heart. and strike another blow for the in
dependence of mis- country. Robert En-
NETT was young man in his early TWEEN
ties, born Of honorable parentage, intelli-
gent. well-educated, of a pure and gentle
nature, and of the highest moral charac-
ter. He had formed a plan to surprise
the Castle at Dublin, to seize the capital,
and by aid of associates, il other parts
of the island. to organize an army and
wrest his country from the foreign grasp
His plans miscarried, and he was urged
by his friends TO seek safety in flight
but like a genuine Irishman, he was as
true 20 his girl as to his country, and re-
fused to leave until he could bid her
farewell. He was apprehended, tried
condemned to death. and executed I'm
less than one month. His brave and
manly bearing to the hour of his death
and his answering devotion to his coun-
try have won for him the love and ad-
miration Of posterity
with everything to live for-youth,
family friends the love n the boautffuI
and tender maiden to whom he was be-
trothed-he went to the grave without a
murmur or protest. sustained by a sub
lime courage. and breathing the loftiest
sentiments that animate the breast Of
man."
Mr.. Taylor concluded his speech with
an eloquent peroration. which reused his
hearers TO high pitch Of enthusiasm.
MR.. MUNFoRD SICK.
Hon. 3. b. Munford who was to have
spoken upon THE Dual Allegiance of the
Foreign-Born Citizen" was detained at
home by sickness. and sent his regrets
by the chairman
Messrs. Toomey and Grady sang several
songs, and other gentlemen present con-
tributed to the entertainment the festivi-
ties being prolonged until nearly mid
night
Among those present were noticed the
following: Rev. Fathers Cutler, v c.;
Reilly, Donohoe Herman, and Walter;
Messrs. II. y. Taylor. j. l. Smith, Wake,
A. T. Murphy John Kelly, James Nc
Donough, William Rankin, Norman Dodd.
Thomas Muldowney; James O'Connor, OF
West Point; j. r. Grady. W. NJ. Wright,
Michael OConnor, John Hughes. Colonel
Murphy, S. l.. Kelly. j. T. Donleavy, +.
Keegan, J. Rafferty,, w Powers. John
Inh IN / Il Too
mey, Or. Coleman. Andrew Kavanaugh,
Philip Shea, John Teepney James Burke,
Daniel Higgins. ID. O'Sullivan, John Fin
negan. w Finnegan. Phil. Kelly, W.
Quigley, Joseph Watson, James Kirk. and
ntherS.