The Irish standard., 1897-03-20
.EMMET'S DAY IN TACOMA.
How Our Brethren of the West
Paid Tribute to the
Martyr.
Good Cheer and Enthusiasm Pre-
vailed Throughout the
Entertainment.
Speeches, Recitations, Music and
Song was the Pro-
gramme.

Song was the Pro-
gramme.
1t is very evident that the Irish peopl
in the state Of Washington are not for
getflll of their ancestors, for, on En-
NETS birthday, March 4, our friends ant
co-nationalists in Tacoma did full hono
to the day. We learn from the Tacom;
Leader the manner in which the cele
bration took place. After speaking O
the beautiful decorations of the hall ant
others matters purely Introductory, i
says:
The program was short, but the songs
recitations and addresses were of higf
class and called for several encore;
from the crowd which filled every sea
in the hall and oyerfiowed the corridors
of the building. The address by E. J
| Walsh on Robert Emmet was a strone
portrayal of the trials and sufferings
which the Irish patriot underwent in his
struggle for the liberty of his country
and the picture drawn of his capture
trial and execution drew moisture to the
eye Of many an Irishman there whose
heart beat responsive to the troubles o1
his. native land.
In the opening address Michael Dowd
F.. pictured Ireland as it was at the time
of Enmet, and drew the comparison
down to the present day; naming heI
most valiant sons and the greatness they
had achieved in foreign lands, where the
right had been denied them on their ma
tive soil. He told of the numerous sons
of Erin who today hold positions OF
trust and honor under the government
Of the United States, and to the others
in days gone by whose names had been
deeply engraved on the hearts of all true
Americans.
P. B. Keaney also spoke OF Ireland
and her sons who have achieved fame,
and dwelt at length on Emmet's life and
the part he took in the troubles of Ire
land.
The stage, decorated with the Irish and
American flags, pictures of Emmett and
wreaths of ivy, presented a handsome
appearance. The program rendered was
as follows:
Address ................ Michael Dowd
Song ........ ....... ...... Mrs. McGee
! IRecitalion .......... ....... VIM. Farley
AddreSS ........ ........ ...E. ). Walsh
! Song ...... .. .... M. J. Mcnamara
! Address 3. Keaney
| Reading .......... ....... go. John COyne
Recitation ....... ......... Miss Mckay
Song ........... ..... William Howell
1t is to be regretted that the magnifi-
cent address of Mr.. Walsh cannot be
given in full for want Of space. How
ever, after sketching his life, his early
| training at home from worthy and SYM
pathetic parents imbued with the prin-
ciples of freedom, his college career, his
love of liberty, enthusiasm Of spirit and
plans fir the liberation of his country
which failed, not forgetting his requited
love for Sarah Curran, his betrothed. his
capture trial and execution, the elo-
quent speaker said
| Let us pause for moment and look at
the bitter history Of poor ireland and
those brave men who fought for her
| freedom in '9S. Let us take retrospect
i've view. It is only about 100 years, but it
is long time The young men Of that
day have passed away, but we men Of
! today keep alive those traditions which
posterity has handed down to us and of
which we, as Irishmen, should always
feel proud. Robert Emmett was an Irish
man who believed that Ireland had a
right to liberty. He was man who be-
lieyed that Ireland had right to assert
her independence by forced arms If she
could do so. He was man who be-
lieved that republican form of govern
ment was the best ever formed or formu-
lated upon this earth. He was O man
who regarded George Washington as the
honest type of what citizen of free
state ought to be. He believed in lib
erty, in government of the people, for
the people and by the people. He formed
an organization that had its ramifica-
tions of that time throughout the world
and were ready when the time came to
do for their country what the patriots
OF the Revolution had done for this coun-
try. It was hoped at that period that
the military training acquired upon
american soil and during the Revolu-
tion and by American people. might be
used on behalf of the old cause, but cir
|cumstances under the wisdom of provi-