The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-01
ROBERT EMMET.
Anniversary Celebration at Keith's
Opera House.
An Eloquent Lecture by Rev. Father
william B. Meenan.

The celebration Of the Robert Emmett ami
versary at keith's Opera House last evening
under the auspices of the Robert Emmett
John Mitchell, Wolfe Tone and William Orr
literary associations was a successful one. The
thoater was crowded and His Honor Mayor
McGuinness presided.
The Mayor referred to the eloquent story OF
Emmst's devotion 10 his native land and said
that the American people sympathized not
only with the oppressed of ireland, but OF the
suffering ones in Greece, Armenia and Cuba.
He then pleasantly introduced the orator of
tie evening, Rev. William b. Meenan of Ma
tick, who for over two hours held tho closest
attention of his audience ss he either pictured
the world-belovcd .yoring patriot, Emmet, or
told over again.as ON a rosary, 10 the delight
OF all present. the story OF Irish pocsy.
Father Meenan was given warm greeting
and said tho large gathering Of the evening
showed that Ireland, the poor mother OF
martyrs, still had the devotion of her sons and
of the liberty loving of the world
He said that among all who had fought and
died for Ireland none had "A warmer place in
the hearts Of Irishmen, and no heart was
purer in its devotion TO the cause than the
bold, warm hearted, chvalrous boy butch
cred to make British holiday" The story
was "A brief one, for his life was short, but
into It's few years are crowded much that
made his country's history.
The reverend sGealSer next took mp the Incl
dents that led mp TO the rising that came out
so disastrously, and he showed that Emmett
was not visionary or rash person and had
much reason to depend on Napoleon, Talley-
rand and the 10000 United hishmen he had
raised.
After telling the short and sad tale of these
times, Rcv Father Meenan said the memory ~
Emmett will never die, his name will ever be-
found written on the hearts Of Irishmen and
Irishmen's sons with the indellibe pencil OF
love. This must be the choicest epitaph man
could have. His memory, too, will continue
to animate all !rishmen until the final strug-
gle was won.
The second portion of the speakers dis.
course, Poets and Poetry Of Ireland" was
then given attention. He said that the poetry
Of Ireland was the poetry of the people, and
from the rich and choice mine that he had 10
draw upon he selected verses that nearly all
IN the audience recognized. The selections
were patriotic, pathetic and humorous. The
was fine tribute TO the power
,f music and was from Longfellow's Monk
Felix"
The audience greeted with warm applause |
MS selection, and at the close of the discourse |
he speaker was given ovation. Mayor |
McGuinness thanked him in beh,lf OF the au. |
Hence and societies.
The committee OF arrangements Were: John |
)'Connell, John Il. Chapman, Bernard Nc. |
rernan, Peter Tracy, John l.. Cannon, Miles |
McNamee Henry A. Mcguire, james Con
molly, Daniel Mccarthy, Frank Trainor. |
Charles Mclaughlin, Martin Feoney, James |
John o'Donnell and Martin Laf
'rty.
ON the stage were Colonel James Moran, AL.
herman Dennis II. Mccarthy, Alderman
Iamcs n. Mctiann Colonel John McManus,
Luke Kavanaugh, Councilman
Thomas r West, T. II. Quinn, ESQ, Colonel
Edward Co'grove, Michael r. Braney BERNARD
dcIiernan, John H. Cannon, John h. Good.
Henry A. Mcguire Dennis Kelleher, Charles
Mclaughlin, Daniel McCarty Thomas o'Gara.
frank Trainer, Miles A. McNamee. Dennis
'hea, Thomas Quinn, Jeremiah. Crowley. Pat.
ick +. Cannon, Peter Casey, Patrick Cannon.
Peter Monahsn and Thomas Matheysy.