The San Francisco call., 1897-03-05

of the men of '9S are here tonight to ask that
question: Who fears to speak of '9S ? Who
bushes at the name
1t is, ladies and gentlemen, an ennobling
thing that we should meet here year after
year 10 celebrate the memory of the mighty
dead. 1t is an uplifting thing for the heart of
man that at stated times he should turn away
his mind from business cares and from ma
terial pursuits in order that he may consider
the mighty men of old, their deeds, and the
legacy which they have left unto us. To-day
is all anniversary which appeals to every
heart.
1t is the anniversary of q man in whose life
patriotism and romance are blended. 1t is
the anniversary of youth-a boy, we might
almost say-who gave up his life in order that
his country might be free, and who sacrificed
his last chance OF escape in order that he
might say farewell to the girl he loved. He
lived for his loves, says the poet; for his
country he died. He died, glorious. brave,
a heroic figure, figure TO which the young
may look and see in il no spot or stain; figure
to which the old may look and pray that God
may give them sons like him.
When the struggle was lnaugurated on this
continent few years before the birth of Rob
ert Emmet-so that he might be said to have
been Graded IN the arms OF liberty-the feel
ing of National independence was aroused in
the sleeping sons OF Ireland, and they COM
PEELED the English Parliament al the mouth
of the cannon of the volunteers to give one
smalI installment of liberty. Small as it was,
the liberty OF a faction to make laws Tor the
whole nation, it liberty too large for
lands greatness are careful never to tell you
how her dominion was acquired; how her
power was obtained. They are careful never
to tell of an island side Dy side with England
which has been robbed and plupdered for 600
years in order that England might grow great
and powerful.
among the princes of the earth, but she is
drunk with the blood OF the saints, and her
Golfers are enriched by the plunder OF the
poor.
Tho ant of I1niop wac DasSed hv rraechery
and fraud and by playing upon the religious
feelings of the two great bodies into which
Ireland was divided. An attempt has been
made to introduce the same system into our
country, and IN our day, but, upank God, 1t
has failed. We have learned wisdom by the
misiortunes of the past, and we know
that the introduction OF religious ques-
tions, no matter from what quarter. into
secular politics, is an infamous design OF those
who hate the people and who would deprive
them OF their liberty, and 1t Is an earnest OF
the good sense OF the people that such an at
tempt has been crushed out with universal
scorn and that those who strove to do il shall
go down to prosterity with the names of Judasl
Emmet failed in his effort to effect a rising
and establish a provisional government
through treachery; he was tried, convicted
and hanged. 1t is hot the first time that the
gallows has become the inspira ton of liberty
nor the first time that men when dying have
won their causes. Emmet's life and death,
his sacrifice for the good of his country, for
the liberation OF people, for the last hope OF
IepSdl VI tuc CurStu uu1OH, 10 " uo SlduuhTu
and signal to which we may turn our eyes
and VOW our vows that we, too, as far as in us
lies, may do something for the cause OF human
rights and for the freedom of the land from
which our race is sprung.
There are those who, to their shame be II
said, have taken the festival OF Ireland S
apostle-the symbol OF our iaith, of ma
| tional glory-and have made ii, in order to
make more money, the day OF brutal prize
fight. There are men who, in order to attract
audiences and 10 stir up National sentiment
which should never lave been mentioned Oh
degraded to such depth have put themselves
forward as men Of Irish blood in their vein.
and have taken the Irish flag to MAKE it tine
breechclout of priZe-fghJer! Oh! that fial
for many year has hoaled over the vanguard
of the battle; it has gone down into the dus
and its green folds have been dyed with the
blood of its own children, but never before
! has it been disgraced or degraded.
This is the disgrace that cannot be washed
out; this is the degradation against which
every Irish heart protests. Every Ole of you
L appeal TO you. men and women of Irish
blood-you dom favor this. You condemn it
! you reprobate it; you lift up your voice anc
say to the world you have neither hand MOI
part in such infamy; for if you had 1t were
better that the name of Ireland and the name
of the Irish should be blotted out forever iron
the annals of human history.
In conclusion the speaker rapidly
traced the advances made by the Irish
people in the direction of freedom during
the present century, and prophesied the
not distant day when the aspirations o.
every patriot would be realized.