The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-05
ROBERT EMMETT HoNoRED.
CELEBRATION OF HIS MEMORY BY
SAVANNAH IRIsHMEN.

other speakers-In Speech and
Song the Irishmen DO Honor to the
Occasion.
Right royalty did the Robert Emmett
| Association celebrate its seventeenth an
niversary last night by an elaborate din
ner at Mannings restaurant. The long
dining room was deliberately decorated
for the occasion with palms and flowers,
and from the walls hung the flags of Ire
land and America.
Around the banquet board assembled
about seventy-fve members of the EN-
met Association and their guests, and
while most attractive dinner was being
served, the orchestra discoursed pleas
ant music appropriate to the occasion.
1t was about II o'clock when the chair
man, Mr. Z. A. Leonard, called for or
der, and announced the first feature of
the evenings literary programme, the
reading of Emmets speech from the dock
by Mr.. James L. Murphy The speech
was listened to with much interest, for as
familiar as 1t is to every Irishman, its
repetition IS always enjoyed. Without
doubt it Is one Of the most remarkable
and eloquent extracts of English litera-
ture
Chairman Leonard called attention to
the occasion and spoke of EN-
met as one of Irelands most
noted and devoted and patriotic
sons. as he announced the first regular
toast, 1.-THE Day We Celebrate" which
was responded to by Thomas S. Morgan,
Jr., Esq.
Mr.. Morgan spoke of the emotions which
the mention of Emmet's name excites, and
the fact that the name itself is eloquence
10 every true Irshman. His memory need
not be recorded by the historian, he said
for 1t is inscribed upon the red leaf of the
human heart, and God Almighty is the
printer. He spoke eoquently of Emmet's
objects and the ends he aimed at and
concluded with the statement that as it
was said of Caesar, 'if you wish to praise
Robert Emmett, say Robert Emmett and go
no furthar."
Mr. George W. Beckett made a bright
and eloquent response TO the toast 'The
United States" He spoke of the remark
able progress of the country since the
signing of that immortal document, the
! declaration of independence the fact that
1t was haven of refuge for the suffering
and oppressed of other lands and drew q
dltion of the Irishman generally under
English rule, and under the free and in
dependent government of America. In
America, he said, you will find them, as
merchants, manufacturers, lawyers, doc
tors and in legislative halls.
Mayor 2. w. Medrim was warmly ap-
plauded as he arose to respond to the
| toast Savannah" There was not pres
ent a heart, but that beat In sympathy
| with his, not a hand that would not
raise itself in his defense were aught said
that could call for it.
Mayor Meldrim said he hoped the time
would never arrive when he was called
on to speak for Savannah and his lips
would be silent. He came, he said, not
| to make a speech but to show by his pres
| ence his appreciation of the invitation eX-
| tended him. He spoke of the charm of
| Savannah's hospitality, and trusted the
| time woul't never come when the city
| would prove recreant to that hospitality.
! There was no life fuller of true senti-
ment, he said, than that of Robert Emmett.
| 1t was that sentiment, he said. which had
! given them their courage and made them
| line up as he had seen them in war and in
| political contests. under the star which
shines bright in victory.
II trust" he said, chat this admins
tration, with the creation of which you
| had much to do, may be successful TO
| this extent. that it may make Savannah
| physically, morally and politically clean.
] 1t may be unable to make any money, but
| 1t will at least be free from stealing any.
1t will seek to be progressive. yet eco
! nomtcal, liberal and conservative, and to
| put down bitterness and strife and to
unite its people, because the misery and
/ the misfortune of Ireland are due largely
to the dissensions and strife in the old
land. The epitaph of Robert Emmett
would long ago have been written if The
people of Ireland could stand together be-
meath that green flag with the harp of
gold"
The glory and success of Savannah,
Mayor Meldrim said, must depend on
the unity OF the people. In the pres euce
of those to whom he was most indebte
perhaps, for the position which he now
occupies, he said he would have the cour-
age 20 tell them that he could not carry
out their wishes unless in union. strength
conservatism and without bitterness they
would uphold him.
Il have the courage to say" he said.
that with your help and Gods. | pro-
pose to be the mayor of Savannah, and
not the representative of any clique or
| faction"
This sentiment was warmly applauded.
With the help Of an Independent and
| honorable press, a pulpit which breaches
broad religion, with the smiles of good
women in supporting him in trying to do
| what is right, and the aid of men like
those around him, the mayor said, Sa-
vannah can in the future, as in the past,
continue to rise in the scale OF pros
| perity
Mr., A. S. Way responded brilliantly and
| humorously to the toast Woman" He
would say what he would never dare to
say to a woman. that the subject was an
| old one. only a trile younger than Adam
| Womans influence, he said begins in the
cradle and ends somewhere beyond the
| grave. A key 70 a mans character can
| be found in the character of his mother
and his sweetheart. lie paid poetic trib-
ute to womanhood speaking OF Robert
Emmets sweetheart, and then of the wo-
men of the southland during the war. In
| his address, humor and eloquence were
blended in happy medium, and his address
was one Of the most enjoyable of the even
| ing,
| Mr.. j. Fred Lewis responded to the
toast 1.-THE Press" after which there were
stirring songs by Messrs. w. ]. Harry. w.
! r. Blois and Others, and Mr. Albert A.
! Hyde Of Chattanooga, Tenn, entertained
! the audience with several interesting Sc
| lections in which he proved himself one
Of the bast actors or the stage. IL was a
/