The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-07
ROBERT EMMET'S BIRTHDAY
WOLF TONE CLUB's CELEBRATION
AT THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE.

A Large Audience Listened to Pleasing
Entertalnment-The Hon. James Titz-
gerald of New York Delivered an Able
Address on the Life of the Great Patriot--
Colonel John G. Healy Presided.
The one hundred and twentieth an
niversary Of the birth of Robert EN-
met was celebrated last evening at the
Grand opera house under the auspices
of the Wolfe Tone club. Robert En-
met was one of those Irish heroes
whose only reward for the efforts put
forth by them in behalf of the freedom
of their native land consists in the
honor and respect accorded to their
memory by their countrymen ever af-
ter.
The house was crowded with a large
audience, which showed its apprecia-
ton of the various numbers of the pro-
gramme by vigorous applause, The
feature of the evening was the speech
of the Hon. James Fitzgerald of New
York city, judge of the court of general
sessions, who spoke in memory of Rob-
ert Emmett and other heroes of Ireland.
He was introduced by Colonel John G.
Healy with few well chosen remarks.
A portion of Mr.. Fitzgerald's speech
was as follows:
MIR. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men-I congratulate you upon the fact
that you familiarize your children with
tle stories and songs of Ireland. So
long as you do the cause Of Ireland is
not lost.
THE memories of people are their
best treasure. The thoughts Of brave
deeds are an inspiration forever. The
name of Washington will ever be re-
vered. Every nation remembers for
ever their heroes, and we of Ireland re-
member, and shall always remember,
all the heroes who have fought for Ire
lands freedom. We pledge ourselves
to carry on the work which they have
begun, and if 1T is not completed dur
ing our lifetime we shall bequeath it
| to our children and our children's chill
4 dren until the crown is restored to
I Mother Erin.
1T is peculiarly proper that this cell
4 ebration should be in this, so to speak.
centennial year, for this is the centen-
! NAL of the attempt of the Irish to
wrench their country free in 1898.
What splendid men they We're! No So
ciety or nation ever contained Drawer,
truer, worthier men than belonged to
the United Irishmen. Wolfe Tone and
John and Henry Shields were well
| qualified to grace the executive chair
of an Irish or any republic. Their spir-
it of '9S was that of rs in America.
/ An undisciplined peasantry won victo-
ry after victory over men trained to
war After the campaign Of Wexford,
which these men deserved to win, what
language can tell the cruelties perpet-
rated by England and her hireling al
lies! The reeking gibbets was the en-
blem of the conqueror. When in 1900
the Irish parliament was dissolved,
Robert Emmett was a silent listener in
! the galleries. He left those halls de-
| termined that the old flag should not
| fall without another blow. He visited
various European countries while he
waited for the time in which to strike
again. His plan was bold one, but
not incapable of execution. He plan
ned to take the castle of Dublin at a
blow. hoping that the sight Of the flag
above it would arouse the entire ma
ton. He failed, but his spirit could not
/ be crushed He subsequently, fell into
British hands and was Immediately
| tried and convicted. Throughout one
entire day he stood in the prisoner
/ 4
rest, until at II o'clock at night the
packed jury returned verdict of gull
ty Emmett died, but the cause for
which he died has not persisted.
"Since then the heroes of AS and sc
made their desperate but unsuccessful
attempts to free Ireland, and even now
the voice of Parnell calls from the
grave for some one to raise ireland tc
her proper height.
i America sympathizes with wrong
everywhere and has tender spot in her
heart for ireland. ireland loves Amer
lea, and can picture her looking to
America for hope and courage. How
we love this, our flag! How proud we
are of the glorious nation! In time OF
trouble and need no men will spring
TO the ueIeNCe Ol lHiS nag OIL ours
quicker than those men of mother Erin
who honor and respect the memory OF
Robert Emmett"
The remainder of the programme was
in the hands of local talent and was
very creditably performed. The da-
logue Erin, Elect and Free" and the
following tableaux were especially fine
During the evening a telegram of greet.
ing was dispatched to similar meet
ing in New York city to which an an
swer was soon after received.
Judge Fitzgerald was accompanied
to this city by Colonel Edward Duffy
of the Sixty-ninth New York infantry
and William N. Berry, deputy clerk Of
the court of general sessions of New
York city. The programme was as fol
lows:
Colonel John G. Healy-Chairman.
Overture-Second Regiment Orchestra.
Chorus-"Where the Beautiful Rive
Flows"
Junior Chorus-Master William O'Connell
Chorus Leader; Richard Maher, General
Manager
Observation-Disclosures Flag"
Miss Eleanor e.. MCGOWAN.
Grafton.
Hon. james Fitzgerald, Judge Of the Cour
of General Sessions, New York
Solo-"My Dear Old Irish Home
May Sheehan.
Rectation-"Last Rome of Summer"
Ellen Brown.
Orchestral Accompaniment