The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-05
EMMET'S MEMORY HoNORED.
CONTINUED from Eighth Page.)

pass us, ''but none of these cities" he said.
have ever bound their citizen to them
with any stronger ties than Savannah
blnds her sons and daughters to her. Sa-
vannah, with ali her conservatism, has
never yet closed her door in the face of
deserving man. AS long as the keys of
the splendid city are even in my undeserv-
ing hands" the Mayor said, her doors will
always be open to those who desire TO
enter.
Whether the epitaph of Robert Emmett
is TO be written in the near or distant
future, whether or not We are to live to
see an Irish Parliament assemble and its
ensign wave among those of the world
ms much is true, that in this proud city
OF Savannah the sons of every cline will
ind welcome. All she asks in return
is that you give to her welfare and PIP
gress little time and thought, some
llttle OF the energy you put in your own
affairs. There can be no real progress
no development, no splendid commerce
maintained unless her people will stand
united, seeking to advance her interests
and prosperity"
Mayor Meldrim said that never IN
the history of Savannah had her
commerce been as large as in the past
year. If Savannah extends the privilege
OF all her advantages to those who come
TO her the least that can be expected is
a civic pride. that she may advance and
continue TO grow in wealth and prosperity
"Suwanee River" the music of which
was given by the band. was sung by the
guests. This was followed by Dixie
which was loudly applauded.
The next number was a song entitled
The Palms." by Mr.. H. A. Dumas, which
was greatly enjoyed by his audience The
words were in French, but the rendition
was so exquisite that all seemed to enter
into the spirit of the song
The fourth toast was ireland, respond
ed to by Mr.. Arthur ]. O'Hara. The
speaker was warmly greeted.
Il should be wanting in the spirit of
gratitude and dead to every feeling of pa
triotism," Mr. O'Hara said did fail to
appreciate the honor conferred upon me
by responding to this toast. But am APP
palled at the magnitude of the task. For
to do il fitting justice I should need the
| fervor of an OConnor, the profundity of
| Meldrim the flowing rhetoric of a Hart
ridge, and the exubereut eloquence of a
Morgan. But these naturalZed Irishmen
are professional speakers, while T. though
a native Irshman, am, as my friends well
know, unskilled in public speech. There
| fore have l committed few impromptu
remarks to paper. "Irelandl There is
| iidSlC III the HdulS tltGIG is tllNtSAS III AiAS
sound, there is a spirit in the word, which
awakens an echo in the heart of every
Irishman, let him be born from
where he may be-in his ma
| tive land or out of it-no matter
where his birthplace be the man of Irish
| blood gives out of the depths of his heart
rich tribute of homage when the name
of the dear old land greets his ears.
ireland! 1t is name which has cheer
ed the patriot prisoner in his cell, which
has soothed the exile in his solitude, which
has nerved weak defenseless woman to the
performance of the noblest deeds and the
endurance of the greatest sorrows, name
which has inspired the soldier
| to battle with his pike or sword,
which has elected from the poet
his most enchanting verse; from the ora
tor his most exalted periods; from the
world admiration and respect for land
that is old, yet was young, a
land that is overpowered, yet
force of nationality; yet even in defeat,
standing before the world a nation still!
"And if response to this toast were ever
| fitting, what time more appropriate, whaI
| day more becoming than this day, when
we meet 10 honor the memory of one of
Ireland's greatest patriot-martyrs. Other
| lips more eloquent than mine have told
| his story and pronounced his eulogy. Not
mine TO speak of him whose name will
live in the history of Ireland-in the his
tory of Ireland-aye, in the history OF all
nations-as long as men are found TO non
or devotion, sacrifice, love of liberty and
patriotism, even unto death for native
land.
Robert Emmett sleeps his last sleep in
a quiet churchyard of the great city OF
| Dublin and the waters of the Litfey, surg
| ing in from old Mother Ocean, sings MS
requiem But his spirit lives, and ms
motherland lives on, for the spirit OF a
nation, the soul of a people, like the soul
of man, is immortal, and it never dies.
And what is the distinguishing character
of the national spirit of Ireland but that
innate love of liberty not only for her
self. but for all peoples. Glance along the
great vista of her years and you VIII
find her no founder of Dependent
colonies. no invader of neighboring ma
tions, no trampler upon the rights OF
other peoples. She has built no monu-
| ment upon the blood OF the Vahgulsheu'
she has caused no tears to flow from the
widow and the orphan of slaughtered
men. Her history is living ever present
example of the truth that peace hath her
victories no less renowned than war. SIR
William Jones must have had in mind our
motherIand when he wrote those beauti-
| full lines: n
What constitutes a state?
Not cities proud with spires and turrets
crowned,
Not bays and broad-armed ports,
Where laughing at the storm rich navies
ride
Not starred and spangled courts
Whose low-browed baseness watts per-
fume to pride,
! No-men-hgh-minde men
| Men who their duties know,
But know their rights and knowing dare
maintain.
But renowned for peace as Ireland has
ever been, it has been peace with honor.
Averse to war as the true Irishman is, so
anxious for peace is he that when forced
to it-truth compels me to say the force
may be very slight. He will fight for il,
and not only will he fight for peace at
home. but with generous magnanimity he
rsnsf In