The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-05
in MEMORY OF EMMETT
NINETY EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF
HIS BIRTH CELEBRATED AT
CRETIN HALL
LARGE AUDIENCE ATTENDS
Speech of the HerO-H. III. Gillian
of saltwater Delivers the Ad-
dress Of the EveninE-SOme Mu-
steal Selections Add to the Pleas
ure of the Occasion.

The memory of Robert Emmett was
observed last evening by many Irish
men and women, who gathered in Gre
tin hall to celebrate the ninety-eighth
anniversary Of his birth. The hall was
crowded, and the entertainment to
which the audience listened was wor-
thy the occasion.
The stage was draped with the
American cOlors, while at one side of
the platform was a large Irish flag.
That was the only distinctly Irish dec
Grafton observable.
:. A number Of the leaders of the Irish
societies sat on the stage. The pre-
siding officer was J. r. Hickey, the
lawyer. who opened the proceedings
with an eloquent tribute to Emmett
Miss Anna McQuillan. played several
selections on the plano and Senator
J. J. Ryder read the, last speech Of
Emmett delivered in the dock on the
occasion of his condemnation to death.
Prof. Cortese played a Selection on
the harp and was followed by the Nor
gan family, who rendered q number Of
appropriate Irish songs and musical
selections, Leo White sang two songs
very sweetly, and then H. H. Gillian,
of Saltwater, delivered the address of
the evening" -cen&f ~EEcs - g Il -
Mr.. Gillian said the American land
league supports the Irish Nationalist
members of the British parliament,
contributing about 100000 a year to-
ward the cause of Irish home rule and
independence. Each Nationalist mem
Der Of parliament receives a sum equal
to $1,000 year from. the fund raised
in this country. 1t was proper, he said.
that this nation should assist Ireland.
In the days before the Revolution the
Irish parliament encouraged the Amer
leans to resist the British, and pledged
their support in case of conflict, and
they were Irishmen who rallied about
Lafayette and went with him to
Washington's army. More than half
of Washington's army was composed
had Irish blood in their veins. The
native-born Americans, he said, were
largely sympathiZers with England in
the struggle, and the British volunteer
regiments were mainly composed of
Americans. When Washington first
flung his flag to the breeze, he declar
ed, 1t. waved over more Irishmen than
Americans.
1t was also an historical fact, the
speaker continued, that America was
discovered by an Irishman IN the sixth
century. An Irish saint first set foot
on these shores, and on the maps fur
nished to Columbus the American con-
tlnent- was marked. as 1t was under
stood by Irishmen to be.
But for the assistance of Irish mer
chants in Philadelphia, Washington
never could have taken his army from
Valley Forge. Three merchants of
Irish birth advanced to Washington
$3.50, 900, and in 177S the city of Dublin
gave half a million to the American
army.
Eleven of the signers Of the Declara-
tiCn of Independence We're Irishmen,
and ever since then the Irish had as
sisted In governing this country. In
the Civil war the Irish We're the most
intrepid soldiers.
Mr. Gillian closed with an appeal to
Irishmen to work for Irish indepen-
dence until, it is accomplished and the
epitaph of Emmett may be written.
John F. Gehan sang two selections
superbly and the entertainment. closed
With some capital limitations by Sam
Johnson.