The Irish standard., 1900-03-10
THE MEMORY OF EMMETT.
His Birthday Celebration In the City
of st. Paul,

urday evening before an audience which
packed the hall The memory of the
Irish patriot, his life and death for the
cause of liberty we're the subject OF elo-
quent addresses by James J. Regan and
T. r. Kane. These were interspersed
with program of instrumental and vo-
cal selections. The stage was deco
rated with large American flag, while
on either side hung banners OF green.
In front of the speakers desk was
portrait OF Emmett, around which was
entwined wreath OF green. John D.
O'Brien presided as chairman, and in
opening the meeting said:
1--WE meet tonight to commemorate
the anniversary OF the birth of Robert
Emmett Many years have passed since
the tragic event of his execution, but
the people OF the Emerald isle are still
in favor of liberty not only for them
selves, but for every one else, whether
it be Paul Kruger or George Washing
ton. Celebrations of this kind are OF
great value. The lessons which we will
carry home with us are such as will
make us better citizens In the life and
death OF Robert Emmett we must look
beneath the surface. What he lived
for and what he died for are the prin-
ciples which then existed and now ex-
ist Every person must recognize the
responsibilities due to society and him
self. Robert Emmett, at the age OF
twenty-one years, recognized his rela
tons to his people, society and the state
and every one must feel the same re-
sponsibility."
Miss Mary Manion recited in pleas
ing and dramatic style, and Miss Abbie
Mccoy sang couple OF solos. ]. ].
Regain followed in short address, say
ing in part:
I'VE meet to honor the memory of
one OF the noblest Irish patriots who
offered UP his life for his country. The
Irish people have always stood ready to
sacrifice their lives in the interest OF lib
crty OF their fellow men. Every foot
of ground in the Emerald Isle has its
history and its hero. The most con-
spicuous OF these was Robert Emmett.
He was born when great changes were
taking place in the political stages OF
the world. At the time he lived it was
unlawful for an Irishman to send his
children to school or church. Laws
forbade him to participate in trade and
he had neither constitutional nor fran
clise rights. 1t has been stated and is
believed by many that British influence
and domination are but other terms for
humanity, civilization and refinement,
but the history of English government
for the past 700 years in Ireland proves
this to be false. That government is
now wasting lives and money in South
Africa because the franchise and tax
laws are not just in that country, but
for years the franchise and tax laws en-
forced in Ireland have been anything
but just. Even in 1879 the franchise
laws in Ireland were such that only
those who we're paying on certain
amount of property could vote for
members OF parliament, and out OF 1000
families in a certain district but 1o4
persons were eligible to VOTE These
were the franchise laws OF England at
the end of the nineteenth century. We
can imagine what they were at the time
in which Emmett lived. Emmett, with
utter disregard for his own personal
safety, gave his life for his country and
at the foot of the scaffold abjured his
countrymen not to write his cpitaph u11-
til his country was free. His grave is
still unmarked, but his epitaph is writ
ten upon the hearts of his country1nen
and is on the lips of the sympathizers OF
human liberty. We owe it to his men,
-eTy to hasten the advent OF that day
when we can read the epitaph over the
grave OF our departed hero"
Miss Stella Vervais, Miss Steiger and
John +. Gellan contributed vocal solos,
and Leo Drummer piano number. T.
r. Kane, in an eloquent and forciblc
e1SiAi NO, pau q SlOWlllS llIUulC W lllC
memory OF Robert Emmett, and during
his remarks was cheered to the echo
He said in part:
eve meet to pay tribute OF reverence
to one who sacrificed his life that his
country might be benefited. There is a
custom among grown up men to meas
ure efforts by results. To understand
Robert Emmett, we must go back to the
age in which he lived. A constitutional
monarch and despot was on the throne
Under his reign the people OF Ireland
had neither constitutional rights nor
liberty. No man was safe to speak, act
Or live. Republics were being formed
in the new and old world. 1t was very
different in the closing hours of the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. At
the close of the eighteenth century, re-
publics we're being formed and in the
closing hours of the nineteenth century
civilization quietly looks ON while re-
public is being destroyed. Robert En-
met, endowed with all the gifts of intel
lect, organized a society, under the
name of United Irishmen, which had a