The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-03-02
s:,rHE MEMORY OF ROBERT EMmEr.

Next Monday, the 18th of March, is
the 123d anniversary of the birth of
Robert Emmett. the Irish patriot who,
at the age Of twenty-four, was execut-
cd in Dublin OH Sept. 20, 1903, on the
charge of high treason, for vainly at
tempting to deliver his native land
from British oppression and make it,
rs it ought to be, a free and indepcn-
dent republic. Though he failed in
his conspiracy against the British gov
eminent and his name is associated
with Il lost cause, the name of the
young martyr who was hanged and
behcaded as "a traitor" by the British
marauders in Ireland nearly Il century
ago is loved and honorcd by millions
of his countrymen on. every recurring
anniversary of his birthday in every
land beneath the sun.
The readers Of this paper are so
familiar with the pathetic story of Em-
met that it seems like work of super
crogation to dwell at any length on
his brief but glorious career. He was
the son of DR.. Emmett, physician to
the Lord Lieutenant Of Ireland, Il pa
trotic Irishman who sowcd the seeds
of liberty III the hearts Of his children
in spite of his connection with Dublin
Castle. AS the result of his tcnching
his elder son, Thomas Adds, aftcrward
attorney general of New York state.
was imprisoned at Fort George. Scot
land, for several years: and on his re-
lease he left his native land forever
Robert. the younger, while a student ut
Trinity College, was among the nine
teen expelled from that institution by
order of Lord Glare and Dr. Dugcnnn
on the charge of disloyalty to the
government.
After his expulsion Robert crossed
over to the continent and spent some
time in Holland, Belgium and France.
In the last named country lie had an
audience with Napoleon ana Tallcy-
rand regarding Il French invasion of
Ireland, but he failed to persuade
them to send any succUr to the United
lrishmcn and left them, sadly lisap-
pointed, for home. His father dying,
Robert was left $1,000, and borrowing
El,500 from a friend he set to work
manufacturing arms and combustiblcs
for an attack on Dublin Castle, the
scat of the British government in Ire
land. He laborcd night and day and
elaborated plan of attack which OK
perts pronounce wonderful for Il young
man of incxpGlicnce In military
affairs.
He was led to believe that nineteen
counties would rise in instruction
when he was ready to strike the Brit
ish citadel; but when July %, the day
for the attack, came round, he had
only handful of followers And
here it may be observed that the num-
Der 40" was an unlucky number with
Emmett. He was one of the 10 cX-
PEELED from Trinity College; 10 Of his
confcderatcs led by Capt. Dcspard
were executed in England: 10 counties
failed to rise as expected; he was tried
OH Sept. 10, found guilty of high trea-
son, and 10 were hanged for being i'm
plicated in the conspiracy.
Robert Emmett could have escaped
to the continent had it not been for
his attachment to Sarah Curran,
daughter of the celebrated Irish bar
rlster. 1t was while endeavoring to
secure an interview with her that he
was captured by Major SIR, of in
famous memory. When brought to the
Castle, Emmett was identified by one
DR.. Ellington, a gentleman of Trinity
College, who subsequently was made
Protestant bishop Of Ferns. His fate
was sealed. He was tried before
Judge Norbury and was prosecuted by
a friend of his father, William Conyng-
ham Plunket, who unnecessarily as
sailed his spotless character and lofty
motives.
Emmet's speech of vindication is II
classic. There exist ten editions Of his
oratorical address, some of them vary
ing materially from others. The one
given by DR.. Madden is considered the
best and has found a permanent place
in every book of eloquence. 1t can be
seen in the rhetorical readers used in
the American schools. After many in