The Irish standard., 1901-03-09
An Eloquent and Patriotic Grafton Robert Emmett by
Hon. c. A. Gallagher of this City.
Delivered Monday Night March 4, Under the Auspices
of the Chicago Irish Societies.
Horrible Indictment Supported by Facts, Against
Bloody Policy Of Great Britain.

granted only what was demanded in
tn" presence of an organized force suf-
tlcicnt to back up it's demand. He
knoW it was not the voice nor the
reasoning power of Grattan, but the
gaping mouths Of his cannon, and the
S'iStrning rifles of the Irish volunteers.
that in 80 made possible an Irish par
lament. And he saw n few years lat
q" in the dishnnding of that force the
dissolution of tho Irish parliament.
The more he studied the history OF the
british government. the more he real
tied that there was but one argument
that ever pierced the heart of an IGng-
lish ministry, and that was the sword.
Feeling thus, there was but one
thing to do, and that was to convince
his frllow-countrymcn to think like
wise, and with them prepare for the
bitter struggle. So intense was he IN
tho advocacy of his country's cause.
that he was expelled from Trinity col
lcgc for ploclaiming such Il dangerous
and scditious doctrine among the stu
dents. He spent four years on the
continent studying how he could best
advance his cause and returned to
put into execution the plans which
later on SO wOefully miscarricd.
Every Irish heart knows that tragic
story. The failure, the flight to the
mountains the refusal to leave the
country till llc could see once more the
gentle heart that through all his strug-
giles lifted up her love-lit eyes in SYM
pathy and prayer for his success s-nll
these are familiar stories, hut we ncv-
or weary Of listening to the devotion
they attest. Then came the farce of
trial that followed his arrest; and his
defense not OF his acts, but of his mo-
tivcS: the grand, eloquent manner in
which lm rescued from the aspcrsi0ns
of tho bloody butchers, who in the
gnsc OF judicial procedure were gloat-
ing in anticipation over his death, that
reputation which they strovc to con-
sign to the ignominy Of the grave.
Nowhere is there n grandcr picture
IN the annals of history. Facing
death, fearless and defiant, ready to
pny the penalty OF defeat, satisfied
that he had shown his countrymcn the
way, though failing to reach the goal.
he saw the object Of his defamcrs to
impngn his motives. to discredit his
methods and to rcpudiatc his teach
ings. With q contempt born Of indig-
nation, M inspiration which seemed
lighted by the invocation Of his IA
theirs spirit. an cloquence that was fed
by his desire to save his country the
stainless legacy of his death, he an
swered the taunts Of the accursed
Norbury, stripped him Of the veil Of
hypocrisy and left him flounderlng in
the blood Of his victims, an cxecrated
exccutlOncr of the most damnable gov
ernmcnt that ever cursed the face Of
earth.
The next day, before the outer world
had heard the verdict the English gov
ernmcnt stranglcd the voice of Robert
Emmett At thnt execution. while the
body was yet warm, the representative
of the English government placed
It upon Il block and cutting off the head
held it up to the horror-strickcn
crowd with the declaration: "This is
the head of n traitor"
And that was the work of what some
are pleased to call the mother (G
country. Out upon such blasphcmy.
Mother, mother the sweetest, dearest
word that ever fell from human lips.
Take that hand dripping with the
blood Of Emmett down upon your ser
vile knees, and as you hear his life
blood drop by drop echo on your
cowarlly heart kiss the hand that
smotc him, and swear anew your al
lrgiancc to the British crown, but
don't stand on American soil sanctified
by the blood of thousands of Irish
hearts that crimsoned every field from
Hunkcr Hill to Yorktown, and desc
crate the sanity name of mother by
hyplcnating it with a country that
stands for everything that is bloody,
base and barbarOus.
Do you wonder that the Irish have
not been wearing Grape the past few
weeks? When the sentimental Will
lies of this country, through catarrhal
affection, mental alteration, or anglo
phobic contagion, lost control Of their
lachrymal glands. they condemned
Mayor Van Wyck because he could
not see tears in the eyes of the Ameri-
| can eagle and refused to lower the
dignity of the American flag to that
Of a snuff rag.