The Irish standard., 1901-03-09


Robert Emmct was delivered last Mon
day evening. March 4, under the aus
nices of the United Irish Societies of
Chicago, by Hon. CHRISTOPHER A. Gal.
laghcr, of Minneapolis:
Some reckon their age by years,
Some measure their life by art;
''ut some tell their days by the flow
of their tears;
And their lives by the means of their
heart"
Most nations mark the progress of
time hy the anniversaries of their indie
pendcncr. or that of famous victories
over the land or naval forces of
rival power; hut Ireland marks the
periods Of her history by the blood of
her martyrcd children.
On most national anniversaries tl,n
achievements of the past are glori-
fled, and tho people rxhortcd to pro-
serve the liberties handed down from
another generation.
On Irish anniversaries, we meet, not
to celebrate the victory of our prcdc-
crssorS, but to accord to them. in their
In NJ
Just need of praise which belongs not
to success but to the cxcrtcd efforts To
obtain 1t.
Other nations place laurcls upon
their victorious gcncrnlS-Ireland
wcrpS over tllc graves of her less for
tunntc ones.
Tonight, the world over, are gathered
together the scattered SONS of the Gael.
This day of all days their hearts are
filled with devotion to the land en-
drarcd to them by the memory of it's
devoted sons. No country was ever
blessed with more fcrvent love of her
children. and no country ever gave to
the world noblcr or more patriotic sons
than ireland.
Other nations point proudly to the
sculptured monuments that adorn the
corridors of their legislative halls, and
the paintings that preserve in art the
gratitude Of nation.
Erin has no legislative halls in which
to preserve the memory of her gallant
sODs, but striking her SCARED bosom
she says: "Here in the deepest re-
cesscs of my heart are enshrined the
memories of my martyred children; !
can not build to them towering monu-
ments of marble or of brass, hut l
give to them something richer, trucr
and more gratcful-the tears Of
mother-love"
In the fulncss of her grief tonight
she stands above an unmarked grave
and in her heart is silent struggle
between sorrow and pride for her mar
tyred boy, mourning the loss of such n
noble son, but proud that in the grand
constellation OF the worlds heroes,
among those who lived for others, in
the roll Of those who were inundated
upon the shrine OF liberty, no soul
shines out with greater lustcr, no mar
tyrdOm carried with it more sacrifices,
| no heart beat with n0bler impulse, no
voice ever penetrated deeper the rank
ling pride Of judicial hypocrisy, and
no name is reveled more among all
who love Justice, honor and patriOtism
than that Of her immortal son, Rob-
rrt Emmett.
In he roll OF Irish martyrolOgy there
are many names worthy of all the
honor Il sOrrowful nation could be-
stow; and yet no one feels that the
others are forgotten because of the
especial honor shown to the memory
of IImmet.
There was in the life of this young
hero something that appeals to the
sympathy, the gratitude and the ad-
miration of the human heart. BY
birth, education, social position and
wealth, lie had every induccmcnt that
could tend to IL life of comparative
ease, honor and rmolnmcnt. He was
| but twenty years of age when the
stirring events of '0S made upon his
young heart an impression which aft
crwards eliminated so tragically. He
dedicated his life to his country, striv-
ing to accomplish for his land what
Washington had secured for this.
With the bright example Of the patri-
otic colonists, and reading by the light
Of that new page in the worlds his
tory, he knew that England never