The Irish standard., 1902-03-08

gram the following resolutions wer
offered by A. L. Lennon and adopted
by a unanimous vote of the large au
dience:
I'm assembling ON this occasion t,
commemorate the birth of Robert EN-
met, Irish-Americans may be pardonet
for giving expression to the feelings
which fill our breasts.
1--WE are proud of the noble men VIII,
have died for Irish freedom.
eve cherish Emmet's memory ant
reaffirm our devotion to the principle.
which he espoused, and believing il
the declaration of American indie
pendence, from which he derived his
inspiration that all men are created
equal and are of right entitled to life
liberty and the pursuit of happiness,
we are convinced that nothing short OF
total separation from England will
satisfy the aspirations of the Irish
people.
Resolved, That we send greetings
to our kindred in the old land and bid
them keep up the struggle for Irish
independence, and we in America
pledge our united support, morally and
physically, until the green flag shall
float over Il free Ireland.
''Resolvcd, That we extend to the
fighting Beers our united sympathy
and encouragement in their unequal
struggle against the British robbers
who, under the guise of civilization,
are burning and starving and murder
ing those brave defenders Of home and
country, and that we call upon tho
president of the United States to en-
force the neutrality laws and stop the
sale of American horses and mules to
the English agents."
The entertainment closed with the
singing Of God Save Ireland" by the
grand chorus of little girls, after
which the immense audience departed
for their homes after having enjoyed
to the fullest measure one of the
greatest celebrations in the history of
he Irish people Of Minneapolis.
FATHER OREILLY'S ADDRESS.
Upon being introduced to the audi
encc by the chairman, Rev. james
OReilly spoke as follows:
Ladies' and Gentlcmen:-I have come
here tonight at the invitation of those
who have charge of this meeting to
speak a few words in memory of the
Slandest character in all the legends
Of patriotism. Others might have
been easily selected who in words
would do more justice to this subject,
but the committee thought it was bet
ter that an unskilled hand rather than
II doubtfully sincere one should strike
the chord that vibrates AT the mention
of the name of Robert Emmett. They
have resolved that in the future
those who stand up ut Irish meetings
to speak Of the names sacred to Irish
history must not only have those
names upon their lips but must carry
them in their hearts.
1t is now almost a century since an
English court of law immOrtalized the
name of him whose memory we are
here to honor tonight. The years have
wrought Il miracle in dealing with that
verdict Of English law. The friend,
less boy who stood before the judge
and received the penalty of death has
entered into the glorious company Of
the martyrs and is numbered among
the choice and master spirits of the
age, and amongst all the great old
names that fill the Irish heart there is
none that can fill it and thrill it and
kindle Irish blood into flame like the
name Of Robert Emmett.
On what does his fame rest? 1t
does not, like the common reputation
Of the great, rest upon long career;
it does not rest upon great victories
Won either on battle fields or in senate
halls, but it rests upon this,-that in
dark and evil days, when it seemed
that Ireland's last cry for freedom
had been choked in blood, this fear
less man stood up, and with more than
the rapture Of lover laid down his
life for the freedom of your fathers
and mine. On that alone his fame
rests. And silent and accursed as the
cities Of the plain shall Ireland be-
come when she forgets the gentlest,
noblcst, bravest man that ever died
for her.
In after years another great Irish
man was transported by English law
because as he himself said he would
preach the creed and sacraments Of
manhood. In the various dungeons to
which the power Of England doomed
him he wrote a journal which has be-
come famous as John Mitchel's Jail
Journal" AS Il preface to that book
he wrote an cpitome of Irish history
because as he said, and as Thomas
Meagher said before him in the dock
in Clonmel, Irish history explains my
crime and justifies it." You will bear
with me then for n moment while 1
quote a few episodes Of Irish history
which l think explain and justify
what was called the crime of Robert
Emmett
When England got possession of
Ireland Shn fool. f,,1l ,occoc,;o,, T.