The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-16

Mr.. Chairman Gentlemen of the Gaelic
Literary Club, Ladies and Gentlemen:
mo life
Its strife p' ~
And all life not be purer and stronger
thereby"
On the Goth day of September. 1903, now
nearly one hundred years ago, just as the
sun had passed the meridian and turned
his face towards the western horizon
there was carried from a loathsome dun.
geon, through the. streets of the City OF
Dublin, young man, barely % years or
age, manacled and heavily guarded: to
his place Of execution on the scaHolu.
That man was Robert Emmett
We are assembled here tonight, my
friends, on this the 124th anniversary or
the birth Of this same young man. as
thousands have assembled in every quar-
ter of the civilized globe. to pay respect
to his memory. and feel we are honoring
ourselves in meeting together to add our
mite of tribute to his character.
Nationality is for the time ignored and
creeds are forgotten in generous emu.
iation among all sects and classes or
men to assist at these celebrations and
by their presence testify that it was IN
the sacred cause Of liberty that Robert
Emmett offered up his young life on the
altar. of his country
Robert Emmett was the youngest son Of
DIR. Robert Emmett. and was born In the
City of Dublin on the 4th day OF March.
ITS. His eldest brother. Templet En-.
met was one of the most brilliant men
of his time, acquired fame as lawyer
and as an orator. and yet died at the
early age of q. Thomas Adds Emmet
the second brother. became a prominent
ieader in the United Irishmen, was i'm
prisoned and exiled for participating In
the rebellion of 1913. and. after a resi-
dence of three years on the continent
came to this country and became famous
as lawyer and orator. Robert was sent
at any early age to Oswald school, eel
ebrated school for mathematics. Subse-
uuently he was placed at the well-known
school of Samuel White. and afterwards
under the care of Rev. Mr.. Lewis OF
On the 7th Of October. 1888 at the age
of 15 years he entered Trinity College.
In early life he showed great aptitude for
the exact sciences. and his prediction
for mathematics and chemistry continued
during his life. While at trinity ,ColIege
and Debating Societies and displayed
transcendent oratorical powers
writer in the London Magazine OF
1s25. in describing the peculiar character
of his oratory in these societies. says
sEmmets fine. manly countenance glow
ed with an enthusiastic ardour. ana ne
delivered hismelf with as much animated
fervor as If he were addressing nu-
merous but distracted assembly, which h,
wished to persuade. His words flowed
his arguments with all the ease of a man
accustomed to abstract discussions"
In February. 1898. in reply to summons
from the Chancellor of the College 20
eppear and be examined under oath
touching the connection of his fellow stu:
dents with the Society of the United
Irishmen. he wrote letter denouncins
taken off the books Of the college IN
1902. he visited his brother Thomas Ad-
dis on the Continent and spent some
.fAr xryfth
the United lrishmen and high officials OF
the French Government in reference Il
irish affairs. He arrived IN Dublin in
October. 1902. and having gotten S ,7SS a.
toin him. began his active preparations
on March 2lst. 1903, for an UPRISING
of the people against England; 1t wa.
his plan to make the Castle his first point
of attack believing that II It fell int
his hands. the people would mock to his
standard and carry the revolution TO
ingenuity. he established depots of arms
and ammunition in different places in the
CITY. Preparations had been going OF
since March; but Emmets object va, vas IT, tt
fully expected England would he Invaded
by France premature explosion In the
depot which he had established in Pat
rick Street and which he knew could
not but excite suspicion at the Castle
disconnected his plans On the evenin'
of the sd of July. Emmet, on being In
formed that two spies were on the way
TO the Castle II give information of the
susnected proceedings. determined tC
make an immediate effort. but. through
trcachery. the 1000 men In Dublin ant
those from Kildare and Wexford, did not
appear, and the plan was defeated. as hf
imagined by accident or ignorance ol
neglect on the part of his agents, but
says a writer on me SuoJec, VI new@i
that every design of his was frustrated
every project neutralized as effectually Al
if a traitor had stolen into the camp ot
an enemy seduced the sentinel. corrupt
ed the guard discovered the plans. dis
concerted the projects. and then left tht
adversary TO be forced into the field anc
discounted there
rison of the mob-for it can hardly HI
termed by any other name--Emmet es
capped to the Wicklow Mountains, where
he found the insurgents. bent on pros
ccuting their plans and making an I'M
mediate attack. but, believing the strug
Gle hopeless and that it could only lest
t. tho effusion of blood. but TO no sue
ccssful issue" to his everlasting hono
no II said he refused to give the move
mcnt his sanction. His friends pressed
him to take steps for erecting nus escape
from the country. but he resisted theii
solicitations and returned to Dublin, a!
We are told. to have one more interview
with that person who was dearer TO MN
than Iife-Sarah Curran. the younges
daughter Of the celebrated advocate
John Philpot Curran. This may hav'
been his motive. but
There's a divinity that shapes our ends
Rough-hew them how we will
and it may be that lie returned to cemen
with his blood the foundation on which
shall be reared the independence of hi
country.
The trial Of Emmett began early in tn
morning of Monday. September 18th. ant
AT 10 o'clock that night the jury, ate
heinC charged by Lord Norbury, the pre-
siding Judge. without leaving the box t
consider the evidence in the case, re
turned verdict of Guilty" All tina
Inng wearisome day he had stood in tn
dock on trial for his life and as hi
noor human nature was almost exhaust
rd his counsel requested the attorney
General that he be not brought up 70
judgement until Wednesday.
We Of this country and century do no
c,,im to ne at all familiar with the al
anst InconceiVable swiftness of British
i,i,a ,t that time In dealing with 1risl
Js,,biects but at this day 1t strikes u
njtS horror and amaZement that after tn
b,tt.r experience of the day. this reQues
should have been disregarded Ihe min
s+orS If Justice were impatient for tn
anal scene: the ministers OF mercy wer
ahsept. and the request was refused. w
~ wonder then that in response t
~ norftlnctory question by the clerk
~, he mad to say why Judgment o
daath and execution should not be award
81 1etinst him according to law. II
p"II declare. that the whole ceremou
~ ~ trial might nave been dispense
1,I+b since sentence was already pro
ronnccd at the Castle before the jury wa