The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-03-01
ROBERT EMmET's ANNIVERSARY.

Liz DlItlluty OL 1tODefC EIulneC
which occurs next Tuesday will be
celebrated in the leading cities Of the
United States, and Minneapolis Hiber-
mans will honor his memory at the
Lyceum Theater in the evening, as
announced in another column. On the
front page of this issue we give the
story Of Emmett as it was eloquently
told by Rev. DR.. Thomas J. Shahan,
of the Catholic University, on a recent
occasion. In addition to that mag
niticent discourse we shall briefly
give the following particulars of the
Irish patriot for the information of
our Juvenile readers:
Robert Emmett, ut the age of "a, was
executed on the charge Of high treason
in Dublin on Sept. 20, 1903. He was
the youngest son of DR.. Emmett physi-
clan to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
While Il student at Trinity College, he
was among the nineteen who were eX-
PEELED from that institution by order
OF Lord Clare and DR.. Duigenan OH
the charge Of disloyalty to the British
government.
After his expulsion he left Ireland
and spent some time in Holland, Bel
GUM and France. He had an audi
ence with Napoleon and Talleyrand in
rnfnrnnHn Mo-,
Ireland, but he failed to persuade
them to send any aid to the United
lrshmen who We're then preparing
for an insurrectiOn. On his return
home he set to work manufacturing
arms and combustibles for an attack
on Dublin Castle. He was led to be-
lieve that nineteen counties would rise
In rebellion when he was ready to
strike the British citadel but when
July D. the day for the attack, came
round, he had not one hundred men to
follow him to liberty or death. His
conspiracy was a failure, but it was
not Emmet's fault
He could have escaped to the conti-
ncnt had it not been for his ardent at
tachment to Sarah Curran. 1t was
while cndeavoring to secure an inter
view with her that he was captured
by Major SIR. When brought to the
Castle, he was identified by DR.. Ering-
ton of Trinity College who was after
wards made Protestant bishop.
Poor Emmet's fate was sealed. He
was tried before Judge Norbury OF
infamous memary, and was prosecuted
by William Conyngham Plunket, who
necdlessly assaulted his spotless char
acter and patriotic motives.
His speech of vindication Is familiar
to every one, and has found perma-
nent place in every book of eloquence
published outside the British Islands
The boys of Ireland have never
perused it in the b oEs of the so-callcd
national schools. and many Of them
have read il for the first time in Amer
lean rhetorical books. We give the
closing sentences as follows:
My lords, you are impatient for the
sacrifice. The blood which you seek
is not congcalcd by the artificial ter
rors which surround your victim--it
circulatcs warmly and unruflcd
through the channels which God
created for noble purposes, but which
you are now bent to destroy for pur-
poses SO grievous that they cry to
heaven BE vet patient! have but
few words more to say am going
to my cold and silent grave-my lamp
Of life is nearly MISUNDERSTANDING race
is run--the grave opens to receive me
and sink into it's bosom. l have but
one request to make at my departure
from this world. it is--the charity of
its silence. Let no man write my
epitaph: for as no man who knows
my motives dare now vindicate them.
let not prejudice or ignorance asperse
them. Let them and me rest in OBJ
security, and peace; and let my tomb re.
main uninscribed and my memory in
oblivion until other times and other
men can do justice to my character.
When my country takes her place
among the nations of the earth, then,
and not till then. let my epitaph be
written"
About a hundred years have passed
away since the death of Robert EN-
met and his country is still in chains
and slavery. Though no tomb with
an inscription has been erected over
his grave, his memory is cherished
and will not be permitted to rest in
oblivion. His name Is dear to the
hearts of his Catholic countrymen, de-
spite the fact that he was not of their
faith. 1t is they who celebrate his
birthday. Though Protestant, he is
idolized by the Catholics Of his race;
Ind when the day of Erin's deliver