The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-03-01
Timely Tribute to the Young Hero Whose
Anniversary is Celebrated
by the Irish Race.
The Speech of the Martyr in the Dock is
Marked by Splendid Dignity
and Lofty Thought

I preparing to celebrate so commonplace
an event.
1t is the peculiar nature of his On.
rccr, his tender youth, the rare charm
of his brilliant gifts ana the homes
centcrcd Oh him, his vicarious accent
ance Of his brothers. post Of danger,
ana the sad doom of his ycnerous
pa'rlotlc family, his personality, the
circumstances of time and occasion.
the unparalleled last discourse Of tbo
patriot; the solemn and public tragedy
OIL his execution: the vast audience
all Europe and America, with the new
Caesar in the front rank; the nwful
tension OF many millions of mcn-one
OF the worlds oldest and most bril-
liant races-the feeling that one act of
long mtional tragedy was ending In
blood and night and despair, with the
grim resolution that the end was NOT
vet; the marvellous chance that cxiled
| millions of his countrymen. who cor.
RED those glorious dying accents the
"lde world over, echoed them on
western prairics ana amid Australian
Forests, and found in these winged
words gospel of patriotism swe,tcr
'il''h any Tircsias ever sang, NOR.
burning ana soulful than their rreotest
pards hhd over poured forth, charged
with all thc pcnt-up feeling of a
great race that had barely saluted
from nfar the horizon of liberty. and
saw itself cast back with ribald ruth.
Icssnrss into Il tracklcss desert and
fresh wnnderings.
1T was into the Ireland OF tho clos
ing eighteenth century that Robert
Emmrt was born, the youngest son of
patriotic and distinguished physician,
ana the brother Of Thomas Adds
Emmett, one OF the most active of the
United ]rishmcn and afterwards one
of the most brilliant lawyers OF this
g1ent republic, a man OF the school
of Grnttnn ana Flood, ana born TO
be, under more favorable circ,1m-
stances, the pride OF his native land.
trinity college did not cxtinguisl the
aspirations OF the younger Emmct,s
soul; ON the contrary, the time he
saved from grave study was devoted
to the history Of his country, to plans
for the bettcrment of her condition.
and his ardent pr0sclytism for justice
and equality though it led to his ex-
pulsion from the college, was long re-
mcmbcrcd by all who had the fortune
to listen to his charming eloquence.
lie was exceptionally free from the
folllcs and frailties of youth, and the
poet Moore, his friend and fellow
student, tells us that "were l to num-
Der the men among all whom l have
ever known, who appeared to me to
combine in the greatest degree pure
moral worth with intellectual power,
/ should, among the highest of the
few, place Robert Emmett" BY birth
and family connections he might have
aspired to the highest gifts in the
power of the English State, but he
preferred to share his country's suffer-
ings, and at the very outset of his ca
rcer cast his lot with those who
mcditatcd her formal independence.
The collapse Of the volunteers, the in
science OF the Castle, the cruel tor
lures of the common people, the ap-
proacling extinction of the Parla-
ment, rendered frantic the noblest
spirits in Ireland, and found them in
a secret conspiracy to effect, with the
temporary aid of France her freedom
from the English yoke The example
of the United States, just entering
upon its glorious career, inspired them
with serious hope, and the marvellous
happenings on the continent seemed
to presage success to any movement
to which the new soldier of fortune
would lend the aid of his sword. Be-
fore him, as before Cambyses or an
Alexander thrones bowed and dy-
nasties trembled. He made and un-
made kings and states and legislatures.
Religion walked humbly at his chariot