The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-03-01

The following passages arc selected
from an eloquent address on Robert
Emmett, recently delivered by Rev. DR..
Shahan Of the Catholic University of
America:
On March 4 Irshmen throughout the
world will celebrate the memory of
one Of Gods noblemcn, the Irishman,
Robert Emmet. II you open the broad
folios of history you will not read that
he founded Il State, nor that lie cs-
tabished Il religion; it is not written
there that he sang any sublime chant
that goes echoing through the ages,
nor that he wrought Il breathing
statue, nor flung upon the canvas the
rarest fancics Of the imagination. lie
scrutinized 10 depths Of nature, and
he laid bare by incisive thought no
innermOst folds Of the human mind.
He touched no secret key Of invention,
continent long hidden in Obscurity
and fOrgetfulness. His title to eternal
fame and the impershable gratitude
Of his ancient race rests on other
foundations, but not less solid nor less
glorious than those Oh which rcpose
the memories of statesmen ana phil
osoplers, poets and artists, inventors
and pioneers. With every decade his
figure stands out more luminous ANA
fascinating against the evcr-dccpcning
background of time, and as the prcju
dices ana passions Of his own day de-
cline or give way to new interests ana
ambitions, the meaning of this mans
life and death grows clearer and
holier, ana he advances by unanimous
consent TO tic high portal of common
fame, and takes his place there
among those benetactors of mankind
who have died that others might live
who have thrown themselves into the
sacrilicnl abyss that it's yawning walls
might close, and the pcstilcnce of op-
preston cease to vomit forth it's deadly
vapors and men might live ana move
in the blessed sunlight of liberty.
Robert Emmett died for his country
that is his title to fame and gratitude;
so much and no more, as was sufficient
TO crown HarmOdius and AristogcitOn
with undying glory; so, much and no
more, as cnthroncd Arnold Won
Winkclreld in the heart Of Switzcr-
land; SO much and no more, MS lifted
Andrcns IIOfer out of his obscurity
and made him one Of humanity's shin
ing ideals; so much and no more, ns
twined immortal bays about tn brow
Of Nathaniel Hale. After the sacrifice
Of life for ones religion, there is none
more glorious and more fruitful than
the sacrifice of life for ones country
SO the philosophers have decreed and
the poets sung; so the people from
time immcmorinl have believed, and so
each individual soul is persuaded, from
that fine old hcathcn who says that
"it is n sweet and dccorous thing to
die for ones country" to the modern
singer who tells us in no less senten-
tiOus verse that
whether on the battlefield
Or i'm the prison van,
The noblcst place where man can die
Is where he dies for man."
But that was nothing new or
strange. Before him the path of time
is strewn with victims innumcrablc,
no less brave and high-mindcd All
Ireland is one bleeding sod, rcd with
the richest blood of her children,
soaked with their dying sighs and as
pirations, until it cries against the
heavens with an undying thunderous
voice Of vengeance that must one day
force open the Judgment gates, and
OverWhclm with shame and confusion
her secular oppressOr. Robert Emmet
died for Ireland! But so did countless
men from the hour when Strongbow's
ships first grated on Irish soil to with
in the memory Of the youngest among
us. One life more or less did not
count in this horrid shambles, and if
that was all, we would scarcely be