The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-09-19
One Hundred Years
Since His Life was
Sacrificed
One of the Pathetic Pages
of History of Ireland,
and a Blot On That
of England

i Chicago. ILL.,, Sept 19.-lt will be
just 100 years tomorrow since Robert
Emmett, in the twenty-sixth year Of his
age. was hanged in Kilmainham Jail.
in Dublin. for loyalty to his country,
but what was construed as treason to
the British government by Judge and
jury.
For years the anniversary of En-.
NETS death has been annually cole
brated in Chicago and other cities Of
America. and some of the most bill
liant orators of the country have told
again and again the thrilling story Of
the young patriots hazardous life and
ignoble death. But this year the cole.
brations are to be OF still greater i'm.
portance some of the most notable of
them to be held in this city. Columbus,
Buffalo. Philadelphia and elsewhere
While. OF course. interest naturally
centers In Emmet, the Irish.American
women have not forgotten his broken
hearted financee. Sarah Curran. whose
devotion to the martyred patriot has
never been forgotten by students of
Irish history.
Sarah Curran was the daughter Of
John Philpot Curran, Irelands most
brilliant attorney. In a period con.
spicuous for its wit. Curran was the
brightest Of ALL His was the most
genial nature that flowed and sparklcd
at the social board. In a crowded
school OF orators. each Of whom was
prominent and towering, he stood. II
not the foremost, second only to the
foremost. When corruption was let
loose he was unpurcheaable and in
violate. and In reign OF terror,
dauntless and inviacible From .he
beginning 10 the end Curran clung &c
the fortunes OF his country-gave to
her his love. his labors, his sorrows,
the inspiration Of his courage. the OK
warmth OF his gonius-gave
them all TO her in the fullest measure.
Robert Emmet's fancee was The |
daughter OF this great man. She was
one OF the gentlost. the most amiable, |
The simplest minded, the freest from
the most patient. the least
wilful OF womankind. and yet there
was no sacrifice she was not capable
of making for the man she loved.
Through her devotion for Emmct, |
Miss Curran had strained relations be-
tween her father and herself. ard in |
her home.lifc tho patience and sslf.re. |
manifested by her were in |
deed self.sacrihcing Curran, un.
ioubtedly treated his daughter with |
harshness and severity, but Il can.
not be wondered at how vexatious 20 |
him must have been the arrest and ex
ecution Of Emmett. who was engaged |
10 his daughter. and which event left |
him at the mercy OF the government, |
and rendered IL necessary for him 10 |
appear before the privy council in the /
character, no longer an intrepid advo.
,ate for others. but OF a suspected per,
son who had TO enter into explana.
ions OF his own conduct Curran had |
rendered himself obnoxious TO the gov.
srnment by so many years increasing |
opposition 10 every administration.
and by the part he had taken in the
'arious trial from 1894 TO 1898.
But all through this period OF tur.
noil and diseomforts of home Miss
curran remained faithful TO Emmet,
'ut after his death she remained not
ong In her fathers house Her
found no alienation
here, and the very eonstraint imposed
IN her freedom was productive OF ad.
iitional misery, She quilted her
ather's house at longth and went TO
Cork whore, at the house OF a Mr..
a Quaker, she met Captain
spuFgoon, of the Royal Stan Corps.
md married him