The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-19
Robert Emmett.

an inspiration to patriotism, and, to-mOr-
row, which Is the centenary Of the execu-
ton Of the eloquent young patriot. old
Ireland's sons, under the illumination Of
happier conditions and brighter hopes
than existed in the earlier years Of the
nineteenth century, will regret that
Emmet's young life was offered up upon
the altar Of patriotism without seeing
ray of light to indicate the dawn Of that
brighter day for Ireland to which his
prophetic eye seemed to look. His final
speech, just before his execution, before
Lord Nornbury in the session-house In
Dublin, stands to-day one Of the most
splendid examples Of Irish eloquence re-
manning to us. Interrupted brutally by the
Judge, at Intervals, Ernmet's mighty flow
of eloquence held the audience spellbound
and, when he arrived at his peroration he
seems, even as one reads the printed
speech, to be passing condign judgment
upon his accusers.
Rash and reckless was Emmett, say you,
to attempt to seize the arsenal and city Of
Dublin with a mere handful Of men
marching against the royal garrison? Ger
tainly he was rash, but unselfish and sac
rifciaI patriotism counts not manifold
peri1s nor the strength of the enemy, else
would our own revolt against the power Of
the British government have won against
the power Of the forces brought against
our patriot fathers? This young man, %
years old, only, betrothed to the lovely
daughter Of the eloquent Curran, and with
| 7, crixy
no stronger evidence of his earnest
ness and unselfshness in his country S be
half than to give up his life for her. He
set an example Of se1f-sacrifice which ami
mated the endeavors of Irish patriots thru
| the nineteenth century and gave inspira-
| ton to the ceaseless agitation which has
eliminated in the substantial administra-
tive and land system reforms Of to-day.
In one of his eloquent speeches, Thomas
Francis Meagher rather disparages Dan
iel OConnell for sticking to his system Of
continuous agitation for the repeal Of the
Act Of Union, against which Emmet's in
surrection was the first protest, and try
ing to effect Irish independence by elo-
quence without the shedding Of blood.
audiences Of from $4,000 to 100000 people,
having perfect control over them, never
countenanced physical revolt. He did not
succeed in effecting repeal Of the Act of
Union Of 1901, but he strongly kept up the
hopes of the Irish people for the reform OF
, the administration. What Ireland has
| gained Of real substantial good she has
gained by the eloquence Of her sons.
Oratory has been called the art Of per-
suasion, and such it IS The oratory which
, appeals to the Judgment alone Is the Least
{ inspiring with the vast majority Of people
: The oratory which sways the multitude
, must be addressed to the human reason
! and to human feelings and passions con.
, Jointly. The Irish orators Of the elder day
such as Charles Philips and Grattan anc
Curran and young Emmett, fascinate b.
their eloquence while appealing to the rea
son as well as to the passions Of men
;. Philips speeches n behalf Of religious
liberty are surprisingly eloquent and log
ical while l1is exuberant imagination Il
given full play.
! Eloquence is In flower always under thu
pressure Of public calamity, war, or othe
crisis affecting national life. Emmett burs
. into SURPRISING eloquence under tn
shadow of the judicial death sentence an,
under the shadow Of the gallows itself
His words have come down thru centur
!. Of time, and If read or repeated by tn
: orators Of the centenary occasion, will b
as living and appealing as when first ut
- 1As