Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-02
TRIBUTE TO EN- MET
Sons and Daughters Of Ireland
Revere Memory.
CAUSE OF HIS PEOPLE
FAMOUS MARTYR-PATRIoT WAS
DEVOTED TO IT.
Anniversary Of Birth Fittingly Cele-
brated at Columbia Theater-Ex-
tolled by Speakers.

tolled by Speakers.
Nearly two thousand sons and daughters
of Ireland gathered at the Columbia The
alter last evening to celebrate the one hum
dred and twenty-1fth anniversary OF the
birth of Robert Emmett. the great irish
martyr-patrfor.
The assemblage was called to order by
D. F. Finucane and Mr.. M. F. ODonoghue
was introduced as presiding officer OF the
occasion. Among the speakers were Sen
ator Moses E. Clapp Of Minnesota, Rep
resentatives Bartholdt Of Missouri. Drts-
coll Of New York and Cochran Of Missouri,
Mr.. P. T. Moran of the Ancient Order OF
Hbernians and others. Representative
Williams Of Mississippi was to have mace
an address. but was unable to be present
on account OF illness.
In the course of his remarks Mr.. Moran
said:
Millions of Irish and their descendants
all over the world are united tonight IN
honoring the memory of their beloved mar
tyr-patriot, Robert Emmett. A century mas
passed since Ireland's noble son was shame
lessy illuminated, then ignobly executed
by the hypocritical English government.
This century has added new glory to his
shining memory. His brilliant talents, un-
Self1Sn devotion TO IdtHeTlduu |iaN
mastery defense of his honor and his he
roic death on the scaffold have won the
veneration Of all Irishmen and the ao-
miration Of the world.
"Emmet's young life began when the
fathers of our republic were battling hero
ically for home and freedom. The glori-
Gus and unlocked for contamination of the
war Of the colonists with England was
heralded and praised throughout Europe.
Ireland's sons had bled on every battle
oil TriS va1Or OF WASH
ington's greatest aids in defeating the Eng
fish foe 1t was Emmet's first inspiration
and his last ideal.
This great republic Of civil and religious
freedom was success In America, ana
he longed with all the ardor OF his soul
to break the chain that bound Ireland to
her relentless foe. In anticipation he saw
Ireland's long night of suffering break
into a glorious dawn, and with all the en-
ergy Of mind and power Of body he worked
for the fulflment of his dream.
"O'Connell. with mastery eloquence and
learning had exposed to the world the
tyrannical laws which chained the irish
people into subsection. His clarion voice
re-echoed throughout Ireland, and the poor
down-trodden people felt the inspiration.
reasserted their rights and demanded OF
the English parliament the repeal OF the
most obnoxious laws. The lethargy Of de-
spair which had held the nation in SUBJ
lection was cast Off.
Cast Aside All Barriers.
1.-THE sons Of ireland cast aside the bar
riers Of wealth. education and creed and
united for the purpose of freeing their
country from English misrule. The argu-
ments to be used were the successful ones
OF the co!onists, union and force.
Never before were Irish prospects
brighter. The United Irishmen,' of which
Wolf Tone William Orr, Lord Edward
Fitzgerald and Robert Emmett were the
leaders became great scourge to the
English government. They taught the
great lesson that union is strength and
that when Catholics and Protestants united
Irelands salvation was at hand. To break
up this organization English craft employ
ed corrupt and cunning means.
Robert Emmett, the magnet that drew
the Irish hearts, the eloquence that bound
them together In a brotherhood, was ar
rested by the English government accused
of betraying his country to France. On,
the cunning and wickedness Of the accusa-
ton. To arrest Emmett as a rebel against
English authority might cause an uprising
among the Irish people and bring about
disastrous results This Is why Emnet
was accused of being traitor to the cause
which was dearer to him than life. TO
him the scaffold with Its terrors, would
soon be lost in a glorious eternity-but
honor, his sacred honor, must remain un-
furnished So our youthful patriot. burn-
ing with indignation, flung argument, elo-
quence and scorn at the base acc stations
OF MS JUDGES.
What patriot does not feel inspired at
the grandeur and power of thought Of this
immortal address? What citizen of our
republic can fail to see resemblance be-
tween Americas greatest patriot and Ire
lands bestowed one?
"Washington lived to see his country be-
come a nation and himself first In war
first in peace and first in the hearts of his
countrymen.' Emmet's priceless life was
sacrificed, but his memory is enshrined in
every Irish heart and his unwritter cpl
taph is the battle cry against disunion Of
Irishmen.
The speakers all dwelt upon Emmet's pa
triotism and love of his native country and
his efforts in behalf of the downtrodden Of
his people. The Rev. Q. s. Gallagher made
an impassioned address In the Gaelic
tongue.
Resolutions Adopted.
Mr. P. ]. Haltigan, editor of the National
Hibernian introduced a series Of resolu-
tions, which were adopted.
BE 1t known" the resolutions read, that
we. American citizens of Irish birth and
lineage assembled in mass meeting in the
capital of our country, on this the one hun
bred and twenty-ffth anniversary of the
birth of Robert Emmett, again declare our
fealty and allegiance to the cause of human
liberty and to the principles for which the
martyr hero offered his young life-the alb
soute independence Of Ireland.
1--WE recognize in the immortal Emmett
the true personifcation Of a patriot. Born
at a time when Steuben and Lafayette were
making their sacrifices for American indie
pendence. he came into the world when the
Spirit of the Universe was vibrating In har-
mony with the prayers Of George Wash
ington for food and clothing for his impov-
ershed army at Valley Forge. He matured
into manhood stimulated by the influences
of the great struggle for American freedom,
and under such lofty inspiration he readily
imbibed the spirit of liberty. which after
ward eliminated In the sacrifice of his young
life on the altar of his country.
at being Emmet's constant hope and
prayer that he might some day look down
with complacency on the destruction of
that perfidious government which sets man
upon his brother. and lifts his hand against
the throat of his fellow we pledge our
selves to forever carry aloft the standard
of Irish independence and thus assist in
bringing about the realization of Emmets
hopes and aspirations-the absolute eman-
cipation OF Ireland from British misrule.
Appeal to the Race.
"And witnessing as we do at the present
time the rapid depopulation of-Ireland, the
dena tfon a lization of her peODe and the