The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-01
ROBERT EMMET's SPEECH.
Text OF His Famous Defense Repro
duced from n Dublin Paper Of 1903.


duced from n Dublin Paper OF 1893.
The Dublin Evening Post Of Sept. q. lsc3,
printed what is believed to be an almost
verbatim report OF the famous speech OF
Robert Emmett delivered before the court
or Dublin at which he was tried for high
treason and by the sentence OF which he
was executed in ST Thomas street, Dublin.
Sept 20, 1903. The article in the Dublin
paper bears the single line heading In small
type, "Emmets Speech" and reads as
follows:
1.-THE importance and ability Of the follow
ing speech induces US TO present IL 10 our
readers In a more perfect form than we
were enabled TO do on Saturday last:
I am asked IL have anything TO say
why sentence OF death should not be pro-
nounced upon me. Were / TO suffer only
Death. after being adJudged guilty. should
bow in silence. but a man in my situation
has not only to combat with the difficulties
Of fortune. but also the difficulties OF preju-
dice; the sentence OF the law which de-
livers over his body to the executioner con-
signs his character to obloquy. The man
dies. but his memory lives; and that mine
may not forfeit all claim to the respect OF
my countrymen use this occasion TO vindi-
cate myself from some of the charges ad-
vanced against me. am charged with
being an emissary of France; tits false! I
am no emissary; i did not wish TO deliver
up my country TO foreign power. and
least OF all TO France. MOI never did
entertain the idea of establishing French
power in Ireland--God Forbid
On the contrary, IL Is evident from the
Introductory paragraph OF the address OF
the Provisional government that every
hazard attending an independent effort was
deemed preferable to the more fatal risk
OF introducing a French army into the
country. Small would be our claims 10
patriotism and to sense, and palpable our
TO encourage the proclamation OF our shores
by people who are slaves themselves and
the unprincipled and abandoned instru-
ments or imposing slavery on others. X
such an inference Is drawn from any part
of the proclamation Of the Provisional gov
eminent, 1t calumniates its views and is
not warranted by the fact. How could they
speak Of freedom to their countrymen-how
assume such an exalted motive, and medi-
tate the Introduction of power which has
been the enemy Of freedom In every part
of the globe? Reviewing the conduct OF
France to other countries. could we expect
better toward US? No! Let not, then. any
man attaint my memory by believing that
could have hoped for freedom through the
aid Of France and betrayed the sacred
cause of liberty by committing IL 10 the
power OF her most determined foe-had
dying with such a weight upon my charac-
ter, had merited the honest execration OF
that country which gave me birth. and TO
which j would have given freedom.
HAD been in Switzerland I would have
fought against the French. In the dignity
OF freedom would have expired on the
threshold or that country. and they should
have entered 1t only by passing over my
nfeless corpse. Is IL then 10 be supposed
that 1 would be slow to make the same
sacrifice to my native landf Am l. who
n a N
and who would subject myself to the
bondage OF the grave to give ner independ-
ence-am / to be loaded with the foul and
grievous calumny- of being an emissary OF
France7 My lords, IT may be part Of the
system Of angry justice to bow a mans
| mind to humiliation to meet the ignominy
| scaffolds shame. or the scaffold's terrors,
would be the imputation OF having been
| ton, and while / have breath I VIII call
upon my countrymen not TO believe me
guilty Of SO foul a crime against their lib
critics and their happiness. Though you:
my lord. sit there judge. and 1 stand
here culprit, yet you are but a man. and
/ am another; have a right therefore to
vindicate my character and motives from
the aspersions Of calumny. and as a man to
whom fame is dearer than life will make
the last use OF that life In rescuing my
name and my memory from the affiicting
France or seeking her interference In the
internal regulation OF our affairs.
" Did / live to see q French army ap-
proach this country I would meet IL on the
shore with q torch I'm one hand and a
! sword In the other; I would receive them
with all the destruction OF war! ] would
animate my countrymen to immediate them
| in their very boats, and before our native
| soil should be polluted by q foreign foe.
| If they succeeded in landing would burn
every blade OF grass before them. raze
every house; contend to the last for every
| inch of ground, and the last spot I'm which
| the hope of freedom should desert me:
| that spot I would make my grave. What
| cannot do leave legacy to my coun-
try, because I feel conscious that my
death were Improbable. and all hope OF
liberty extinct the moment a French army
obtained footing In this island"
After some further matter, he concluded
thus:
my lamp of life is nearly expired: my
| race Is finished; the grave opens to receive
me- and / sink into Its bosom. All I re-
| quest then, at departing from the world.
| Is the charity of its silence. Let no man
write my epitaph, for as no man who
| knows my motives dare vindicate them.
| let no perjudice or ignorance asperse them +:
| let them and me repose In obscurity and
peace. and my tomb remain unnscribed,
| till other times and other men can do
justice to my character ."
1