The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-02-28
EnMEr NOT AN 1NFlDEL.
Said Nis Prayers on the Morning
Of His Execution.

u MS 64eCuuOns
A Mr.. D. O'Donnell, writing to
the Freeman's Journal from Frontc-
nae, Kan, incidentally makes this
statement:
81 never knew of an freshman, no
matter what his avocation, position or
profession was, who had spark of
Irish patriotism in his makeup, who
did not honor and revere the memory
of the noble-hearted, martyred patriot.
Robert Emmet-and he was an avow-
en- infidel till the hour of his DEATH"
In his able reply-Dr. Lambert is al
ways able-to the arguments of his
correspondence editor of the Free
man, when he comes to deal with EN-
NETS alleged infidelity, frankly de-
clares that he is without information
upon the subject. He says:
Had Robert Emmett proposed athe-
istic, evolutionary Socialism to the
Irish people as the means of escaping
from their yoke, they would have
treated him as a lunatic, and their
sympathy for him would be of an en-
tirely different character from what it
is now. The Irish people, being Cath
Ollie, would have known that any
movement based on atheistic princi-
pies would be in antagonism with
their faith, and they would have none
of it. You say Emmett was an infidel.
That we know not; but Of one thing
we feel certain, had Emmett based his
movement on infidelity and proposed Il
republic whose foundation was to be a
negatiou of Catholic Christianity, the
Irish people would not have raised a
hand to help him. nor would they have
been saddened by his fall"
We are glad to be able to settle this
matter by branding as absolutely false
the statement that Robert Emmett
twas an avowed infidel till the hour
Of his DEATH says Father Cronn in
the Catholic Union and Times. There is
not a particle of truth in it, The
calumny was concocted by English
malignity in order to cast obloquy
upon the martyrs inspiring memory,
and thus lessen the future influence of
his name upon the Irish people.
We have before us the authoritative
work of DIR. Madden, NJ. r. I. A., en-.
titled "rhe Life and Times of Robert
Emmett, with a Memoir of Thomas Ad.
dis Emmett in which the career of
the Emmett family is thoroughly dis
cussed; especially the brilliant life and
glorious death of Robert, Ireland's
heart-child and her most radiant ma.
tional martyr.
After most minute Investigation Dr..
Madden has written of the Emmets,
as he has Of the men of '9S, with such
an array of facts ana impartial spirit
as to make his statement unassailable
for all time.
On page 221, we read: "After eX-
pressing some feelings of annoyance at
having been searched in the dock on
the previous evening. as il they sus.
pected him of designing to commit
suicide, he reprObated the act of self
destruction as one OF an m-ChriStian
character. lie prOfeSsed to hold the
tenets of religion as taught by the cs-
tablished Church" He solemnly de-
clared his hopes of salvation were not
OH any merits of his. but through the
mediation Of the Saviour. who died an
ignominiOus death on the Cross"
Again, on page 225. DR.. Madden tells
us how, on being conveyed from pris-
Oh to the place of execution, Emmett
was accompanied by two clergymen
of his Church, the Rev. DIR. Gamble
and Mr.. Walsh to whose hOpe-in-
spring words. we may be sure, he
listened with the reverence becoming
Il Christian gentleman in that trying
and sorrowful hour
Again, on page 226, we read that
con the night previous to his DEATH
he slept as soundly as ever, and when
the fatal morning dawned. he rose.
knelt down and prayed and then de-
sired the sheriff to be Informed that he
was ready" Strange proceeding, sure
ly, for an avowed intidel!'
And yet, in the teeth of those state
ments and actions, the London Chron-
icle and other lying government sheets
in England and Ireland Mt that day.
had the diabolical audacity to stig-
matize Robert Emmett as an intidel;
and picture his conduct on the very
verge of the grave, as light, frivol-
GUS, impious and indecorous."
Pretending to describe Emmet's last
hours ON earth, wretched newspapers.
inspired and subsidized by Dublin
Castle, declared that a clergyman en-
deavored to win him from his deistical
opinions, but without effect O; that
Gin short he behaved with all the
effrontery and nonchalance which so
much distinguished his conduct on his
trial. He seemed to scott at the dread
full circumstances attendant on him,