Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-07
TRIBUTES TO EMMET
Anniversary Of His Birth
Celebrated.
ERIN'S MARTYR HERO
ADDRESSES BY PROMINENT REP
REsENTATIvEs OF THE RACE.
Lafayette Theater Crowded With En-
thusiastic Sons and Daughters Of
the Emerald Isle.

Fervid patriotism and Irish eloquence
marked the commemoration last evening
of the 10th anniversary of the birth OF
Robert Emmett, the Irish patriot and
martyr. The scene was the Lafayette
rheater, and the beautiful playhouse was
packed to the doors and to the roof with
the sons and daughters of the Emerald
ISLE whose hearts thrilled with those of
the speakers as the patriotic deeds of the
Irish hero were told in story andsin song.
Under the auspices of the United Irish
Societies of the District of Columbia
most attractive program was carried out
and the virtues of Emmett and other heroes
of the "old sod" were extolled by speak
ers famed for their eloquence and devo-
ton to the cause of their native land. The
stage was set with scene of typical
Irish landscape, a tiny village nesting in
a valley by limpid river and backed by
the swelling green hills that have made
the land famous in art and literature.
Members OF Congress, noted prelates and
representative citizens of the District &C.
cupied the stage and assisted in the pro-
gram and several Irish songs were sung
by Mrs. Esther Gumprecht, Mr.. Finnegan
and Mr.. Tom Greene, the beautiful mezzo
of the first and the well-trained voices of
the others rendering the familiar airs
with fine effect. Mrs. Gumprecht sang an
Ode to Emmett of her own composition,
Mr.. Finnegan sang Killarney" and Let
Erin Remember" and Mr.. Greene rem
dered The Minstrel Boy
Purpose of the Gathering.
The meeting was opened by President
Finucane of the Emmett Club, who said
that the purpose of the gathering was to
perpetuate the memory of Ireland's
frin OF Il \,
lish on the ruins of an effete monarchy
Irish republic, for then, and not till
then, could Emmets epitaph be written.
He introduced the chairman of the even
ing, Michael F. O'Donoghue, as a noble
example of Irish patriotism who would
never rest until either the independence
Of Ireland had been established or the
dust of the grave had gathered over his
bones.
Mr.. O'Donoghue said that the trend of
the times was toward the result advo-
ca ted by Emmett, and that education and
the peIpetuation of the Irish language
were having large part in the work
THE people of Ireland" he said, ARE
becoming the owners of their land, which
has for ages been held from them by the
Vaccinations of tyrannous landlords. This
in itself Is significant feature but a far
more significant one is the increase among
the people of the desire to perpetuate our
language. The day has come when no
man can run for public Office in Ireland
uilicSS he Cdu speak the Irish language,
and since no people can hold together If
they lose their native language it follows
that ireland is on the verge of her desire
and that when the epitaph of Robert EN-
met is written 1T will be written in Irish
l believe in the language; I believe In the
parliament: believe in the ownership of
the land; but above ALL 1 believe in the
sword, and that by that alone will we
achieVe the end-absolute independence"
Met Supreme Test Successfully.
He then introduced DIR. NJ NJ Hasset of
the Catholic University. DIR. Hasset took
! the place of Mgr. OConnell, who had sent
word that he was unable to attend
I'VE are here" he said ito honor the
memory of a man who met the supreme
test successfully. He gave his life for his
convictions. Are we here to say that ne
gave that life in vain and that his cause is
a lost one? No; the movement OF 90 was
not In vain. The fact Is that no man ever
yet gave his life in vain in a noble cause,
and those who eat the seeds Of the flowers
that were watered with his blood are main
tanning the patriotism that was the her-
tage he left. l agree with others that the
perpetuation Of the Irish language is
worthy aim. The Irish literature is as old
as the Oldest and is worthy of place with
the best. There is still extant an Irish
poem that was written before the Christian
era began, and all through history the
language has exercised strong influence
over other races. Today the language is
taught in the primary schools Of Ireland,
and the first thing that Ireland needs Is a
higher standard of education for the
masses"
Links in Chain of Fame.
James M. Kehoe. representative In Con.
gress from Kentucky, followed DR. Hasset,
beginning by saying that the audience had
met to add the one hundred and twenty
sixth link to the bright and eternal chain
o. Robert Emmett
These links In the chain of the fame OF
Emmett he said will grow brighter still
as the years roll on, for Robert Emmett was
not alone the hero of Ireland. but the hero
of the liberty-loving people of all the world,
and 1t Is most appropriate that the Emmett
Club should meet here tonight to do honor
to that noble example of patriotism. Think
Of the sacrifice made by Emmett Young,
educated. brilliant; standing on the thresh-
old of new century, with all the POSSIBLE
tiles of a brilliant life before him, this man,
at the age of twenty-five, sacrificed all the
pleasures of life. all of its possibilities,
yielded up everything that his country
might be free and his posterity enjoy the
sweets of liberty.
There could be no greater sacrifice than
this. and that is why Emmett is loved by all
the Irish people and by all the liberty-loy-
ing people of the earth, and why he has
been given place today beside that of the
immortal st. Patrick himself. Had Robert
Emmett been born twenty years earlier he
cite, he would have been a soldier with
Washington and a hero of America, and to-
day his monument would have graced one
of the beautiful parks of this magnificent
capital of A magnificent republic. l would
rather tonight be in the place of Robert
Emmett In his unmarked grave than to be
King Edward on his throne. holding the
scepter over an unwilling people. Land
ownership is all very well and is long
stride toward the eventual end, but there
is nothing will ever satisfy Ireland and the
Irish people except that Ireland shall take
her place as an independent equal among
the nations of the EARTH
Mr.. Kehoe's eloquent tribute to the patriot
brought forth tremendous applause, and at
its conclusion he was the recipient of an
ovation.
Irishman's Adaptability.
Delegate b. Shandon Rodey Of New Mex
leo spoke wittily Of the ability of the irish
man to adapt himself to the conditions Of
American citizenship, and told the story Of
| the Irishman and the Englishman who came
to this country on the same vessel together
As the ship touched the dock the English
man asked the Irishman II he knew what
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