The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-03-11
Hon. D. ". Lawler, the Orator of the Oc-
\ casisn, Delivers an Eloquent, Powerful
Address Before the Assemblase.
AT the Close Of the Splendid Program Ringing
Resolutions Were Adopted by the
Enthusiastic Audience.

The life and deeds of Irelands mar
tyr, Robert Emmett, are loyalty cher
ishcd in the Irish heart. That was in
dicated beyond doubt last Saturday
night, when fully 1900 people crowded
the Lyceum thcater and clcercd to the
echo every reference to the PATRIOTS
name. In Il word, it was an overflow
audience. hundreds failing to gain ad-
mittancc. The decorations for the oc-
casion were elaborate and beautiful
the colors being. of course, green and
gold, intcrminglcd with the red, white
and blue. The stage decorations were
especially elaborate Prominent among
them the words "Cead Mile Failthe"
in large gilt letters, hung from the
prOscenium. Beginning with an over
ture of Irish airs by the orchestra. and
closing with the anthem "God Save
Ireland" every number OH the choice
program was we'll rendered. The pa
rochinl school girls, all dressed in
white with shshcs of green, number
wearing sasllcs of starred bunting over
the shoulder. filled the stage as they
sang the grand opening chorus, "Colum-
bia" They appeared agin, singing the
closing anthem. God Save Ireland"
During the remainder of the program
they filled the lower boxes, waving
/ nj isl, nd
the audience cheercd their efforts.
J. j. Fitzgerald county president Of
the A. o. H., presided and delivered
the opening address, which was en-
Enthusiastically received, as follows:
| Ladies' ana Gentlemen: In behalf
Of the Ancient Order of Hibernians I
welcome you this evening The inter
est manifested by you on this occa-
sion is gratifying in the extreme and
is but another mark of your loyalty to
the cause we hold so dear. 1t is but
II few days ago that we paid fitting
tribute and honor to America's states
men, Washington and Lincoln, that
their memory might live for ever in
the minds Of the people Of this free
land, and now, my friends, we, ns
Irisl-Amercans, feel it n duty and Il
privilege to pay faithful tribute to Ire
lands martyr, Robert Emmet. II we
would so far forget ourselves as to fail
in honOrng the memory of our heroes
and martyrs we would not be loyal to
the land of our ancestors and would
neglect our duty to our own country,
that island, the gem OF the ocean, that,
gave her sons and daughters to every
land and so largely assisted in mold
ing and shaping the destinies Of this
country in 177G; that Ireland that
gave us a Barry, the first commodore
and founder Of the American navy
Her sons joined with Putnam ut Lex
ington, and followed Washington from
Valley Forge to Yorktown, where their
efforts were crowned with success by
the surrender of CornwniIis.
They left their homes and plow-
shares in the field in 'G1 that the flag
might be saved and the Union pre-
served. They followed COrcOran at
Bull Run and charged with Meagher at
Mary's Heights. Their blood has
flowed on every field.
Closely following after the birthof this
nation the Irish patriots succeeded in
interesting the French government in
sending to Ireland an army on the
same footing and conditions that were
given the Colonial states and that made
American independence certain. Rob-
crt Emmct, a boy springing into man
hood, inspired with the success Of
Washington and entlIlIsed with the
spirit of liberty and with the promise
of aid from Napoleon, aroused his
cOllntrymen to spring to arms for lib
cry and sclf-govcrnment. Unfortu-
natcly the uprising did not prove a
success and Ireland was left weeping
i'm SORROW. Other nations would have
faltcrcd and courtcd death, but the Irish
nation scorncd to yield and refused t.:
die. Although Il century has passed
| into history since Robert Emmett was
executed in Dublin as a martyr to
! liberty, his memory is bright in the