Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-27
IRISH PATRIOTS MEET
Celebration of Robert Emmet's
Birthday Anniversary
AT TWO THEATERS
ADDRESSES BY DISTINGUISHED
IRISH-AMERICAN
Resolutions Adopted Pledging Those
Present to Garry Aloft Standard
of Irish Independence.

There was reminding of Irish patriot
Ism in Washington yesterday. and the con-
sequent enthusiasm found vent last night
at two great meetings to honor the 127th
birthday anniversary of Robert Emmett,
kr own as the Irish martyr. One of these
meetings was held at the Columbia Thea
ter, the other at the Lafayette, and both
houses were filed to their capacities. The
decorations were the colors of this republic
and green, the national emblem of old
Ireland" as a speaker described it. The
shibboleth of two large assemblages was
ERIN Go Bragh." and Freedom for Ire
land,' and many hearty tributes were paid
to the man who gave up his young life in
the cause of Irish liberty.
Capt. 2. ]. Haltigan called the audience
to order at the Columbia Theater. Every
seat in the large auditorium was occupied.
In one of the boxes was Postmaster Cen
eral Wynne, Mrs. Wynne and their daugh-
ter. On the stage were noted Irishmen,
clergymen, senators, representatives and
prominent citizens who had consented to
act as vice presidents, follows:
Senator Moses E. CIapp of Minnesota,
Representatives William H. Ryan John A.
Sullivan, John T. Hunt, William Sulzer.
William S. McNary, Martin ]. Wade and
Messrs. F. M. Patterson, Maurice D. O'Con-
nell, N. II. Shea Rev. p. J. o Donnell, Rev.
Eugene Hannah, Rev. J. A. Burns Col. M.
Emmett Urell, Prof. Joseph Dunn. Rev.
Joseph 1. Mcguire, DR.. J. c. O'Connell, E.
p. Harrington, P. ]. Nee, M. P. Sullivan.
Rev. Thomas S. Harlan. Frank J. Hogan,
d. P. Mccarthy, William B. Reilly DR..
John F. Moran Rev. A. P. Doyle of the
apostolic mission house, Catholic Univer-
sity; Rev. Father Fleming, Rev. DR.. Gran
nan, Professor Shea Mr.. Softer S. Bride,
William ]. Frizzell. D. ]. Reardon of Nor
folk Edward Moseley. w. j. ODonnell, M.
J Gaffney. Baltimore. Md; Rev. P. ].
Dooley, S. j.; William H. DeLacey, John
T. Callaghan. DR.. ]. ]. slattery. P A.
Drury. james F. Shea. Rev. Patrick Quill.
S. j.; Thomas Burke, Baltimore Md. Rosa
F. Downing. Rev. J. A. Hinch, o. P; DIR.
Joseph F. McKaig, P. F. Carr Rev p. j.
Healy, D. D.; DIR. William B. Daily and
P. j. Drury.
A prominent figure the stage was Mr..
Thomas Emmett, relative Of Robert En-
met, and who is said to much resemble in
form and feature the Irish patriot. On the
stage also were the members of the ex-
ecutive committee. to whose efforts the
great success of the meeting is said to be
due. the committeeman being p. T. Moran,
chairman; Joseph McEnerney. treasurer:
Capt. p. J. Haltigan. secretary; Arthur
Small. I. ]. Casey, P. T. Mcdonald. J.
Frank OMeara. John A Fitzgerald. VIII
liam Riordan, A. j. Hughes.
The Opening Address.
In his opening remarks Capt. Haltigan
said it was his duty in the name and on
the behalf of the United Irish Societies
of the District of Columbia, including
sixteen separate societies, and represent
ing over 1000 of the organized men and
women of the creed in this city,
to call the great meeting to order. He
added that he did SO with feelings of par
donable pride and intense qualification.
Capt. Haltigan spoke of the splendid con-
summation of the efforts of the executive
committee responsible for it's organiza-
ton, and in their name thanked those
present for their attendance
We are assembled here this evening
for a two-fold purpose" he continued.
First to honor the name and the memory
of one of Ireland's illustrious heroes and
martyrs to the cause of Irish liberty,
Robert Emmet, and second. to aid by our
financial assistance and our moral en-
enlargement one of the most worthy
Catholic institutions, conducted under the
supervision of the Sisters of Mercy, an
Irish order of Catholic nuns, in this city.
And 1t is highly proper and eminently fit
ting that these two most commendable
purposes should be the objects of a great
demonstration such this; because,
while the life and death of the iIlustrious
Emmett was an heroic sacrifice in the sa-
cred cause of human liberty, so, too, are
the lives of all of our Catholic sister,
hoods prolonged sacrifices for the allevi-
alton of human suffering and distress.
1T has been stated in the recent past that
the spirit of Irish nationality was dying out
and that our people were gradually becom-
of the age, but this great gathering here
tonight emphatically repudiates such an as
sertion, and thank God it is so. Thank
God also that the spirit and sentiment of
Irish nationality still lives and brightly
burns in the hearts of our people; thank
God that the sacrifices endured in the sa-
cred cause of Irish freedom have not been
ungratefully remembered by the scattered
children eff the Gael. and thank God again
and again, from the bottom of our hearts,
that the memory of the dead who died for
Ireland is not and never will be forgotten.
While [ gladly welcome any measure or
movement for the alienation of the sorrows
and sufferings of my beloved motherland
l firmly believe that if our people only re-
main true to the teachings inspired by the
patriotism and sacrifices of our heroes of
the past the independence of Ireland will
yet be won and the epitaph of Emmett
whose memory We honor tonight, shall yet
stand forth in characters of enduring mag
nificence, emblazoned and sanctifed for all
time by the glorious sunlight of Irish lib
arfy-'