The Irish standard., 1906-06-30

Michael Davitt's funeral was one of
the greatest Gin many respects the
greatest) National demonstrations witt
messed in Ireland in our time or per-
haps in any time, says the Irish World.
In that affecting document setting
forth his last will,' which we all have
read with so much Of deep interest
and sympathetic feeling, Mr.. Davitt ex-
pressed the wish that in the event Of
his death taking place in Ireland he
should be buried at Straide, Mayo,
without any funeral demonstration.
The latter part of this request was
impossible to be complied with-as
impossible as the request of Robert
, Emmet in his famous speech from the
(dock, that not only his tomb should
"remain uninscribed," but his men,
= ory should remain lin oblivion" un-
til "other times and other men can do
sJustice to his character" His coun-
trymen have respected and obeyed the
heroic martyrs desire as to his tomb.
No epitaph has been written for Rob-
ert Emmett, and none will be written
until in a free Ireland it can be done in
accord with the noble patriots solemn
dying injunction.
But as to his memory-the memory
of Robert Emmet-the idea Of Irish
men allowing it to rest in oblivion was,
of course, and is, an utter impossible
ity. From the moment of the martyrs
death for his country his memory be-
came a sacred National possession to
be preserved and cherished with ten
der affection by the whole Irish race,
and in recent years that beloved men,
ory has been specially recalled and
honored by appropriate National cele-
brations on every recurring anniver-
sary of his birth.
Thus it has been with the memory
of Robert Emmet which he desired
/ should remain in oblivion, and so also
with the desire Of Michael Davitt that
he should be buried without any fun
eral demonstration" The Dublin Free
man remarks that "Mr. Davitt's wish
that his obsequies should be of pri-
vate character was respected, but that
could not prevent a great and touch
ing manifestation of affectionate sor-
row." 1t could, and did not, prevent
great manifestation of love and sor-
row which began with the removal of
the dead tribune's body from the hos
pital to the church in Dublin on Thurs
day evening and ended only when he
was laid in his grave in Mayo on Sat-
urday evening. For two days and two
nights the church was constantly
crowded with thousands demonstrating
their deep grief for their and their
country's irreparable loss. Describing
this feature of Dublin's tribute the re-
port tells us:
During Friday the church was filled
with people who came, snatching a
few minutes from business, to offer
up prayer for the dead patriot. With
out pre-arrangement procession was
commenced, making the circuit of the
coffin, and without organization or
direction it was continued INCREASINGLY
throughout the day. The sight was a
Smost impressive one in its deep reli-
gious sentiment and the manifest sor-
row of the people. Many were dressed
in black, but others came in their
working clothes as they quilted bench
or counter to pray and pay their hon.
age to the memory Of the great Irish
man."
We can well believe that If the
spirit Of the dead patriot could have
been cognizant Of that demonstration
In that church he would have been
most pleased and touched by the de-
votion Of those humble men "in thei1
working clothes as they quilted bench
or COUNTER" for he was ever the friend
and champion Of the toiling masses
the element from which 1T was his
..pride that he himself sprung. In the
evening, we are told, "the church was
the scene of great demonstration OF
emotion and piety." The building
though of large capacity was utterly