The Irish standard., 1907-03-02
ROBERT EMMETT,

OF all the long line of political mar
tyrs who have died In the cause Of
Irish nationality Robert Emmet holds
tho highest place in the hearts of the
Irish people. No purer patriot ever
lived than he. No life was ever more
unseldshly devoted to a country's
cause. He was gifted with great
talents and endowed with high quail
ties OF heart and mind. He came of a
most distinguished family. His father
was an eminent physician who held
for many years the appointment Of
state physician. He had three sons,
Temple, Thomas Adds and Robert.
All possessed brilliant talents.
Temple Emmet, Roberts eldest
brother. died at an early age, Lat he
had nevertheless gained one of the
very highest places at the bar. Lord
Norbury, when sentencing Robert to
death, stopped the latter in his plea
and said to him:
You. sir, have the hun,r to lie &
gentleman Ivy birth and :,cur father
filled a respectable situation under the
government. You had an eldest
brother whom death snatchcd away
and who, When living, was one Of the
greatest ornaments of the bar. The
law Of his country was the study oe
his youth. He left you a proud ex-
ample to- follow and if he had :.vcl.
he would have given your talents the
same virtuous direction as his own and
had taught YOU to admire and pre-
serve that constitution for the de-
struction Of which you have conspired."
Norbury evidently wished to impress
upon Elnlnet the difference that ex-
isted between the brothers. He little
realized that it was Robert Emmett
whose life would leave Il lasting in
ffue1rce upon the relations of nations.
Temple Emmett, with all his great at
tainments as Il lawyer, is now littie
spoken Of. The father, who occupied
Il position under the English crown.
is forgotten, but Robert Emmet, VINO
died In his twenty-sixth year, a con-
demned felon, still lives in the hearts
OF his countrymen. Lord Norbury IT,
tie knew that the cruel sentence passed
upon this pure hearted young patriot
would cause the government Of Eng
land more trouble than thousands OF
armed men could possibly do.
Robert Elnmet was born on the 4th
OF March, 177s. He was hanged in q
street in Dublin on the goth of Sep
tember. 1soS His crime was that he
loved his country too we'll, but not
wisely. The speech which he deliv-
cred from the dock on the night be-
fore his execution, when Lord Norburv
asked him what he had to saw why
judgment of death by execution should
not be awarded against him, is one Of the
greatest orations ever pronounced. It
is probable that no one thing has
caused the English government so
much trouble as that speech by Rob-
ert Emmett, delivered in answer to the
question of the judge. 1t evidently
troubled tho English judge for he in
terrupted the young orator at several
places and tried to prevent the finish
ing Of the speech. Under the English
law the prisoner had a right to give
any reasons that he might have why
the sentence of the law should not be
pronounced.
The influence Of the life of Robert
Emmet is due more to the character,
the youth, the purity of life and tho
fervent enthusiasm of the man than
anything that he ever accomplished.
Emmett died too young to have made
q great career. That he was remark
ably eloquent there can be no doubt.