The Irish standard., 1908-11-07
WHAT'S IN A NAME:

WHAT'S IN A NAME:
That there is more in a name than
the bard of Avon intimated was re-.
Gently exempliflcl at the anti2otlcs
when the American fleet visited sgd
ney and Melbourne. On board the
hattleship Connecticut was Ensign
Robert Emmet, young man Of
twenty, with the bio ri of the Emmets
cf Ireland flowing through his veins.
Little did he think that the name he
bore would attract attention to him
thousands of miles away from home
Put he forgot that thu. Irish are every
where and that his name to them is
one Of the sweetest on earth.
No sooner did the Irish of Sydney
learn that Robert E"met was a mid
shipman on one of the American iron
clads than they singled him out for
a grand ovation. The news spread
like wild fire among the exiles of Erin,
and they all rushed to see him
noble specimen of young manhood,
standing 6 feet 1.2 inches in height
and symmetrically proportioned. He
was lionized and entertained by
Cardinal Moran at Sydney. and on
reaching Melbourne he was the re.
c'p1ent of similar honors at the hands
of the leading citizens of Irish birth
and lineage. A public dinner was
rendered him at which an O'Donnell
presided and declared that on some
future day another American fleet
might visit Australian waters in COM
,nand of Admiral Robert Emmet.
Midshipman Emmet was called on
for speech and we'll did he acquit
himself after the audience had cheer.
ed him vociferously for some time.
He began by saying that he felt some-
what at a disadvantage coming after
such eloquent speakers as he had
listened to. more especially as tha.
was the first time he had been priv.
ileged to address such an important
gathering of ladies and gentlemen. He
would fall back on the excellent
maxim Of Admiral Sperry-that brief.
ness is the one prime requisite for
naval officers speeches. With his
handsome face aglowing with pleas
nre. he spoke as follows:
HE desired to thank DIR. O'Donnel,
FOR the splendid centennial medal, the
'1ibernian Society and the Sisters of
Mercy for their beautiful gift, and
last, but hy no means least, Mr.,
for the blackthorn. which
would be much appreciated on Ger.
tain occasions daughter and ap.
plause). He regarded that evening
as the proudest and the grandest of
his life to date (applause). He as.
sured them he would never forget that
night (renewed applause). He desired
to thank those present that evening
and the people of Melbourne generally
for their splendid and generous re.
ception. There had not been a port
at which the fleet had called where
SO much enjoyment had been afforded
them as in Melbourne-and no more
cordial reception had been given to
officers and men (applause). At home
he found that Irishmen took a promi-
ncnt place in the leading professions
and in the realm of politics, and one
IT the Presidents of the United
States was an Irisnman (applause),
and it gave him great pleasure to find
that lrishmen were to the front in
this country also (applause). If Irish.
lnen were not ruling the world at pres
ent, they soon would have hold of the
reins (applause). He had no doubt
that In years to come ireland. Ameri-
ia, and Australia would be the leading
nations Of this earth cloud and pro.
longed applause, during which Ensign
Fmmet resumed his seat.)
What food for reflection for Irish
statesmen in this reception to young
man who has not yet attained his
and all because of bearing
the name of Ireland's immortal hero,
Robert Emmet, who was hanged and
beheaded 105 years ago in Dublin for
attempting to overthrow "a Govern.
:nent steeled to barbarity," for whose
destruction he fervently prayed in his
dying speech from the dock. EN-.