The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-03-06
ROBERT EMMETT,

NdS CclcDIdlcu ny inc sea- DIVIDED
Gacls in all parts of the world. So
long as Ireland remains a separate
and distinct nation and is not absorb
cd by Great Britain, the name of l:n,
met will live fresh and green in the
memories Of his Celtic countrynlen. III
addition to the dying speech Of the
young rcvolutionist, which is given in
full on tho first page of this issue, We
shall make a few, brief remarks OH the
man of whom Thomas Moore, his in
innate friend at college, says: Were
to number the men among all have
combine in the greatest degree pure
moral worth with intellectual power,
should among the highest Of the few
place Robert Emmett" No higher coin-
plirncnt could Moore have paid to the
young Protestant patriot who was
barbarously butchcrcd in Thom,s
Street, Dublin, over lO5 years ago, TOR
attempting to free his country by
force of arms from the tyranny OF
England
Though Emmett lamentably failed in
carrying his we'll ma turcd plans into
execution and met an ignominious
death on the scaffold, vet his name
is hallowrd and his memory honored
on every recurring anniversary of his
birth by his Catholic countrymen who
most disintcrcstcd Irishmcn that ever
lost his life in the cause of human
liberty. Many others have died tor
Ireland, some of them greater men
than Emmett, but none have bcclt SO
warmly loved nor SO passionatcly la
mcnted. Owen Roc O'Neill. Patrick
Sarsiield. Lord Edward Fitzgerald add
Wolfe Tone were Irish soldiers and
patriots whose names will never I've
forgotten by tho Irish race. but not
one OF them has bccn idoIized Hike
Robert Emmett. 1c is the best be.
loved freshman who has ever sacrificed
his life for the freedom Of his country;
and generations yet unborn will revere
and honor his name. Many young
Irish Americans are proud to bear the
name OF the Irish patriot and martyr
and he is the only Irish Protestant
whose birthday is celebrated by his
Catholic countrynen and their de-
sccndants in all parts of the earth.
Could higher honor be given to any
man? There is nothing like it in the
history of any nation. either ancient
or modern.
Robert Emmett is worthy of the hon
or bestowed on him by his Cathoiic
countrymcn. He belonged to the as.
cendancy class in ireland and by his
birth and education could have talk m
higl, places among his country's op-
pressors. He preferred to forego titles
and honors in the service of England
and resolved to destroy the pcrfldious
government that had DISTINGUISHED his
Catholic countrymen and made them
the "hcwcrs Of wood and the drawers
of water in their native land. He in.
hcritcd $4,000 from his fathers estate,
and every cent Of it he devoted to the
work OF overthrowing British rule III
ireland. While young men of his age,
less gifted than Emmett, were
ambitious for Offices of emolu.
ment under the British crown,
he was plotting the destruc-
ton OF that rascally government
and spending his days and nights in
devising schemes to deliver his be-
loved country from dcspotism and
place it among the free nations of tine
earth.
There arc cold-blooded calculaturs
who pronounce Emmett an enthusiast
who should have had better discretion
than to attack Dublin castle. but few
thcre are, If any. who have ever ques-
toned his motives since he vintlicatcd
speech from tho dock. Even the
enemies of Ireland have admitted that
If his plans had been maturcd and car
ried out, he would probably have sue
ceeded in capturing the British strong
holds in and about Dublin. and that
accomplished, Ireland would be up in
arms. but his plans proved abortive.
because those who promised help left
him to his fate. Instead of hundreds
OF men to seize the castle and military
depots on the eventful might of tho
attack only so men put in an appear-
ance. Out of 10 counties which prom
Used aid, only l responded at the criti.
cal moment! Whoever was to
blame, Robert Emmett undoubtedly,
was not.
The sad story of Emmett is SO we'll
known that 1t Is needless to repeat il,
even briefly in this column. Suffice it
to say that he was arrested by Major
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