The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-03-04

lows:
 such large numbers? Why are we filled with such lively interest and animation? Broadly speaking we have come here to celebrate together and to rejoice over the things which the sons ard daughters of the Irish race cherish in common. We have been prompted to do so by our pride and our love for all that makes Ire land what it is to us today. We re- joice over her splendid and stirring history, our blood glows when We re,, cite the exploits of her heroes. ana we are still firmly hopeful that her age old fight for nationa. 1ndepend- ence will be successful.
 And we keep alive this love ana ad- ItlrratIon for IreIano. and we furnish to the world enduring proof of our devotion to the principles of Irish na- tionality and of our determination 10 realize them by paying veneration to the imperishable memory of Robert Emmet Not Irishmen alone but pa triots of every land thrill at the sim- pie recitation of this name because EmT1et stands out before the world as the almost ideal complication of the virture of love of Country ana or purely disinterested self sacrifice. NO wonder therefore that from us who belong to his race and who entertain the same political convictions for which he encountered an ignominous death, as we'll as from Irish national ists everywhere, he should receive on the anniversary of his birth a tribute of devotion.
 1t is nearly no years since he de- livered his immortal speech from the to sound in our ears as if 1t were spoken but yesterday. Time has neither tarnished nor obscured the brightness of his name. On the con- trary 1t has enhanced the glory ana lustre that surround it, and each suc- ceeding year reveals an increasing number of those who revere his per- sonality and espouse the principles he practiced. Why, however, is the mem ory of Emmet chosen to be the reci- pient of such exceptional honor. What special sacrifice did Emmet undergo to entitle him to such universal and immortal remembrance. It is true. that he willingly went to death for the cause of his country, but Ireland's s sad history is replete with the story of those who joyfully accepted death on the gibbet in the hope that they might advance even a little the well fare and aims of their countrymen He was not a great statesman, nor was he profound philosopher, and so far as military successes are con- cerned he accomplished practically nothing.
 It is however the peculiar circum- stances that surrounded his career, his tender and confiding youth, his brilliant intellectual endOwments, his generous zeal, his lofty and unques- tioning faith, his unparalleled last discourse, and the purity and absolute unselfishness of his aims which has invested his life with such irresistible fascination and placed him on such high and holy pinnacle in the affec- tions of the Irish people.
 He unquestionably could have at- tained high and influential place among the enemies of his country. He could to use his own words, .'have placed himself among the prOudest of her oppressors." But all alluring prospects of material advantage he generously cast aside to espouse the desperate cause of a people who could reQuite his services with nothing eX> cept their gratitude.
 How deep and burning was the love he bore toward Ireland, he tells us when he said: "My country was my idol To it I sacrificed every selfish every .endearing sentiment and for it, I '.now offer up my life.'' History can furnish but few instances of de- votion equal to that displayed by Em- met. What friend of liberty there fore will not delight to hear the brief but inspiring story of the martyrs remarkable life.
 The father of Robert Emmet was a doctor and for many years he occu- pied the position of State physician in Dublin. He was a remarkable man and he held advanced and decided views on the duty which citizen ow- ed to his country. These pronounced opinions were communicated to his three sons, William Temple Emmet. Thomas Addis Emmet, and Robert Emmet. All three absorbed the con- victions of the father and each of them becarre distinguished for learn ing and bri1liancy Temple Ernmet the eldest followed the profession of the law He rose rapidly to an enviable position at the Irish bar but at an early age death terminated a life fill ed with the promise of great future usefulness.
 The second son. Thomas Addis En- met became noted as a man of pow erful and comprehensive intellect Like his father he was educated for the medical profession but the premature death of his brother Temple caused him to relinquish the pursuit of medi- cine and to train himself for the prac- tice of the law. In this new field he achieved dazzling distinction in two continents. Hardly had he been ad- nitted to practice when he joined the ranks of the United Irishmen and be- came celebrated as one of the fore most legal defenders in the prosecu- tionS brought against it's members For his work in behalf of the United 1rishmen he suffered a sentence of four years imprisonment After his release he travelled extensively on the Continent, and while there was in con- Stant communication with the French Government in an untiring effort to secure the aid of France toward the liberation of Ireland. Tn 1894 he emil grated to America. Here new and splendid honors awaited him. He rap idly rose to exalted rank in his pro- fession, became speedily recognized as a leader of the American bar and as tribute to his ability and attain ments, he received the post of Att tOrney-General of the State of New York
 The bitterest reproach he made dur ing his life time and one of the most shameful memories for genuine Amer jeans to recall is the fact that his term of prison confinement would have been lcssened had it not been for the interference and the conniv- ance of Rufus King then American Minister at the Court of St. James. It is not flattering piece of history to note that toryism and obseQious toadyism, began to manifest them selves among a certain class of Amer jeans before the echoes of the Revolu- tionary struggle had died away and while he memory of the suffering and sacrifice of the Continental heroes were still vividly fresh in the minds of the people.
 It was on March 4th. 177S. in Dublin