The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-03-04

SteuDen, PULASKI anu noCudLioSdu u were fighting in the ranks of the pa- triot army. The shot which the em- l battled American farmers fired at Lexington which echoed round the l world nowhere aroused more joy and hope than in Ireland. It was under the influence and inspiration of the American Revolution that the char acter and aims of Robert Emmet were formed ~
 The boyhood of Robert Emmet was noted for the seriousness of his dis position and for he close attention he devoted to his studies. He developed at an early age a remarkable aptitude for the exact sciences which continued throughout his life.
 At the age of sixteenth 17S3-he entered Trinity College, the University maintained in Ireland under the pat7 ronage Of the crown. It was at col lege that he began to show signs of the bent of his desires. A brief anec-. d"to is worth recalling in this con nection.
 It is related that at a social gath ering of students, Thomas Moore, af- forwards the illustrious national poet of Ireland, and then Emmets class mate, played on the piano the martial strains of the ancient Gaelic air to song. Let Erin Remember the Days of Old" "Oh!'' exclaimed Emmet at its conclusion, 'that I were marching to that air at the head of twenty thou sand men for Ireland" Even here, he gave evidence of the invincible hot. that burned within him.
 His career at college was distinguish ed by the great progress he made in classical and mathematical knowledge. It WAS attended with brilliant success but It came to an abrupt termina- tiOn
 Trinity College had established among the students a famous debat- 1ty of Emmet made him one of it's prominent members. On one occa- sion the society was debating the proposition, whether a complete free dom of discussion is essential to the well being Of a good and virtuous gov ernment." Emmet argued ardently for complete freedom of speech and pressed the belief that, eff a govern ment were vicious enough to put down the freedom of discussion, it would be the duty of the people to deliberate on the errors of their rulers, to consider we'll the wrongs they in- hicted, and what the right course would be for their subjects to take, and having done so it would then be their duty to draw practical conclu- sions.''
 This declaration stamped him as sympathizer with the aims and pur- poses of the United Irishmen. It con- tained sentiments which were repag nant to the policy of an English uni verSity and the authorities of the col> lege ordered his expulsion.
 The severance of his relations with Trinity strengthened his indomitable determination to achieve the liberty of his country
 Robert Emmet and his brother. Thomas Addis, visited France where they were in close communication with Napoleon and Tal,eyrand. It is true that Napoleon had in 1902 entered into established peace between Great Brit ain and France. But neither power placed any confidence in the pact It merely gave a brea thing spell during which both governments rapidly made ready for future inevitable war. Ma poleon was bent on accomplishing. the destruction of Great Britain and. to that end undoubtedly lent assurance that he would aid the struggle for Irish independence.
 Robert Emmet returned to Dublin in 1892 and began to work steadily and systematically to complete prepara- tions for his intended uprising. At the expense, of his own private for tune he furnished a number of mili- tary depots. There in the heart of the Capital city of Ireland unknown to the police he manufactured arms and ammunition to equip and supply over ten thousand men. He had planned the instruction to occur in August, 1903, because about that time he expected allies to arrive in Ireland from France. But tha best laid prep arations sometimes miscarry, and so it unfortunately happened that pre- mature explosion in one of his depotS compelled him to hasten the date for hostilities. The day later decided up- on was July 23rd.
 But when the appointed day arrived there was no possibility of establish ing order and discipline among the men who responded to his summons. The leaders were divided in council and their followers disOrganized. The irresponsible ones among them con- menced acts of pillage and assassina- tion. Two of the victims of these excesses were Lord Kilwarden, Chief Justice of the Kings Bench, and his nephew, who were dragged from their carriage and murdered. Emmet was disgusted at these profitless barbari- ties and in an effort to restore order placed himself at the head of small body of men to begin an attack. But the struggle resolved itself into a street fight and Emmet realizing that his project was intellectual speedily
  persed.
 He might have saved himself by prompt escape from the country, but he fingered to pay last parting visit to the idol of his affections, the daugh- ter of Curran, the famous barrister. His delay was responsible for his cap ture which occurred short time after the instruction. His trial exhibited the usual procedure followed in the case of Irish patriots. biased and brutal judge, a packed jury and per- jured witnesses quickly registered a verdict of guilty which had been de- of trial commenced. His impassioned vindication of the stainlessness of his motives contained in his immortal speech from the dock displeased the corrupt tribunal to which it was ad- dressed in the same degree as it has since edified succeeding generations. The next day as he stood on the rude gibbet erected in Thomas street which witnessed the last scene in his tragic career, his forbearance included even his prosecutors as he said: sI die in peace and with sentiments of univer- sal love and kindness toward all men,"
 The executioner holding up the gory head exclaimed, Here is the head of a traitor, but the world well knows that it was no traitor but the head of one of the noblest martyrs ever sacrificed for his fellow men and re- fuses to hold his memory in obloquy. He met the same death that was met ed out to Nathan Hale, and his fate was unquestionably the fate which would have befal'en George Washing tion, had the glorious cause of Ameri-
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