The Irish standard., 1912-03-02
His Ill-Fated Career a Melancholy
Episode in Ireland's Dark Days
of Struggle.
Though he Met the Fate of the
Gallows at Twenty-Five his
Memory Still Lives.
His Epitaph Though not Written in
Stone is Craven in the Hearts
Of his Countrymen.

The story Of the tragic career of
Robert Emmet, Ireland's youthful and
brave, but ill-fated, defender has too
often been rehearsed and is too we'll
known to be gone into in detail. Suf-
flee it to mention some Of the prin-
cipal incidents in the career of this
"noblest Irishman Of them all'' who
has won lasting place in history
though his life was sacrificed on the
gallows when it had only fairly be-
gun.
Robert Emmet was born March 4.
1878, In the city of Cork. He was the
son Of highly respectable physician
Of Dublin. He was sent to Trinity
College at the time when the United
Irishmen were forming a secret revo-
lutionary society. He soon showed a
strong inclination to lend his aid to
the movement. With him there were
many associates who shared even
more radical views than he. He was
the center Of a group of young men
whose hearts beat in unison for hui
man freedom. Emmet was man of
keen intellect and a fluent speaker
He soon became the \ orator ct the
party But .ias, his logic ara go
4ue1ice soon led to his FIRST defeat.
He, with a number Of his colleagues,
carried matters to such extremities
at Trinity College that they We're ex-
PEELED. This was in February, 1898.
But the incident only left Emmet
free to give all his time and energy
to the work he loved so well. The
rebellion Of 'ss had been ,rampled out
but the hope of the people still lived.
The passage of the Act of Union
aroused their indignation and hatred
afresh. They rested their chief hope
for liberation in the breaking out of a
threatened war between France and
England. En1met had All interview
with Bunoparte, then First Consul
who gave him fattering promises OF
assistance. Full of high hopes EN-
met returned to Dublin in October,
1902, and entered heart and soul into
the movement. He gathered together
secretly the remnants Of the United
Irish organization and began the coll
lection and manufacture cf arms. In
May, 1903. the expected war between
France and England broke out. EN-
NETS hopes rose to their full glory.
The promised day seemed at hand.
July %, 1903, was set for the day OF
the Irish uprising. But cruel fate waa
against the young patriot. The plans
miscarried and Emmet's following was
SO meager as to be of no use except
to give the English Government
ground on which to charge him with
high treason. Emmet fed into hiding
He might have completely evaded his
captors if it were not for q controlling
desire he had to have an interview
with the girl to whom he was be.
trothed, Sarah Curran. For a month
he evaded the officers ofthe law know
ing that death would be the penalt.
if he were caught. On August 25 he
was finally arrested and on Septembei
10 he was put on trial for tis life. H,
made no defense to the charge of higl
treason except to justify himself OF
moral grounds. With nothing NOR,
than the mere formality Of trial h
was convicted and sentenced to death
His last speech in his own defens'
is noble plea for the rights Of hi
country and his race. To the end h,
was proud Of his patriotism and tn
stand he had taken in his country''
defense. In the course of his las
speech, which is diadem in his crown
of glory, he reminded his executioner
that he felt to the last that he wa
dying in noble cause. "Let no mai
dare" he said, when am gone t,
charge me with dishonor; let no mai
attaint my memory, by believing tina
could have engaged in any cause bu
that of my country's liberty and inde
pendence; or that I could have be
come the plant minion Of power, ii
the oppression and misery Of m,
!: country. The proclamation Of tn