Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-06
irish HONOR EMMET'S NAME
Jerry Sullivan Of Des Moines
Orator at Annual Banquet.
PRAISE FOR PATRIOTIC DEEDS
Emmett Monument Associs ton and
Irish Fellowship Club Join In
Function ut the Paxton
Hotel.


A patriotic Irish assemblaye at the
Paxton hotel last night commemo-
rated the anniversary Of the birth Of
Robert Emmet.
About Us members of the Emmes
monument association and Irish Fellow
ship club. after a seven course dinner,
heard prominent speakers picture the
wonderful history Of their race, and the
great men who had done so much for
the uplift and welfare Of the Irish peo-
pie. ...
The principal address Of the evening
was made by Jerry sullivan Of nes
Molnes. His speech thrilled all with Its
patriotism. In part, he said:
I'VE celebrate this evening one Of the
most unique pages of history. 1t was
not what Robert Emmett accomplished
that has placed his name alongside OF
the great men OF history. but what he
sacrificed for tho love OF his country
his life, The heart OF the patriotic Irish
man ever turns on the fourth day ol
March to the great sacrifice of Robert
Emmet whose epitsph is not yet written
Life or Liberty.
Many pages have been given TO art
history and science, but more have beer
devoted to this man, who on the scat
fold said. Life is nothing compared te
liberty
1.-TWO Of the greatest battles that stand
out in history today are the battles oi
Waterloo and Gettysburg. When the
great dictator stood on the battle ground
on the eve OF Waterloo he asked that the
geography of Europe be rewritten and
made one great empire. But fate ruled
that this should not be. Again after the
battle of Gettysburg fate ruled thai
slavery should not exist.
1--WE turn to the pages OF Irish history
the greatest ever written. There never
was a race as great, or one so little
known. Long before the republic Of
Rome and the republic Of Greece these
people existed. and gave to the world the
first free school 1t ever knew.
ireland never had a dark age. II was
the first and greatest educational center
OF the world. II was from Ireland that
the other countries procured their teach
ers The people have always stood for
liberty, and never were conquered by any
nation. While many Of the former ma
tons of Europe are today merged into
one, Ireland is distinct.
Death Rather Than Treason.
Robert Emmett could have escaped
death by giving evidence against his
country, but he preferred death TO being
traitor. He gave up his life in order
that his fellowmen might gain a ster
towards liberty.
The Irish language. due to the ~.
ranny OF England, is today almost dead
When language Is destroyed Il means
the same as the death Of the younger
people. Out OF the 100000 Irish people
but 10000 can today speak the Language
However, In the near future this languag,
will be taught in this country as well a.
Ireland
What induced our forefathers TO leav,
Ireland and locate in Alaska, far Aus
tralia and other countries?' asked E. J
Waters in his address on Irish Ideals.
ut was a determination TO better them
selves TO progress. The true Irishmar
wherever you find him has this spirit o.
advancement. 1t seems to be born in hi
very soul. This was born and bred dur
ing the hundreds OF years of persecution
When the word home had lost IL
significance 1t would seem that the relgl
Of tyranny would have long since smoth
cred this spirit in the Irish people, ant
they would have accepted the condition
as they were. Instead Of losing sight o
the issue at hand they we're ever alive 4
the situation. The persecution only mad
them want liberty all the more.
Irfshman Always True.
No matter in what country you fin,
an Irishman you will always find hin
true to his adopted country, and Away
remembering his own flag. and eve
ready to help commemorate the his
torical events"
Michael p. OConnor talked on eth,
Emmett Monument Association" He CAV
brief history of the club, saying tha
the members have always been first I,
lend hand for the benefit Of civic a
well as Of Irish affairs. He sal,
the people Of today were as tru
to the ideals Of Emmet as their fore
fathers at the time he sacrificed his life
I'VE must keep up the fight" he said
until the day the orange and green fla,
floats to'the breeze over the Republic o
ireland"
l., ]. .TePoel was toastmaster.l ol,
Irish songs were sung by James BIai
and Miss Mary Ryder
Q