The Irish standard., 1916-02-26
delay was fatal and he was arrested
and tried for treason.

delay was fatal and he was arrested
and tried for treason.
While in Jail he tried to induce his
jailer to deliver letter to Miss Cur
ran but the official gave the letter to
the authorities. Hearing of this EN-
met offered to plead guilty and speak
no word of defense if they would per-
init the letter to reach its intended
destination. The offer was refused.
This incident gives us the keenest in
sight into the heart of the man so
romantic and steadfastly true to his
beloved.
He was brought to trial and the SEN
tence Of death for high treason was
Immediately carried out. Following
this Miss Curran went to Sicily hoping
that change of scene would be help.
full to her, but she did not long survive
her lover.
The last speech of Robert Emmett,
made in the court when asked by his
judges what he had to say in his own
defense, is a masterpiece of eloquence.
This youth, going to his death, de.
Tended his character and motives in a,
speech which has become classic of
oratory.
Interrupted frequently by his judges
he defended first his memory Of fight
ing for his good name among his fel-
low men. He said: THE man dies
but his memory lives. That my name
may not perish, that it may live in the
respect of my countrymen, l seize an
opportunity to vindicate myself of
some of the charges alleged against
me-"
And again in his speech, he said:
"A man who has never yet raised his
voice in lie will not hazard his char
acter with posterity by asserting
falsehood on a subject so important to
his country and on such an occasion
as this"
His wonderful soul.stirring patriot
ism is shown to us in this passage
from his speech:
ITO my country I sacrificed every
selfish, every endearing sentiment, and
for it now offer myself to God.'
Understanding his warm affection
for Sara Curran, we realize how fully
he sacrificed every endearing senti-
ment for his country, and indeed what
sacrifice it must have been for this
youth of romantic ideals and high mo.
tives to be torn from the arms of his
beloved.
The chief justice interrupted to in
form Emmett that his speech dis
graced his education and particularly
his dead father, DR.. Emmett, to which
he replied:
IF the spirits of the illustrious dead
participate in concerns and cares of
those who are dear to them in this
transitory existence, oh, ever dear and
! venerated shade of my departed father
look down with scrutiny on the con-
duct of your suffering son and see II 1
have even for moment departed from
those principles of morality and pa
triotism which 1t was ever your care
to instill into my youthful mind, and
for which l am now to offer my life"
This beautiful sentiment teaches US
generation for our forefathers in the
highest sense. And so let us never
forget that the glory and greatness of
our descendants is in our hands. Let
US try to hand down to our descend
ants the same endearing sentiments
which Robert Emmett expressed for
his father.
We must preserve in all their purity,
refine If possible from all alloy, those
virtues which we have received from
those who have gone before us.
We do not honor Robert Emmett
particularly as a revolutionist or as a
liberator, since indeed in these things
his success was limited, but we indeed
hasten to do honor to his memory for
those things which are greater than
material achievement. Robert EN-
NETS influence has ever been strong
moral force stirring men to greater
good and higher ideals by the strength
of his modest character and pure mo-