The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-03-04
change places, though we never could

and dare not vindicate my character,
how dare you calumniate it. Does the
sentence of death, which your unhal-
lowed policy inflicts on my body, con-
denim my tongue to silence and my
reputation to reproach? Your execu-
toner may abridge the period of my
existence; but while l exist l shall
not forbear to vindicate my character
and motives from your aspersions;
and, as man, to whom fame is dearer
than life, will make the last use
of that life in doing justice to that
reputation which is to live after me,
and which is the only legacy l can
leave to those l honor and love, and
for whom l am proud to perish. AS
men, my lords, we must appear on
the great day at one common tribu-
nal; and it will then remain for the
Searcher of all hearts to show a col
lective universe, who was engaged in
the most virtuous actions; or swayed
by the purest motives-my country's
oppressor, Or
Here he was interrupted, and told
to listen to the sentence of the law. I
MY lords, will dying man be de-
MED the legal privilege of exculpating
himself in the eyes of the community
from an undeserved reproach, thrown
upon him during his trial, by charging
him with ambition, and attempting to
cast away for paltry consideration
the liberties of his country? Why did
your lordships insult me? Or rather
why insult justice, in demanding OF
me why sentence of death should not
be pronounced against me? know
my lords, that form prescribes that
you should ask the question. The
form also presents the right of an
swering. This, no doubt, may be dis
pensed with, and so might the whole
ceremony of the trial, since sentence
was already pronounced at the Castle
before the jury were empanelled
Your lordships are but the priests Of
the oracle, and insist on the whole
of the forms.''
Here Mr.. Emmett paused, and the
court desired him to proceed.]
Il am charged with being an ennis
sary Of France. An emissary o.
France! and for what end? It is al
legged that I wished to sell the indie
pendence of my country; and for wha1
end? Was this the object of my am
bltion? And is this the mode by which
a tribunal of jushtice reconciles con
tradiction? No; I am no emissary;
and my ambition was to hold a place
among the deliverers of my coun
try, not in power nor in profit. but If
the glory of the achievement. Sci
my country's independence to France
and for what? Was it a change Of
masters? No, but for my ambition
On, my country, was it personal am
Dltlon that could influence me? Hae
1t been the soul of my actions. coull
l not, by my education and fortune
by the rank and consideration of m,
family, have placed myself amongst
the proudest of your oppressor. M,
Country was my Idol. To it l sacri
feed every selfish, every endearine
sentiment; and for it l now offer III
myself, 0 God! No, my lords; I acted
as an 1rishman, determined on deliv
ering my country from the yoke of E
foreign and unrelenting tyranny, ant
the more calling yoke of a domestic
faction, which is its joint partner ant
perpetrator in the patricide, from the
ignominy existing with an exterior o.
splendour and conscious depravity
1t was the wish of my heart to ex
tricate my country from this doubl,
rivetted despotism-I wished to place
her independence beyond the reach Of
any power on EARTH I wished to ex
alt her to that proud station in the
world. Connection with France was
indeed, intended, but only as far az
mutual interest would sanction or re
quire. Were the French to assume
any authority inconsistent with the
purest independence, it would be sig
nal for their destruction. We sought
their aid and we sought it as we had
assurance we should obtain it-as
auxiliaries in war, and allies in peace
Were the French to comes as invad
ers or enemies, unlimited by the
wishes of the people, should oppose
them to the utmost Of my strength
Yes! my countrymen, should advise
you to meet them upon the beach
with sword in one hand, and a
torch in the other. l would meet them
with all the destructive fury of war
l would animate my countrymen to
immediate them in their boats, before
they had contaminated the soil of nv
country. If they succeeded in land.
ing, and if forced to retire before
superior discipline, would dispute
every inch of ground, burn every
blade of grass, and the last entrench.
ment of liberty should be my grave.
What l could not do myself, if l
should fall, I should leave as a last
charge to my countrymen to accom-
plish; because should feel conscious
that life, any more than death, is un.