Robert Emmet, Patriot.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 11, 19 May 1911, Page 4

Robert Emmet, Patriot.

** MAORI LAND WORKER" SPECIAL.

Ai\ Appreciation by the Editor.

["NOTE. —The presence in New Zealand of the Irish envoys upon what is likely to be their last mission before the realisation of Home Rule, makes fitting the appearance of this attempt at a Character Sketch —"lest we forget. ,, Robert Emmet is as picturesque and noble a "rebel" as Ireland has produced, great as is her roll. When we reflect that ere long a monument will stand to Emmet's memory having upon it the epitaph which may-—at long last! —be written, we may readily recognise how that the approaching achievement of Home Rule forces Emmet's character and life to the front.]

Were I to number the men among all I have ever known who appeared to mc to combine in the greatest degree pure moral worth with intellectual power, I enould, among the highest of the few, place Bobert Emmet. —Thomas Moore. Can agitators light fire without fuel, or sustain a revolution without reason. It never will be done. . . . To convict the people is to condemn the Government. JOSEFH COWEN. I would trust any people with the custody of its own liberty. I would trust no people with the custody of liberty other than its own. —Henry Gtjkattan. If the Union had not been "carried, Ireland would have lons since paid off her national debt, and been now almost entirely free from taxation. —Daniel O'CONNELL. "God Save Ireland!" say we proudly, "God save Ireland \" say we ail; "YV hether on the scaffold high "Or the battle-field we die, Oh, what matter, Avhen for lirin dear we fall I" Robert Emmet's brief span of life., his romantic attachment for Sarah Ourran, his immortal epeech, his intense patriotism, have made his name in Irish history ono which touches the heart as few other names touch it. In Erin's long list of illustrious m&u Emmet's name stands prominent in the affections of a, libertyloving people; nay, more, holds an honoured position among tho reputations of the world. In his eventful life ■were blended the elements of romanco, rebellion, martyrdom ; his youth, talent, social position, and the splendid character-force he possessed make the study of his life a fascinating one, and this study, too., sends the blood coursing through the veins as when, at all times, the depths of manhood are stirred by the doers of Right and the deeds of Freedom. Emmet fought a. fight, and appeared to lose. But did ho lose ? Asic of the multitudes at this season preparing to celebrate the triumph of Homo Rule! The victim went to the scaffold but the cause strengthened. As Emmet himself expressed it: "The man dieSj but the memory lives!" Biographical Data. Robert Emmet was the third son of Dγ Rabort Emmet, a distinguished physician of Dublin. Thomas Addis Emmet was Robert's eldest brother, and his name, too., is revered by Irishmen the world over. He was tho valued associate of --Wolfe Tone., the Sheareses and others of the United Irish organisation. Ho died in exile, finding a second country in America, then regarded as the land of Freedom. The name Jtonmet is said to" be English anct it is chronicled that Dr. Emmet changed its form at least four times. The "younger Robert was educated at Trinity College, m which he made his marls as a cteuater and as muutnpiece of the patriotic party. It is related that m order to neutralise the impressions of Emmet's fervid eloquence the College heads sent to the debates a skilled reasoncr. The "young Jacobin," as he was called, was expelled from theCollege in 1* eoruary, l< vB, alter a career of brilliance, the memorable record of which has been beautiiuily written by Ireland's national poet, Thomas Moore, who was Emmet's iei-low-student and life-long friend. Undoubtedly the stirring events of '98 had a powerful influence upon Emmet, and it is equally certain mat the carrying of the Union by unmitigated rascality on February 17, 18UO, also deeply angered him and added fuel to the hre of revolt raging within his breast, lieaving for tho Continent he was in 1802 joined .by his famous brother— Thomas Addis Emmet —and otkers of the United Irishmen. Robert returned to Dublin in October, 1802, war broke out between England and h , -anro in May 1803, and the rising since his return so carefully fomented by Emmet took place on J»ly 23, 1803. Nothing

was accomplished thereby and the young rebel was to flee for. his life. Ho might have escaped to America, but lingered in hiding in the unquenchable longing to meet his ladylove. The delay led to his arrest on August 25. He was tried on September 19 and executed next day. The Rising That Failed. It is not the writer's purpose to enlarge upon the many eventful incidents which went to the making of Emmet's life. There, is an abundance of literature on the stibject to be obtained for the seeking. To "young New Zoalanders" anxious to realise what patriotism meant to a host of renowned Irishmen "Speeches from the Dock" (by T. T>., A. M., and D. B. Sullivan), "Life of Robert Emmet" - (D. J. O'Donoghite) and "The Book of Erin" (Morrison Davidson) are commended. We may, however, give a. little consideration to the rising .promoted -by Emmet. It was an unfortunate attempt in that the carefully-planned arrangements miscarried in nearly every particular. Emmet devoted months to planning, and perfected a method of attack upon Dublin Castle. Ho established depots for tho manufacture and storage of arms, and the munitions of war were prepared in large quantities. The pro-moting-insurrec-tionist went from depot to depot cheering, directing and assisting his men, gathering about him tho remnants of the United Irish organisation—remnants who still hoped for Erin's freedom and whoso spirit had not been broken by suffering. The knowledge that the Government were on the scent or the movement precipitated tho crisis but owing to the failure of persons and of plans not more than a.-hundred insurgents turned out on July 23. These were ioined by a riotous and noisy rabble" and the upshot was the murder of Lord Kilwarden and a clergyman. Emmet hearing of this deplorable tragedy saved Kilwarden's daughter and bore her to a place of safety. But the insurgent party scattered, no attack was made on the Castle, and "in little more than an hour from the time of his setting out on his desperate enterprise, Robert Emmet was a defeated and ruined man, a fugitive, with the whole host of British spies and bloodhounds employed to hunt him to the death." ■* ' * _ * Was the rising—the after clap of '98 —justified? A knowledge of the conditions obtaining can lead only to an affirmative answer. Lecky in his ' History of Ireland in the Eighteenth Century" speaks of the people as "driven to desperation by intolerable military tyranny." As Mr O'Dcmoghue puts it: "The record of such conduct as Lecky only briefly, summarises is not merely suincient to justify Emmet's subsequent ill-fated attempt to rouse the people but would justify fifty rebellions, and indeed justifies most of what has been since done by the people of Ireland as a protest against misrule." Emmet failed in his design and had to bear the obloquy and contempt nearly always attendant upon failure. Had he succeeded he would have been regarded as one of the greatest of the world's liberators. Emmet the Man. Emmet as a man was courageous, enthusiastic, affectionate and trustful. By some biographers he is accounted blameworthy because of his astound-in"-ly childlike ignorance of men and implicit "faith in his associates. Be that as it may, he posse-seed heroic qualities of character and was swayed by an immense love of his country and an oyerwhelmino- passion for its emancipation. This noble aspiration for freedom was manifested in all be did. At College we find him arguing that it was imperative upon all Governments to allow full and free discussion and if "they did not it was for the people to draw conclusions" from their tyranny and to act upon their resolves. At another time he hears sung "Let Enn remember the days of old" and passionately exclaims: "Oh 1 that I were at the head of twenty thousand men marching to that air." As an orator Emmet pos-

sessed transcendent powers and he spoko with the eloquence of a pure character and as a, man with a message and a mission. His lofty oratory revealed the truly political spirit. Who is there can read his magnificent speech froxn the dock and remain unmoved? The purely impromptu effort displays the man, as it were, naked, and in his eternal words is revealed the worth of his moral nature, the depth of his love of liberty and his fearlessness of death, j Speech of Greatness. Listen to his indictment of the Government: —which sets man upon his brother, and lifts his hand, in the name of God, against the throat of his fellow who believes or doubts a little more or a little less than the Government , standard—a Government -which is steeled to barbarity by the cries of , the orphans and the tears of the i widows it has made. j Hear Emmet's justification of his con- ! duct: I appeal to the immaculate God—l swear by the Throne of Heaven, before which I must shortly appear —by the blood of the murdered -patriots who have gone before me—that my conduct has been, through all this j peril, and through all my purposes, governed only by the conviction which I have uttered, and by no other view than that of the emancipation of my country from the superinhuman oppression under which she has so long and too patiently tra,vailed ; and I confidently hope that, wild and chimerical as it may appear, there is still union and strength in Ireland to accomplish this noblest of enterprises. Of this I speak with confidence, of intimate knowledge," and with the consolation that appertains to that confidence. Hearken to - his tribute to his country: My Country was my idol. To it I sacrificed every selfish, every endearing sentiment j and for it I now offer up myself, O God! No, my lords j I" acted as an Irishman, determined on delivering my country from the yoke of a foreign and unrelenting tyranny and the more galling yoke of a domestic faction, which is its joint partner and perpetrator in the patricide, .from the ignominy existing with an exterior of splendour and a conscious depravity. It was the wish of. my heart to extricate my country from this doubly rivetted despotism—l wished to place her independence beyond the reach of any power on earth. I wished to exalt her in that proiid station in the world. Emmet's speech bristles with epigram and of prose-poetry, and in every particular demonstrates his intellectual strength and the sublimity of his patriotism. His intense phrases engrave themselves upon the memory; he left behind him one of the masterpieces of English oratory. The Lesson and the Promise. On the next day Emmet was gibbetted and his head held up to the -people with the proclamation: "This is the head of a traitor!" Nevertheless — Freedom's battle once begun— Bequeath/d from bleeding sire to son — Tliougk baffled oft, is ever won. In his death, as John Boyle O'Reilly writes in "The' Patriot's Grave"—in his death He teaches the secret of manhood —the watchword of thoee who aspire— That men must follow freedom though, it lead through blood and fire ; That sacrifice is the bitter drtuight which freemen still must quaff — That every patriotic life is the patriot's epitaph. * * * It is as well to note that Emmet, like Tone and Parnell, was a Protestant. Not that it matters what a man be so long as ho is a man, but that it demonstrates to the bigot that Home Rule is not a Catholic qxiestion any more than it is a, Protestant one. It is an evidence of the grandeur and truth of everlasting principles. To give fundamental effect to those principles we want to-day the intellectual rebel and the voting 'insurrectionist: we need a revolution m ideas. Emmet himself was solicitous that Catholicism should not be held responsible for his constant rebellion. Ho writes at one stage in his career:-"One grand point at least will be gained. No leading Catholic is committed —wo are all Protestants — and their cause will, not be compromised." It ie interesting, too, to recall that twenty-seven years since the late Marquis D. J. Oliver left by his will a sum of £100 towards the erection of a monument to the memory of Robert Emmet when Ireland would resume her place as a nation amongst the nations, with a native Parliament to enact her laws, and native swords in native hands ta-guard her shores. i A Poetical Tribute. The following glowing lines are by "Tom Black," the navvy ppet ©f Broken HOI, N.S.W. :—

In Memory of Robekt Emmet. Immortal name! to JKrm ever dear; Her darling , son, deep in her breast enshrined ; O'er his sad fate she hath shed many » tear,' Who was, alas, to felon's doom consigned ! A youthful martyr, talented, and brave He for his country's weal resigned his breath j Smiling , serenely at an early grave Mc walked uiawed into the halls of death. .For love of_ truth and right he needs must die; And by a felon's death was glorified; And anger flashed in Erin's tearful eye, And justice was undone when Ummet died. He is not dead ! he rieeth from the grave; His radiant spirit shining still more bright, A guide to him who scorns to be a slave, Who battles ever in the cause of right. He is not dead! the onartyr lives for aye. Preserved by mem'ry in exalted, fame; Who falls for justice ne'er can pass away, Death but makes dearer and more known his name. He is not dead! still fights undaunted on Against oppression and tyrannic might, Stirring true hearts till tyranny be gone And ISrin rise from darkness, into light. His spirit moves in every patriot's breast Who struggles for his country to be free ; For this he suffered that the poor oppressed Their friend, their liberator he might be. Condemned to an ignominious death To light oppression was his only crime— But Death did crown him with a hallowed wreath — A wreath of glory unimpaired fey time. Yea, adding lustre as the years roll on, Jr lacing the branded rebel far above His ruthless enemies, for he hath won The world's esteem and Erin's fondest love. The truth that in him burned shall still prevail; .Beyond the grave it rose a star, to bo A light divine which ne'er can fade nor 2: ail, The star of conquest over tyranny. His foes, fell judgment did avail them not, His sacrifice his victory became, Leaving a mem'ry dear without a, blot, Witn him tiie honour rests, with tt.em the shame. Heroic soul! this humble lay of mine I olfer ax; the shrine 01 thy high worth — Frail tribute of a countryman of thine j/rouci or the land that gave such hero birth. Saiutus. Salutus, O Emmet—thou liibertylover! Thou iconoclastic apostle of the I'reeborn! tliou hater of Injustice! Hail, thou emancipator, hail! Thou buikledst nobly in history, O Robert; thou didst live as well as die for thy i'aitli. Thy unconquerable spirit still livetli and thy brave words yet fiashcth defiance at the forces of oppression and wrongdoing. Thy life was taken from theo because thou oonfrontedsu fearful odds, but 'being dead thou speaketk across the gulf of 100 years. Aye, and will speak until thy beloved land is free in name and in. trutli: thenceforward, too, for ever. Thy land shall assuredly «see the day in which, xieason and JLove shall be the ruling powers and economically-emancipated man shall be his own ruler. As to the world it will so to Erin—tlie New Time, when wealth and power and talenb sliaii be the servants and not tke rulers of Humanity, b or, great Robert, as in thy era so in oiirs: Humanity is yet on the Cross. Thou,. Emmet, representedst a high, national ideal and we wiio feel something of thy indomitable spirit pulsating within us know that not the patriotism of irrational frenzy but the patriotism of lofty concern for the suHering, and the persecuted and the weak is the patriotism that will make the nations truly happy, contented and prosperous. .Not in vainglorious Imperialism, nor in. mercenary territo*ry-lrunger and mammom-worship, nor in base servility and social atrophy, lies the road to Justice and Freedom: but in. national cleanliness and faithfulness and trust and fraternity and health and freedom-from-want and the all to participation in Nature's feast freely spread for all. Salutue, O Emmet — traitor-branded a oentory agone but to-day a World's Hero and a Chief among Patriots.