LECTURE ON EMMET.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1916, 28 April 1888, Page 2

LECTURE ON EMMET.

There was a fairly good attendance at the Town Hall on Friday evening, when, Mr. J. D. Pope, a young New Zealand orator, delivered a lecture on the life and death of Emmet, the Irish patriot. Prior to the commencement of the lecture, and during the latter part' of the proceedings, there was a little vocal and instrumental music, and Misses O'Reilly, McGuire (2), and Hall gave selections, and songs were Bung by Mrs. Swinburne and Mr. Hall. The band had given selections outside the hall. The lecturer was loudly applauded on appearing, and began by reading the wellknown passage from Scott's " Lay of the Last Minstrel," commencing — Breathes there a man with soul so dead Who to himself hath not said : This is my own, my native land. In introducing his subject to the audience, Mr. Pope referred to the long struggle for freedom in Ireland, and said the perseverance and intensity with which it had been carried on in spite of the repeated disappointment of the people's hopes, and the prolonged frustration of the people's will, afforded to the world a marvellous example of the fidelity ot the Irish people to the principles of freedom and of the indestructibility of the Irish national sentiment. The leaders had been great men, and they had been supported, and to be encouraged must be supported, by what was really the noblest incentive to patriotism as well as its highest reward — the gratitude, sympathy, and applause of tbe people for whom they labored and suffered. These men fell and disappeared in the struggle, but their deeds never passed away, for these were enshrined in the hearts of their countrymen, raising up others to do and dare ; and while such men could be found to carry on the struggle tbe ultimate result of Irish aspirations could not be doubtful. Ireland's heroes had sacrificed their lives freely, but not the cause for which they fought, and the leaders of to-day were as uncompromising as theleaders in time past. A struggle carried on with such pertinacity and heroism must result in success. On the roll of Ireland's patriots, none shone more brightly than tbe name of Robert Emmet, whose birth took place on the 4th March, 1778, and whose light was rudely extinguished after a duration of 25 years. His name and fame had grown dearer to Ireland every year of the 84 which had passed since his execution. The lecturer then proceeded to extol the genius, unswerving devotion, and intrepidity of Emmet. He gave a short biography of him, pointing out that like many another of the great Irish leaders, he was not of Irish stock nor of the Catholic religion. He was a so a of D/. Emmet, who occupied a good position in Dublin, and like his brothers who distinguished themselves for their abilities in the medical and legal professions-, was a man of genuis. At an early age he was fired by a desire to assist his country in gaining freedom. His idea no doubt was to revive the struggle of '98, and recognising that the Treaty of Amiene, by which peace had been established between France and England, was merely a patched up affair soon to disappear, his purpose was to take advantage of the rupture which he knew must come aud obtain assistance from France in the scheme which he proposed to carry out. A description of the scheme planned by Emmet, the main feature of which was the coup of seizing the castle and occupying Dublin, was given in clear and graphic detail, its successes up to certain points recorded, and also its failures owing to the carelessness of some instruments and the worse than carelessness of others. The final contretemps, which resulted in what might have been a mighty struggle perishing in a miserable street brawl, and the flight of Emmet were depicted with power; and with pathos the lecturer described how Emmet perfectly secure in tbe mountains and pretty certain of an opportunity of escaping to France, would insist on visiting Dublin by stealth to bid farewell to his love, Sarah Curran, the treachery which made known his hiding place, his arrest, trial and execution for treason in 1803.

The lecture, of which the foreging is simply an outline, was delivered with considerable elocutionary power, and was heartily and frequently applauded. After a short intermission Mr. Pope recited Emmet's memorable speech in answer to enquiry why sentence of death should not be passed on him. This was a capital piece of elocution, and elicited continued applause.

It will be seen that Mr. Pope is to appear at Manaia on Monday.