The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-14
Press Opinion
Of MacSze,iney

AS whole the case Of Terence Mac
Swiney. mayor OF Cork. although wide
ly commented upon. has not aroused
great show of feeling In the American
press. Some feel that Britain should
have released the prisoner. others con-
slider that hunger striking Is self de-
struction and should be dealt with as
such. hut nearly all agree that the
whole affair is Englands business ana
that protests. personal 'or official, from
Americans merle, srI are entirely out Of place:
tho 81, Louis Star und.) believes, is
that in Its usual bland way" It has
chosen to treat the case on a strictly
legalistio basis" disregarding the ques-
tion OF tho Irish temperament: for
1T IL certain as fate that the death
of MacSwiney will increase the tension
between Great Britain and Ireland. The
Irish spirit responds to marbyrdom more
keenS sy w n9s HAT % amy othsr lp people so
tiongi . recalls the recent incident
of n Texas farTthand trying TO douse
the hre from his employers clothes
with n bucket of gasoline
Tho nes Moines Capital (Rep) con-
slders that man should no more be
allowed to starve himself to death than
To commit suicide In any other way.
Aside from this. II continues, liberation
would be recognized "as an act of
ment' which might mark the begin
ming OF the end OF troubles in Ireland"
Granting that theoretically there would
he no call upon the British government
to change her course, the Tulsa Tribune
Dem) contends that even British
American relations Nigh be disturbed
by MacSwiney's death. II adds:
1.-The irish question Ii one for Eng
land to solve but she will not solve Il
by. permitting. men who are honestly
nsryaN tnNT VNNstn lNIA has hall A,,aN
TO die martyrs TO the cause. Discretion
Ia truly, the better part OF valor and
Lloyd George would do we'll to show
discretion. instead Of rock-rlboeo
OF public opinion In regard to the irish
question"
but that the course suggested by the
Tribune would be followed. the bort
Wayne journal Gazette thinks highly
ihle that the ministry which has showed
such uncnnny genius for doing the
wrong thing In Ireland could be
moved" The Minneapolis Tribune
IRep) admits that there is 20 doubt
mont may take will he one that will
bring maledictions upon Its head but
lit would seem that the government
would euffer more injury by permitting
release" for should he die, ireland
| would leap up IN flame OF fury" To
| this the st Louis Post Dispatch Qnd \
agrees. pointing out that "tuuult and
disorder" would follow 'hlunder,"
Solution offered,
| A solution which might save Mac
| Swiney and eliminate tho danger Of
| making self starvation too popular in
| criminal circles. is offered by the Nash
| vile Banner undo which suggests that
al hunger strikers he released after a
| period Of thirty days fast. This would
hardly be popular, says the Banner.
| with any who realized that a repeated
| oHense would mean another thirty day
| fast.
| The Rlnghamton Sun Und Dem)
has little sympathy with the mayors
action, nor that Of his family IN en-
| couraging HIM
How much more sensible" Il saws,
1T would haIe been for them 10 urge
him to stop Ms folly, preserve his life.
| perhaps for the real good OF Ireland
| and the cause for which he essaycd
| mRrtyrdom There Is something noble
about a man who deliberately eour, !
| death TO advance n cause but such
a course often invites a kind ~ folly
that oVerhalanccs It's Inherent nobility.
Tho feeling that MaCSwiuey's conduct
puts him outside Of the martyr class Is
reflected In the Norfolk NirginianA Pilot
(lnd. DemD which thinks he ought q
have faced the music in a regulation
| fashion,
''He hated England and Joined with
| forces sworn TO break her authority, "
| Il says. NO ono can quarrel with him
| for that, But having played tho game
he should take the consequences He
Is not martyr. lie is on tho way 10
be a plain suicide"
Tho san Antonio Light undD holds