New-York tribune., 1920-08-28
If MacSwenev
Dies, die Too,
Says De Valera
Declares He Will Return
to Ireland and Follow
Example, If Mayor of
Cork Gives Up His Life
Calls Him a MARTYR
Lexington Theater Filled
With Erin's Sympathizers;
Cheers for Longshoremen

Eamon de Valera, President of the
Irish Republic" told 1000 persons at
a mass meeting held at the Lexington
Theatcr last night that if Terrence Mac
sweeney, Lord Mayor of Cork, dies as
a result of his hunger strike, he would
return to Ireland and follow Mac
S"cney's example.
The meeting was called to protest
against the British governments re-
tusal to liberate MacSweney. After the
theater was filled, enough people were
turned away to form two large mass
meetings in the streets.
De Valera was interrupted eyery
few minutes with Kisses and boos for
Great Britain, Lloyd George and King
George V.
Reference to the strike of the long
shoremen against British ships brought
prolonged cheering. AS De Valera was
declaring his readiness to return to Ire
land to follow MacSweney's example,
man in the gallery enthusiastically
cried, "Threc cheers for the longshore-
men,"
This was the prelude to the unan-
nouneed appearance on the stage of a
parade of striking longshoremen, who
waved before the audience a dozen
placards carried on poles. The placards
denounced England for refusing to per
NIT Archbishop Mannix of Australia IN
enter Ireland, and demanded the i;h,
GRAFTON of MacSweney.
De Valera denied that MacSwenev's
death by self-imposed starvation would
be equivalent to suicide.
heretofore | never counscled hunger
strikes as weapon" he said ~ al
ways considered that there were meth
ods more effective. But MacSwcney is
showing the world that he values his
Eft less than he does a good cause,
They call it suicide. That man is
worthy of another designation than
that of suicide who thus dies.
MacSwcney is facing only con-
ttingent death If he dies his death,
like a soldiers, will be at the hands
o. an enemy. And | can tell you that
MacSweney will die if he does not get
his liberty. Instead of regarding him
as a suicide I venerate such man. If
nc dies I will go back to Ireland to
fellow his example
England is carrying on worse
atrocities than Cromwell did when he
sent women and children into slavery
INTO slavery in an English dungeon.
English brute force may manacle his
body, but his spirit will triumph and
VIII live to make Ireland's cause tri
umph."
Frank P. Walsh, chairman of the
American Committee for Irish Inde-
nendence, who presided, and Dudley
tleid Malone were other speakers. Mr..
" alsh predicted that the "assassina-
ton of MacSweeney would cause the
"'downfall Of the British Empire" He
declared that the strike of the long
shoremen in New York was an indica-
tion of bitterness being aroused
throughout the world by England's at
tltnde toward Ireland.
Even the British arc becoming dis
gustcd with the actions of their gov
ernment," said Mr.. Walsh. "More than
$50 Of the stokers and firemen of the
steamer Baltic, who struck TODAY. are
born Englishmen."
Secretary of State Colby, in resolu
tlons, was asked to prevent the "mur-
der" of MacSweney. The resolutions
set forth:
THAT we, American citizens. express
our admiration of the gallant sacrifices
pelng made by the people of Ireland in
their magnificent fight for libertv-and
IN part lar we express our apprecia-
ton or the heroic stand for principle
now being made by the Lord Mayor of
Cork
"That we ask our Secreta of State
Colby to use his good off ces to prevent
the murder of Mayor MacSwenev"