Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-10-25
lM'SvvINEY'S HUNGER STRIKE ENDS IN DEATH

an occasion for the king to vindicate
his constitutional right and protect
the country against the growing au-
tocracy OF the cabinet
There were many other arguments
to the same. effect. one historical
writer. combating the theory that the
king always had been cipher in
such matters, exhumed a new story
in the annals Of British monarchy.
telling how George ", described by
Ihaekeray as the weakest and least
admirable character in the line OF
British kings, used to pace the coun-
Gil chamber with tears pleading for
the pardon Of criminals and some
times carry his point, altho once
when he wrote to the viceroy of Ire
land granting pardon to murderer
he was compelled by his cabinet to
cancel his edict
One OF the chief reasons put for
ward by MacSwiney's advocates, al
tho from anti Sim Fein. quarters.
was that the offenses OF which Mac
Swiney was convicted were so COM
paratiyely light they did not justify
his suffering even tho voluntarily.
Premier Lloyd Georges reply was
that MacSwiney undoubtedly was a
high officer of the Irish Republican
army" which decreed and executed
murders of officials and police in Ire
land. The Republican army unlike
the Sim Fein, is purely secret cr-
ganization. The identity Of its Off
GERS and personnel is kept from the
public and there is doubt even
whether the Sim Fein controls 1t or
officially knows its workings.
Tho Theological Argument.
The theological argument over the
course Of Bishop Colahan and Mac
Swiney's chaplain. the Rev. Father
Dominic. in, as critics say. encourag-
ing him to commit suicide. was large
ly biblical. The Rev. Father Bernard
Vaughn was the only priest who pun
licly criticized them. A lecture which
he was to deliver in Glasgow. center
of labor unionism, had to be cancelled
on account OF the unpopularity his
words brought upon him.
The human aspect of the lord may
or's hunger strike was the one that
chiefly interested British people and
compelled the sympathy Of even his
hardest political enemies. Mrs. Mac
Swiney and his brothers and sisters
were treated everywhere with respect
and on their side had nothing but
good to say of the jailers and police
with whom they HAD to deal.
Any way out of MacSwiney's I'm
prisonment except his death would
have sheen welcomed by the whole
public. bat his family were as. frm as
MacSwiney In refusing to listen to
any end except release or death.
There can be no doubt the irish re-
publicans believed MacSwiney had
given their cause the most valuable
service in his power and that, like
John Brown, "he will trouble you
more than ever when you have nailed
his coffin down.
Began Aug. Il.
MacSwiney's hunger strike was be-
gun on Aug. II when, with ten of his
associates, he was arrested by SOL
diers in Cork while attending sas-
sion of Sim Fein court. After
trial by courtmartial under the reg
ulations of the defence Of the realm
act, he was found guilty of sedition
and sentenced to two years imprison-
ment, which he was serving in Brix-
ton prison in London.
MacSWiney. then an alderman Of
Cork, was elected lord mayor of the
city at a special session of the Cork
corporation on March 80 Of this year.
leader and, prior to his election, had
been deported and imprisoned several
times, one Of the latest notable in
stances of his confinement having
been in 1916 in connection. with the
Irish Easter revolt.
When arrested on Aug. II, Mac
Swiney managed to escape to the
street from the back of the city hall,
which soldiers had surrounded, but
was captured outside. He was taken
to the military barracks and came up
for trial on Aug. 16. The courtmar-
tial found him guilty Of having con-
troll of the secret police cipher, Of
having in his possession document
likely to cause disaffection, namely,
copy Of a resolution of the Cork corp
oration pledging allegiance to the
Dali Eireann. the Irish republican
parliament, and Of having made a
seditious speech on the occasion Of
his election.
Stood by Paper Republic.
Already weak at the trial because
Of his refusal to take food, Mac
Swiney disputed the jurisdiction of
the court, saying: II am the lord
istrate. declare this court illegal
and those taking part in it liable to
arrest under the laws Of the Irish re-
public"
The day following his trial, Lord
Mayor MacSwiney was deported to
England aboard a destroyer. under Il
heavy military escort and was lodged
in Brixton Jail. The government an
nounced on Aug. 10 that he was SEN
fenced to two years imprisonment.
MacSwiney's hunger strike brought
numerous solicitations and protests
to the British authorities, man. OF
the appeals being from sympath'zers
in the United States.
During his Imprisonment tho lord
mayor received numerous messages
of encouragement and also petitions
to abandon his strike. He replied to
the latter that if he gave up his fight
he would give away Irish liberty
and that he would rather die than
do that
Peter MacSwiney, of New York. q
brother Of the lord mayor, is an off,
cial of the American commission FOR
Irish independence