The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-11-02

The death OF Terence MacSwiney.
lord mayor Of Cork. arouses ut least one
common emotion in the American press
that the admiration and respect for his
sincerity and devotion. Editorial opin-
ion differs as to the wisdom OF his course
and the practical results achieved, But
the papers are few indeed which do not
join with the Chicago Post und) In q
warm tribute to the spiritual Quality
Of his act, its devotion to principle,
It's unfaltering patriotism"
wherever the ideals Of political lib
erty are cherished, wherever free men
are Jealous of their freedom or subject ,,
peoples long for relief from traldom,
the story OF Mac Swiney's resistance,
single handed. TO the power OF great
world empire will be read with emo
tion." Thus the Cleveland Plain
Dealer end. Dem.) prefaces the opinion
which the majority OF the press snsres'
that Great Britain has blundered."
| The Baltimore Sun lind. DENY the
battle of the British cabinet against one
man is simply the climax of persistent
blunder;" and the Norfolk Virginian
Pilot Und. Dem.) also sees something
revolving about the spectacle s,as q great
staged by the 'clumsy hand Of England"
And in the opinion Of the st. Louis
Post Dispatch Und.) "the martyrs OF
liberty which the British government
Is creating in Ireland are rapidly In
creasing the weight OF the moral 3uds-
ment OF the world against her."
Discussion OF the ethics of the case
ana disagreement as 10 whether Mac
Swiney Is a martyr" or merely a
Suicide" are dismissed by most papers
as beside the point, and as having been
closed by death itself. As the New
York Times Qnd. Dem.) expresses it.
he too nicely questioned. We do not
compel heroes and martyrs to give per-
feotiy sound and cool reasons for what
they do" And the American press
leaves to the church and "moralists"
ts sse aSe;!0n Sst MASTER on or nG1
: The Importance Of the case. as viewed
In this county, lies In It's effect upon
the present relations between England
and ireland, and It's possible influence
on future Developments; The issue, TO
not the relation of MacSwiney and the
law. but the relation OF England and
Ireland II an uncompromlsing law
strengthened and emhittered the enmity,
Great Britain has won q skirmish ana
lost battle"
farther apart that at the present mo-
ment." says the Utica Observer (Dem),
and the Christian Science Monitor
(Boston, md thinks that these rela.
tions are already in such a state that
they could not be worse, and that Mac
Swiney's death Ia like setting match
10 ''house already on fre." But the
New Bedford (Mass) Standard (Rep.)
considers the death OF the mayor "a
challenge TO British statesmanship'
which "faces Its supreme test"
The st, Louis Star (Ind.) views the
| whole. incident as symbolic, The. ~
| day refusal 10 eat Is a symbol or ire
lands tenacity OF purpose. II offers
| conclusive evidence, 70 those who ar,
| willing to weigh Il. that coercion vii
| not solve the Irish problem. II there
Is TO he a reconciliation II must b.
| brought about by the opposite coercion
From the same viewpoint. the Pitts
burgh Leader (Proy. -Rep.) declares tina
| the patriotism which MacSwiney en-
| bodied "cannot be suppressed by pun
ishment, because II Is n patriotism
| that stands In awe of nothing. II Il
| a patriotism that cannot be held back
| much less crushed. II Is patriotism
that may vet hold the official soul n
rN.Nr political terror, The patriotism
| that strives for the chance to sacrifice
| life for country II the kind that ulti'
mately gnihers its reward in spite o.
The Indianapolis star (Ind. Rep
| makes vivid what IN it's opinion 10 the
lawful price" England has paid fol
IT'S age-old policy OF suppression.