Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-09-18
GOVERNMENT BY DISSENT
By DR.. Frank Crane

A great many people are excited over the
MacSwney case.
With some of them, of course, it is no use
to argue; they hate England and become vio-
lently angry when any one ntimateS that every
evil thing that is wrought under the sun Is not
the direct and undeniable fault of England.
There are some however, who, however,
who, in common sanity, will be willing to
look at the facts in the case
MacSwiney was put in prison charged with
violating the law What his alleged ofense
was is not gernane to the issue
He intimated that unless he were set free he
would commit suicide by starvation.
The English officials did not deprive Inn of
food. He was provided with plenty to eat.
He refused to eat it. -
His object was to arouse public sentiment by
his suicide that world wide sympathy would
be engaged for that portion of the Irish pop
uation no do not wish to be part OF the
British Empire.
Just how his suicide would prove anything,
convince anybody or do anything else than in
crease already inflamed passions, NOBODY mas
suggested.
Assuming that his cause was worthy, that his
spirit was heroic and brave, and that Ireland
should be under the control OF Sim relhers'
the question remains: Is that the way to go
about it?
1t practically amounts to government by
nuisance.
1t means, if cannot get my way by the
orderly processes of democracy, or by the
violence of revolution, will get it by making
myself so dsagreeable that people will give in
to me in order to avoid trouble.
The child falls to the floor kicks and
,squeals, until father says: "Oh let him have
what he wants, and stop the fuss"
The striker, unable to convince the COM
munty any other way, proceeds to pufn the
car barns, deprive babies of milk and prevent
clerks and stenographers from reaching the
office.
Some women rule by "the tyranny of tiers. y
It's the impotence of weakness using as a
weapon its power to make trouble.
He men and good sports do not indulge in
this sort of thing.
The get what they want by law if possible
or by force if they can it is necessary. but
never by threat, "Give me what want or I'll
kill myself"
That is tyranny upside down. The kaiser
made the people do his will by making tine
law. The hunger strikers, and all other Strlk-
ers, try to make the people do their will by
breaking the law. Both are essential tyrantS
Of the two the kaiser is preferable, for at
least the people prosper.
Once admit the principle of government by
nuisance and there is the end OF all govern
ment by law.
The family will be ruled by the baby, the
club will be run by those members who are
angry when they do not have their own way
the church will be controlled by cantaker-
Gus minority. :,
When labor group declares that if the
government will not do as it directs, it will
e erri the Industry Of the nation, when the
Sim Feiner says if you don't turn Ireland
over to him he will shoot policemen, and when
Bill ones announces that if you don't elect him
County Clerk he will come around and be SICK
ant hx
on your doorstep, that is not government o1
consent. it is government by dissent
Copyright 1920, by Frank Chance)