Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-27
Editorial Digest
"Shrecklichkeit" in ireland.

"Shrecklichkeit" in ireland.
Another Louvainw This was the
comment that seemed to rise spon-
| taneously from editorial writer's in
| America who saw fit to express an
| opinion on the burning of Cork. Most
of the writers. it is true. make it
plain that condemnation of British
tactics in Erin does not mean COM
mendation of Sim Fem ambuscades,
| and few refuse to place this par
ticular case of incendiarism against
government troops. but to the large
| majority this "reprisal," with those
which preceded 1t, has postponed in
definitely hope of reconciling Ireland
and the empire.
occupying army has been insane,
outrageous" and confession of
| utter failure the Albany Argus
undependent-democ asks:
II the military command had this
conhagration started on it's own in
to the burning of Louvain and must
race the same condemnation. Is the
British commander in Ireland striv-
| ing to emulate the Hun? Or is he
| simply unable to restrain his men
from atrocities?"
| On either premise. the St Louis Sta r
| independently finds the difference be-
| tween frightfulness Of the black and
| tans and that of the German invaders
more apparent than real" and re-
marks that eff British opinion gives
no heed to British mismanagement in
doubtful future
| me Pittsburgh Leader progressive
| republican, calls the destruction of
CORK a shrek of contempt for free
| dom. savagery, not war. 1t concludes
| with the suggestion that Intervention
| may be necessary. for civilization is
| dearer to progressive beings than the
| stability of a political system or the
| vanities of empire" "As wanton and
| probably less purposeful than the
! burning of Louvain' is the comment
| of the Baltimore News Gndependent)
| which grants the "lawlessness" of the
| Sim Feiners and admits the need OF
| drastic enforcement of military Law
by England" but declares such bust
ness as this" cannot be understood.
| number of writers think that ii
is quite likely that it will be inn
possible to secure peace at all in con-
some still see hope, though it be
! "immeasurably deferred" as the
Wichita Eagle independently ex-
presses it. The Springfield Repub.
| lican independently points out that il
was foreseen that Intensified coer-
cion would be met by intensified vio-
| lence." and concludes that IF the ne
gotiations are not pressed with en-
ergy things are likely to be done
which will make a settlement impos'
sible."
| The Norfolk (Neb.) News Gnde-
pendent) considers that 1.-The British
government seems helpless to solve
the problem" and suggests interven-
ton. While the Sim Fein murders
it points out. have helped to ALLEVIATE
public opinion from the Sim Fein
opinion thus alienated has not swung
to the British government" And be-
fore it may do SO. Great Britain
must cease her savage and ruthless
reprisals, according to the Chatta-
quotes from the London Daily Mail
| murder begets murder" and calls for
the withdrawal Of all black and tan
troops from Ireland as first step.
A very fair view of the situation is
taken by the Vancouver Province
(Canadian) which while it does not
| nitely to be- laid at England's door
admits that "the sequence Of events
and the fact that previous murders OF
| this kind have been followed by SINH
lar destruction of property connect
an end to the lighting, though it is
plainly in doubt.
stop the reprisals," is the senti-
ment of many writer's who hesitate
I to fix the guilt for the sacking OF
Cork on the government. The Seattle
iPost-Intelligencer independent repub-
lican) says:
Nothing in the press reports justi-
Aes in the eyes of the world the de-
! struction of Cork, and II the Irish
leaders are farseeing they will take
such steps as are possible to put an
l end to Irish reprisals."
The Boston Herald independent
. republican, attacks Sir Hanar Green
| wood for his use Of terror as
| counter-weapon' to crime"
II the responsibility for the fires
| rests with the forces Of the crown.
says the Albany Knickerbocker Press
| frepublican) the world Will expect II
| to make reparation and punish the
| perpetrators with utmost severity"
| But among all the commentators
| there are few, indeed, who even sug-
Rest Intervention. In connection with
this strong sentiment that America
| should hold aloof. the Boston Tran
script independent republican, calls
attention to book recording the
| lynching Investigations Of an Eng
| lishnan who studied the question In
our southern states. Its deductions.'
saws the Transcript. land its accuse.
| tions. may have the effect of smirch-
! ing the record Of this United States
Of America with q deeper and more
| lasting stain than that which lies
athwart the map Of Ireland"