Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-10-28

The story OF the self-starvation OF Ter
ence MacSwlney. Lord Mayor Of Cork
probably VIII become one of the most
moving chapters of the centuries long
history Of the Irish struggle. No other
controversy has stirred Great Britain so
deeply as this since the one thar CEN
tered upon Cecil Rhodes, when the jane
son raid was baked by Paul Kruger and
the raiders Imprisoned
The campaign In England for Mae.
Sw!ney's release from prison has been
apart from al political and party con-
siderations and even the King was drawn
into It The movement in MecSwlney's
behalf was mainly humanitarian and en-
listed tender-hearted people Of all fac
tons but was urged by others with ar
guments OF party strategy.
"MacSwiney dead and cannonized in the
hearts of the Irish people with Wolf
Tone and the Manchester martyrs whould
be a more valuable asset to the Sim
Fein than MacSwney alive and. even
though free pass TO freedom for Mac
Sw!ney might weaken the government 5
hand, why help the separatist cause by
giving il n martyr" were the arguments
put forward even by British unlonists.
stand By the law and do not create
a precedent which would make the will
Of a convicted rebel the decisive factor
in determining whether he shall be pun>
lshed," was tho argument OF the stand
fast faction. majority OF the British
papers including the London Times ana
the liberal press. the labor unionists
and many members of both parties in
Parliament joined IN the agitation for
MacSwiney's release.
Twb notable controversies, one consti-
ba
arisen from the case. The first was
whether King George could properly ex-
ercise his pardoning prerogative ndepen-
IDENTIFY OF or against the advice OF his
minis ters. The second was whether this
Catholic clergy, representing n church
which holds suicide 10 be a crime. could
consistently administer the sacraments
10 hunger strikers. The Kings reply
through the Secretary of state for War.
TO the petition OF members of Parliament
was generally interpreted to mean that
the Kings personal leaning was tow
ard granting a pardon. But, since Pre-
mior Lloyd George and the Foreign Min
lister, A. Bonar Law, were ut the same
time issuing arguments against clemency
for the Lord Mayor it was evident that
any action IN that direction by the King
would be against the advice OF his min
isters
The newspapers published many ed
torials and letters setting forth, on one
hand. that King George should not be en-
barrassed by direct appeals to him and.
on the other hand, that he should and
had the right to exercise his nominal con-
st'tutional power of pardoning.
The Weekly Nation. which Is one OF the
most advanced liberal organs and not
generally rated as n supporter of mon
archy, argued that this was an occasion
for the King TO vindioate his constitu-
tonal right and protect the country
against the growing autocracy or the
cabinet.
/ There were many other arguments to
the same effect. one historical writer,
combating the theory that the King al
ways had been a cipher In such matters
exhumed a new story In the annals OF
British monarchy, telling how George "
described by Thackeray 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 sometimes carry
his point, although once when he wrote
to the Viceroy of Ireland granting par
don to a murderer he was compelled by
his cabinet to cancel his edict
One OF the chief reasons put forward
by Macswiney's advocates. although ad-
/ vocated from anti-Sinn Fein quarters
was that the offenses OF which Mac.
Swiney was convicted were so compare
lively light they did not Justify his suf.
! fering even though voluntarily Pre-