The Washington times., 1920-09-05


paper. knows. as he contemp'atss
coffee. sugar and eggs, more Of
the worlds doings than could pos
sibly be known by any world ruler
one hundred years ago.
What we know, unfortunately, Is
generally disquieting.
paris near break with Berlin.
II is not pleasing to know that at
any moment the French army may
be ordered into Germany for more
active service. Bitterness In Ger
many is great. German money is
worth nothing. They have lost
army, navy, ships, commerce, iron,
coal, all their colonies. "They de-
served it," you say. Perhaps, but
that does not prevent bitterness.
Attacks on French consulates are
feared. IL the French 60 in, and
fighting starts again, prepare to
buy more bonds at par and register
for conscription. This country is
still at war with Germany. That
sounds like a joke, but it's fact. 1t
took the little boy some time to
make up his mind to go in SWIM
ming. Then he couldn't MAKE up
his mind to come out.
We have a hundred labor fights
in the United States and don't
take them seriously enough. Many
factories have been closed. We are
starting already ito digest" our
war, and to pay for it. 1t is to be
hoped this country will know
enough not to allow Mr.. Cox to
force tho League of Nations and
more war upon us before we finish
digesting the last war. Every
good doctor will tell you, Don't
take your meals too close to-
gether."
The English send warships to
protect their ship yards from their
own workmen.
And we probably shall soon be
sending troops to protect our coal
mines from the miners. Machine
guns have been used on some Of
the miners already. That isn't
pleasant news.
Government by injunction, and
industrial management by receiv-
ers backed up by Federal judges
don't make a helpful program for
peaceful after-the-war reconstruc-
tion.
However, eventually and in some
way, the world will "muddle
through" as the British did. Many
will fight and die when they might
have lived and worked happily.
But it has always been thus, and
worse than now.
1t was worse in France when
they had to pass a law to forbid
eating the bodies of those that
died of the plague. 1t was worse
in England when they had at least
three sets of gallows for hanging
in every town.
To see bright spot, look at the
thirty-seven men, faces swollen,
noses bleeding, coming out of the
sunken submarine SIS through a
hole made by sledge hammers. Out
they came, one at time in good
order, and the captain came last.
You see that captain sending
every man to safety while he
stayed behind, and you see in the
Brixton prison McSwiney dying
of starvation because that is the
only useful thing he can do for his
country. Then you realize that
men have in them qualities that
will settle all their problems and
lead them to civilization some day.
So you cheer up, knowing that the
world will last millions Of years,
and this is only the beginning.
But it's long, slow climb.
Without food for at least twenty
days, McSwiney still lives as
this is written. His wife appeals
to President Wilson to use his in
huence. An appeal from the Presi-
dent perhaps would cause Nc
Swiney's release, although that is
doubtful. Lloyd George is said to
have refused request from the
King himself to save McSwiney's
life. Technically the King has
power to pardon, in reality he must
obey Lloyd George The English
have actually democratic govern
ment. We have not.
1t is interesting to see the at
tention Of tho world concentrated
on ono man willing TO starve for a
principle. 1t proves the power of
an individual with courage.
Lloyd George declines to save
McSwiney, Sim Fciner, because
Sim Fein had no pity on eighty
British policemen shot dead with
out warning" That argument is
not convincing when offered by the
head of the worlds greatest en-
pire. The question should be what
IS just and wise. Not what didn't
Sim Feiners do in the heat of an
intense national quarrel.
Lloyd George says, no doubt sim
,crely, that he wishes TO settle the
Irish matter. Meanwhile, prob
ably, McSwincy will die. Will that
help TO simplify The Irish cues
tion? Will il make any safer the
lives Of the Irish constabulary
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