The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-10
British Government Stupid
In Making M'S7ciney Martyr
George Bernard Shaw Says He
Would Hate to Be in
Premier'S Shoes.
(eY GEORGE BERNARD SHAWL

Parknasllla by the Sea, County
Kerry, Ireland, Sept. 7.-Whenever an
irresistible government wishes a sem
tence of punishment. however trivial,
on an individual, 1t also passes q SEN
tence OF death on him in event OF his
determining to die rather than sub
NIT to the punishment.
IL this consideration did not exist
governments could impose their Wills
on their subjects by simple reckless
prosecutions up to point at which
they could provoke spontaneous gem
eral revolution of the Overwhelming
majority of their subjects and they
could prosecute the powerless minor
ity without limit.
The hunger strike is n practical
form of the determination to die
rather than to submit to decreed pun
ishinent. The prudent government
VIII, therefore, be most careful how it
DEGREES any punishment because in
event of its victim hunger striking it
VIII be forced to either reduce itself
and the law generally to absurdity by
unconditional surrender or else go
through with 1t. and become respon-
slble to the public conscience for the
victims death.
Different With Criminal.
II the victim Is a criminal who has
incurred punishment by some act
which has excited general adherence,
or even strong reprobation, the gov
eminent may safely go through
with it.
But this case does not arise in prac-
tice. Scoundrels do not hunger strike,
neither do ruffians, although the latter
may In rare cases resist capture by
violence to death. When this hap
pens the general verdict Is good rid
dance" and this would follow a hum
ger strike to death by an ordinary
criminal.
Ordinary criminals know this very
well and therefore, having to choose
between a period OF imprisonment and
certain unpitied death, accept the lesser
OF two evils. That Is why repeated
snrrenders by the government have
conferred no immunity upon ordinary
crime, and why thieves, homcides.
forgers and incendiaries and even biga-
mists 20 on serving their sentences
hopelessly when they have seen the
the cost OF a fortnights fast.
with the hunger strikers. therefore,
10 Ia always case of conscience. He
or she being willing TO die, not for him
self or herself, but for the principle or
cause or religion which he or she has
identified with the public good. He or
she give life that these things may
live and then ad majorem gloriam Del.
ITO the greater glory OF God)
1t Is serious matter for the gov
eminent TO kill such a man, even when
his conscience seems silly and selfish,
his principles fallaclous. his cause sub
versive and his religion heretical.
One OF Few Men,
Still the fact that he Is one OF the
few men who can rise above himself
to the pitch of dying for them gives
him a sanctlty that makes It impos-
death without great uneasiness or TO
feel satisfied with the government
which has provoked the fatal contest
between law and conscience,
This may be unreasonable, but It has
to be faced by the politicians, for cabt-
nets cannot escape from the facts I'M
der the cover of syllogisms.
A fortiori, II the principle is one OF
such wide acceptance that the govern
ment has done it's loud lip service and
colossal war and cause widely popu-
lar In the governments dominions, his
death Is likely to prove to be the doom
OF the government and may be obsti-
nately. but by no means undeservedly,
counted against them as, an act OF
wlful murder, rs In form they morally
compelled n suicide.
This is clearly the case OF the lord
mayor of Cork. Whether he Is alive
or dead have no means OF ascertain
ing as ! write these lines. All / know
IL that the government has already
gone further than It should have gone
" It. Ia not prepared to go to the end.
Ignorant Government.
II is. however. such an extraordinary
intellectual and ignorant government
that It is not likely II knows clearly
what is going on; therefore the case
may as we'll be stated clearly for 1t
by some intelligent persons
may add. In order that my personal
bias may be allowed for that l am
against all strikes that recoil on the
striker instead of falling on his adver-
sary, and that l wish ! could persuade
the lord mayor TO eat q hearty dinner
and leave the silly government TO the
anarchy from which his improvlsed
court, which Ia well spoken OF and APP
pealed to by the rest of the people,
rescued It.
(Note-Shnw refers TO the courts OF
the Irish republic. which have prac-
tically supplanted the British courts In
many parts OF Ireland)
But II MIR. Lloyd George really wishes
to make a martyr OF the lord mayor,
I wouldn't be in Lloyd Georges shoes
for a good deal.
The lord mayor Is the sort Of a mar
tyr who burns with very bright, very
nnrCa flame.