The Alaska daily empire., 1920-10-25

cipher in sucn matters, exhumed
new story in the annals Of British
monarchy, telling how George ~ de-
scribed by Thackeray as the weak
est and least admirable character in
the line of British Kings, used to
ace the council chambers with
tears pleading for the pardon OF
criminals and sometimes carry his
point, although once when he wrote
to the Viceroy CT Ireland granting
pardon to a murderer he was com
oelled by his cabinet to cancel his
odict.
Republican Officer!
One of the chief reasons put for
ward by MacSwiney's advocates, al
though advocated from anti-Sinn
Fein quarters, was that the offenses
Of which MacSwiney was convicted
were so comparatively light they,
lid not justify his suffering even
though voluntarily. Premier Lloyd
Georges reply was that Mac-Swiaey
undoubtedly was a high officer Of
he Irish Republican army which
Aecreed and executed murders OF Cf-I
icials and police in Ireland. The
Republican Army, unlike the Sim
Fien, is purely a secret organiza-
ion. The identity of its officers
and personnel is kept from the pub
tic and there is doubt even whether
The Sim Fein controls it or officially
knows its workings.
The theological argument over
The course of Bishop Colahan and
MacSwiney's chaplain, the Rev.
Father Dominic, in las critics say,
encouraging him to commit suicide,
was largely biblical. The Rev. +!
Father Bernard Vaughn, was the
only priest who publicly criticized
them. A lecture which he was to
deliver in Glasgow, a center of
labor unionism, had to be cancelled
on account of the unpopularity his
words brought upon him.
Sympathy Universal. j
The human aspect of the Lord
Mayors hunger strike was the one
hat chiefly interested British peo-
ole and compelled the sympathy of
wen his hardest political enemies. !
Mrs. MacSwiney and his brothers
md sisters were treated everywhere
with respect and on their side had
nothing but good to say of the jail
RS and police with whom they had
TO deal.
Amy way out of MacSwiney's i'm
}risonment except his death would
lave been welcomed by the whole
public but his family were as firm
IS MacSwiney in refusing to listen
20 any end except release or death. 4
There can be no doubt the Irish
Republicans believed MacSwiney lad
,iven their cause the most valuable !
'ervice in his power and that like
John Brown "he will trouble you
more than ever when you have
nailed his coffin down.
MacSwiney's hunger strike was
Begun on August II when, with
Ell of his associates, he was arrest
ng a session of a Sim Fein court. /
\fter trial by a courtmartial under
he regulations of the Defence of
he Realm Act, he was found guilty
If sedition and sentenced to two
years Imprisonment, which he was
serving in BriXton Prison in Lon
Ion.
Sim Fem Leader.
MacSwiney. then an Alderman of
Cork, was elected Lord Mayor of the
'ity at a special session of the Cork
Corporation on March 80 of this
wear. He was well known Sim
Fein leader and prior to his cleo
ion, had been deported and inn
orisoned several times. one of the
latest notable instances of his con-
inement having been in 1916 in
connection with the Irish Easter
revolt.
When arrested on August Il, Mac
Swniey managed TO escape to the
itrcet from the back of the City
Hall, which soldiers had surround
ID, but was captured outside. He
| vas taken to the military barracks
md came up for trial on August Is.
The courtmartial found him guilty
If having control of the secret po-
ice cipher, of having in his posses
sion a document likely 70 cause dis
| affection, namely, a copy of a reso-
luton of the Cork Corporation
1ledging allegiance to the Dali
Cream, the Irish Republican Par
lament, and of having made sedi-
'ious speech on the occasion of his
| election.
Already weak at the trial because
1f his refusal to take food, Mac