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

misr Lloyd Georges reply was thet Mac,
5wlney undoubtedly was high officer
of the Irish Republican ARM" which
decreed and executed murders OF officials
and police IN Ireland. The Republican
army, unlike the Sim Fein, is purely a
secret organisation. The identity OF It's
officers ana peisohnci is kept from the
pubic ana there Ia doubt even whether
the Sim Fein controls II or officially
knows its workings,
The theological argumen, over the
course of Bishop Colahan and Macswin-
ey's chaplain, the Hev. Father Dominic
In, as critics say, encouraging him To
commit suicide, was largely biblical THE
Rev. Father Bernard Vaughan, was the
only priest who publicly criticised them.
lecture which he was to deliver In
Glasgow center of labor unionism. had
TO be cancelled on account Of the un-
popularity his words brought upon him.
The human ASPECT of the Lord Mayors
hunger strike was the ono that chiefly
Interested British people and compelled
the sympathy OF even his hardest political
enemies Mrs. MacSwiney and his broth
ers and sisters were treated everywhere
with respect and on their side had moth
Ing but good to say of the jaicrs and po-
lice with whom they had to deal
Any way out OF Macswinevr ifnprison-
ment except his death would have been
welcomed by tho whole public but his
FAMILY were as firm ne MacSwincy In
refusing to listen to any end except re-
lease or death. There can be no doubt
the Irish republicans believed MacSwiney
had given their cause the most valuable
service IN his power and that. like John
Brown "he viii trouble you moro than
ever when you have nailed his coffin
down"
MucSwinoys hunger strike was begun
on August IL. when. with ten Of his az
sOciates no was arrested by soldiers in
Cork while attending scesion of Sim
Tein Cocrt. hftor trial by n court mar
tal under tho regulations Of the De-
fence OF the Realm Act, no was found
guilty of scdition and sentenced 20 two
years imprisonment. which he was gerry
ing in Br!S.on Prison in London.
MacSwiney. then on Alderman OF Cork,
was elected Lord Mayor of the city nj
npccial session OF the Cork Corpora r
ton on March 30 Of this year, He was 81
woll-known Sim Fein leader and prior
10 his election, had been dcported and
Imprisoned rcveral times. one % thc la
test notable instances Of his confinement
having been In 1916 in connection with the
Irish Faster revolt
when arrested on August 4? Mac
swney managed to escape "a The street
from the bnch OF tho City HAIL which
soldiers had surrounded. but vas cap
tured outside lie was taken 70 the mill
tary barracks and came 40 for trial on
August IL The courtmartal found him
guilty OF having control Of the secret
police cipher. Of having in his possession
AIT ttyaf, ft.,r ttf,.,
namely Il copy OF n resolution OF the
Cork Corporation pledging allegiance to
the Dali E!reann. the Irish Republican
Parliament. and OF having made A sedi.
tious speech on the occasion or his cleo
ton
Already weak al the trial because Of
his refusal to take food MaCSwlney dis
puted the Jurisdiction OF the court. gay
ing: II am the lord mayor OF this city
and its chief magistrate. ! declare this
court illegal and those taking part in II
liable TO arrest under the laws OF the
Irish republic"
The DAY following his trial, Lord Mayor
MacSwiney was deported TO England
aboard destroyer, under heavy nii-
tary escort and was lodged IN Brixtou
jail. The government announced on Au-
gust ~ that he was sentenced to two
years Imprisonment.
MacSwiney's hunger strike brought nu-
rnerous solicitations and protests 10 the
British euthoritlee many Of the appeals
being from gympathlzers in the United
States Even threat from the Sim
Fein In Ireland. that. In the event OF his
death. a general strike and serious dis
turbances would prevail throughout the
island, appeal was taken directly to the
King but this also proved unavailins
During his Imprisonment. the Lord
Mayor received numerous messages Of
encouragement and also petitions TO
abandon his strike. He replied to the
latter that il he gave up hls fight he
would give away Irish liberty" and that
ne would rather die than 10 that
Replying to reDorts that sustenance
was being given Mayor MacSwiney, the
British Home Once declared "f he is
being fed we do not know IT," while
members OF MncSwiuey's family denied
categorIcally that food hod been given
him,
Peter MacSwiney, Of New York. a
brother OF the Lord Mayor. is an official
q the American Commission for Irish
independence.