Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-12
H DOCTRINE OF
REPRISAL.

THE summary execution Of four
l. of the republican or irregu-
lar leaders in Dublin by the Irish
Free State authorities is plainly
intended as a reprisal because two
Free state members of the Dali or
Irish parliament were shot in Dub
lin as they left their hotel to at
tend the first meeting of the Free
State Dali since the completion of
the treaty with London that es-
tablishes the Free State govern
ment. The labor party leader
spoke a true word when he said
that such reprisals cast a shadow
on the good name Of the Irish
Free State abroad. An eye for an
eye and a tooth for a tooth is a
doctrine old as history, but when
the eye or the tooth is taken from
one not directly responsible For
the original wrong to be avenged
there is no place to stop, short OF
determination. It is primitive
and savage doctrine. The Ger
mans used it extensively in the late
war, and the allies were quick to
make reprisals on the other side
and it led to bombing of cities on
either side Of the fighting line and
the death and mutilation Of many
innocent women and children, the
sinking of hospital ships, the ex-
ecution of innocent hostages and
many other shocking outrages. 1t
did no good and did much harm.
When a Zeppelin flew over Lon
don or some inland city and drop
ped bombs on its unarned inhabi-
tants. it struck no terror into the
British nation, but did .inflame
their hatred of the foe and wake
determination to visit the homes in
German with like destruction.
When the Germans sunk the Lu-
sitaniL with its hundreds of Amer
lean aboard it did not induce
Americans to abandon the high
seas. 1t only made them wish to
seek revenge on the German gov
eminent that ordered the outrage.
So this execution Of the leaders Of
the rebellion against the free state
will only lead to more assassina-
tons and more executions. And
surely Ireland has had assassina-
tons enough. The soil of Ireland
must be pretty we'll soaked with
the blood of victims shot from be-
hind a hedge by assassins lying in
wait to murder, and run away, in
the name of patriotism and also by
the government who have shot the
men they deem responsible for
these murders when they happen to
catch them. The four me just ex-
ecuted in Dublin have been in jail
for nearly six months SO it is not
likely that they could have had any
direct responsibility for the muir
der of Free State members. They
will surely be considered martyrs
by their republican associates who
will seek vengeance by new muir
ders, and SO the bloody circle will
60 on.
There are now three factions in
ireland. IF Ulster joined there
would be a fourth. But evidently
Ulster has no intention Of joining.
After the Free State government
puts down the rebellion of the re-
publican faction, if it ever does,
and consolidates its power it will
be face to face with a most deli
cate and difficult controversy with
the northern part of Ireland over
the boundaries of Ulster. The
prospect of peace and prosperity
and security of life and property
in Ireland is not promising in the
immediate future at least. One
party to the ancient Irish quarrel
at least appears to be well satisfi-
ed, and that is the English govern
ment. They are now out of it, and
looking on.