Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-22
IRISH FREE STATE PRESIDENT
ONCE SENTENCED TO BE SHOT
Deaths of Griffith and Collin"
Placed Cosgrave at Head
of Government.
Peace Restored. Finances
Improved and Prosperity
Returns Under His Regime.

prison waiting to be shot.
He had been sentenced to death for
mis- part in the Easter rebellion. He
didn't know what hour would be his
last. Every morning he heard from his
cel the volleyS of the firms squad as
his companions in prison were executed
The next moment the British guard
m.qh, open the door Of his own cell ane
.cll him 10 follow them.
England WAS dealing With an iror
hand with those who had fiaunted he
tule in Ireland Maxwell. the Brti>
commander, wasn't showing any s"nti
mental consideration for motives o.
CXt"nustine circumsi anCeS.
The guards didn't come for the your
lawyer Before the firing squads go.
around to him the officials in London
had relented to some extent They
committed his sentence to penal S"rvi-
tude for life. Perhaps 1t was better than
death. But prospects were black in
decd for William T Coserave AS he was
transferred TO another prison from
which. he had no reason to doubt. only
death would release him
Now Calling on Coolidge.
Fate has dealt strangely with him
since that blood drenohed April morn
ing IL years ago. when he answered
the Sim Fem muster roll for the ILL
planned and almost spontaneous re-
bel'on To shake of the power OF the
British throne. He is coming TO Wash
ington tomorrow as the guest of Presi-
, dent Coolidge. the President OF one
/ nation calling on the President OF
another.
CoSsrave. in common with most OF
the Others who took part in the Easter
rebellion. knew little OF military affairs
! He was So years old. Since 1909 he
had been a member of the Dublin
Corporation as Sim Fem councillor. he
mad been active in the Irish volunteers
organization secretly early in the war
Al the outbreak of the rebellion he was
lieutenant in the 4th Dublin Brigade.
The move was desperate and ili-timed
Arthur Griffith. the intellectual and
. political leader OF the Sim Fem. al
ready had repudiated the uprising
Ireland was not yet quite ready to de-
vote her utmost strength 10 the lob OF
becoming free
signed to the defense of the South
! Dublin Union There. in the face of
overwhelming odds. they held out for
, four days, The court marital and
death sentence followed His term in
prison lasted for only one year when a
general amnesty was declared. the
Lloyd George government hoping even
/ at this late date TO placate Ireland
But men who have been under sentence
OF death are not so easy TO piacate
The Nationalist movement revived
rapidly with its leaders as
canon De Valera-once more at liberty
Rerrested In 1918.
Cosgrave was rearrested in 1918 and
confined in NORWOOD Scrubs prison.
Later he was transferred 10 Reading
jail. He vas released again in 1919
The Sim Fem Immediately reorganized
with the Dublin volunteers in the fore
front OF the movement. The Irish Re-
public was organized and declared itself
at war with England.
In 1917. while he was still In Jail
Cosgrave had been elected on the Sim
Fem ticket as member of the British
Parliament from Kilkenny. He was
reelected In 1918. After the establish
ment OF the Dali Eireann in 1919 he
was appointed minister of local govern
nent and displayed considerable ability
as an organizer In keeping alive a gov
eminent which was battling desperately
10 keep Itself In existence About the
same time the revolutionary army was
showing new powers Of resistance and
defense. The British we're finding them
selves with hard proposition on their
hands. People were talking of a mys-
terious leader named Michael Collins.
VINO was showing the veterans of the
var with Germany a few tricks in
modern fighting methods which were
new TO them
Coagrave was not In the fighting
forces In those days. He had been elect
ed In 1921 Lord Mayor of Dublin. an
extremely important position in the
Sim Fem governmental organization
But the world had not heard of him
he still vas a comparatively in
significant figure in the news dis
patches
Supported Peace Treaty.
Then came the peace treaty and the
Establishment OF the Irish Free State
ms was considerably short Of what
the Sim Fem had sought Many OF
tfle foremost leaders In the revolution
could not accept the settlement with
clear consciences They preferred 10
f,ent on and on. let England conquer
they said. and make what she could O,
an island OF dead men
AH examples OF Jrl!nth and Collins
however. won over a considerable pro-
ooftion OF Inc population. Ireland was
drained o. its blood The people were
willing 70 accept any sort OF peace with
honor DE Valera. who had been the
leading spirit Of the revolution. refused
W aoice by the treaty cos2rave. nat
ufsily conservative and peaceful man
VAS stronR supporter OF the settle
'nfnt In the new government which
vas established. only nominsliy under
me authority Of Great Britain he be-
came minister Of finance The war 20
Tar as The struggle with England was
concerned. vas finished The financial
read luStment Of the country VAS the
most pressing problem before the cnun.
try
Grnth va. president Collins. Ia.
Galahad of the rebellion was COM
n1ander In chief OF the army and minis
Ter VI defense, Rebellion WAS raging
everywhere The army of the Free
STATE had almost as difficLt a ptopo-
s:tipn before II IN keeping peace In It's
own colntr" a. In flghtlng England Il;
ut about the work NJ restoring order
The Parliament bryan u function like
Thai NJ any other European nation
In 1922 Arthur Grlfjith died sud L.
denly A few days later Collins fol-
lowed him victim VI an asbahsins bull
let Tn" feins of government In This
emergency fell into The hands Of IA.
minister 81 finance, Cosgfs.e was
elected president 81 thr bah Eiiesnn
and vas appointed president III thr
executive council of The iftth Pre-
STATE he stiiI hrId NE position a.
minister ~ tnsDcs
Order Gradually Restored.
/ 1hr neg Royernmrn, hsd fallen into
/ strong hands GfsdusiIy he iesiDrrd
Dtdr lie improved relations vim
Great Etitsin BE pisrsd ths financial
structure nf tbs country on firm i0un-
9stipnt ana IN restored atmosphere
~ peace hd the countTy fJfXard int,
/ IA "Dhclt!pH III pIospTfity such A. u
SELDOM hba known before
( IflE ayI)fAfsuIF Gt fIf IRISH Preside M