MASARYK DEAD

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 300, 15 September 1937, Page 11

MASARYK DEAD

Great Czechoslovakian

Statesman

BUILDER OF A NATION

Rise From Blacksmith’s Boy

to World Fame

By Telegraph.—Press Assa. —Copyright.

(Received September 14, 7.45 p.m.)

Prague, September 14. The death has occurred of Dr. Thomas G. Masaryk.

Dr. Thomas Garrigue Masaryk was born at Uodoviu, Moravia, on March 7, 1850. Bis greatness sprang Horn humble beginnings—*-ue was first a blacksmith —- ami Iroiu this he improved his position, gradually attaining prominence, until in 1(879 lie became a lecturer at Vienna University. I’xoui then on, bis career wart brilliant. In 1882 he became a professor at the New Bohemian University at Prague; a year later, he became editor of the ■’Athenaeum.” lie also lounded the Czech Realist Party, and its Press organ “Cas” (Time). In 1891, he entered the Parliament of Vienna, but he resigned two years later. Now he devoted his whole soul to the moral education of the nation. He too kan active part in fighting against the ritual accusation during the famous Hilsner murder trial, and in 1907 was elected deputy. Although Masaryk’s teaching had spread throughout the whole of Czechoslovakia, and he had become the guide and counsellor of his country, yet when the Great War broke out in 1914, the German influence throughout that part of Europe was strong, resulting in restriction and oppression of the Slav nations. No wonder, then, that when Austria Hungary started the four years’ conflict by attacking Serbia, the Czech nation, suffering under a brutal domination, determined to struggle for independence. Again it was Masaryk who came on the scene. In December, 1914, he left Prague for abroad in order that in the Allied countries .and America he might organise and conduct a revolutionary struggle against the Habsburgs, be it ultimately by force of arms, by the forming of the Czechoslovak legions which earned so much fame by their valour and selfsacrifice. • , In December, 1918, Masaryk returned to bis liberated country, now the Czechoslovak State, where he was greeted with unprecedented joy and enthusiasm. The grateful nation elected him as its first President, and bestowed on him the honourable title of Liberator. The broad masses of the people expressed their affection for him by calling his “Taticek Masaryk” (Dear Father Masaryk). He was twice elected President, . a signal honour for which special provision was., made in the constitution. He retired from the Presidency at the end of 1935. The personality of Masaryk, uniting in itself the man of learning, the philosopher, the democratic politician, the humanistic statesman, had an importance far beyond the frontiers of Czechoslovakia, being known, esteemed and admired not only throughout Europe, but also all the world over. This was particularly manifest on the occasion of his 80th birthday in 1930, when the Press in every country throughout the world published enthusiastic articles upon this statesman of such rare intellectual and moral qualities. By the Press he was designated the personified ideal of Plato’s head of a State, an' ornament of world democracy, the most perfect European, the patriarch of the liberated nations of Europe, the apostle of liberty and peace for the nations, one of the brightest stars in the Slavonic firmament, the greatest Czechoslovak, a national hero, the champion of truth, the Socialist of the heart, the apostle of social harmony, nothing less than a complete man, the grand oid man of Europe. ■ He entered'for the third time upon the difficult and responsible office of president of a Central European Republic which, in the very midst of a flood of Fascism, Hitlerism, the cult of State and the cult of race, of every possible dictatorial regime, of unbridled political and economic nationalism, imperialism, and newly-rising militarism—formed an island of democracy and parliamentarism, and endeavoured to unite, respect for the individual and liis inalienable human and civic rights with justice to the racial minorities within its borders, with, social progress, and with efforts at cordial relations and peaceful collaboration with all other countries. . Masaryk was, to his death, still physically anil mentally alert, honoured and loved by the whole population of the Republic irrespective of racial or political differences. . . , , He preached the splendid doctrine that love and not national, class or race hatred, that pence and agreement based on reason and not the mailed fist or violence, that mutual respect and peaceful co-operation among states . and ' nations, are the sole secuTc basis on which the much-tried world can safely rest, build, and attain a happier future.

' Sir Plunket Barton

London, September 13. The Rt. Hon. Sir Plunket Barton Is dead.

The Rt. Hon. Sir (Dunbar) Plunket Barton, first baronet, was born in 1853, and was a son of Mr. T. H. Barton and the third daughter of the third baron Plunket. He was edq.cated at Harrow and at Corpus Christi College, and was called to the Irish Bar in 1880, and the English Bar in 1893. He was private secretary to the Dulce of Marlborough when he was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1898-1900, and a judge of the High Court of Justice, Ireland, King's Bench Division, in 1900-04. and of tlu‘ Chancery Division in 1904-18, He was also chairman of the Industrial Court under the Industrial Courts Act of 1920, and was prominently associated with many Irish organisations. He published various legal works, studies of the Napoleonic period, histories, and biographies, and was made a baronet in 1918. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1919.

Mr. Arthur Coward

London, September 13.

The death has occurred of Mr. Arthur Coward, father of the playwright and actor, Noel Coward.