The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-06-04
WHO IRE THE IRISH POLITICAL PRLS-
ONERSg

There are seventeen Irishmen still in prison
| for the attempted revolution of 1867. The
leaders and organizers of that movement have
been long at liberty, pardoned by the British
Government. The men still confined were not
leaders and the cruelty of their imprson ment
is all the more inhuman when their subordi-
nate position is considered.
Thirteen of the seventeen prisoners were
soldiers in the English army; aud in few
months these men will have completed their
tenth year in prison. The other four-Michael
Davitt, John Wilson, Edward Shore (or Con-
don) and Patrick Meledy-were civiliaus. Da-
witt and Wilson have been nearly six years,
and Condor and Meledy eight years in copn oe.
ment. The two latter are under sentence of
imprisonment for life for taking part in the
rescue of Kelly and Dscy from the policeman
in Manchester, in which rescue Police Sergeant
Brett was shot dead.
OF the thirteen soldiers, ten were privates,
one corporal, and two colorsergeants. Five
or six other soldiers were condemned, but are
now free-some by pardon, one by escape
of the great emancipator-Death. Ten of the
soldiers are under sentence of imprisonment for
life, one for fifteen, and one for ten years Color
Sergeant Charles Heapy Mccarthy, confined in
Chatham Prison, England, is brave soldier,
who served for thirteen years. He wore two W ar
medals. He had won the soldiers best distinc-
tion-a SCARED face and breast-in terrible
hapd-to- hand fight for the colors with SePoys
in the Indian mntiny. Color. Sergeant DarrSgh
was one of the most intelligent ofhoers of his
regiment, and was on the rolls for q commits
war. Darrsgh is a Protestant, and strange to
say, an Orangeman. Corporal Thomas Cham
bers, confined in England, and Private James
Wilson in West Australia, are, intellectually,
the best men of the military prisoners. Cham.
bers is man of unusual ability-a quiet, de
termined patriot, Who took his life in his hand
when he thought he could serve Ireland by
spreading Republication in the English army.
Patrick KeatiDg, of the 5th Dragoons, who died
in West Australia, was q magnificent specimen
of manhood, and possessed of unusual intelli-
gence. James Wilson, of the same regiment,
is fearless fellow, who deserted from his troop
in expectation of the "rising" in '65. He has
always been the hopeful oomfort er Of his un-
fortunate comrades. James McCoy's sentence
was fifteen years. imprisonment; and the poor
lad has grown into manhood in the shadow of
Goth British Regiment. The rest of the mill
tAry prisoners belong to the rank and file.
They are honest patriots, and all the more
worthy for their humble position.
1t was expected that these prisoners would
be released when the Queen took her title of
Empress. Never was there q better opportunity
for amnesty. ireland has asked again and again
for the release of those men. Their sufferin gs
have become known throughout the civilized
world. petition signed by 140 members of
Parliament-amopg them Mr.. Bright, Mr.
Plimsoll, Mr.. MuDdella, Mr.. FAwceJt, and many
others of the ablest Englishmen in the House
was last week presented with the same request.
But the old stupid and malignant policy is
still pursued. England turns from the appeal
in stolid disregard 1t is repetition of the
deplorable mistakes that have cursed the
beyond words and into desperation, that have
watered the upas tree of dsunion, and made
legitimate 1.-THE wild Justice of revenge" and
the desperate charGo of rebeilion.-Boston Pilot