The New York herald., 1878-08-17

who svm pa,hize with Mr. Kelly held last
orminr com mlitee 10 present HIM and his afflicted
family With substantial testimonial
An INDIGNANT PROTEST..
On this subject the Feemdn's Journal remarks edi-
torialIy as oliows;- -
rhs government has moro signalizsd iis
sense OF humanity and knowledge OF politics by re-
leasing Robert Kelly, the poiltica prisoner whose
case has been recently discussed Ia these columns
which would surely follow upon his decease in prison,
Her Majesty's representative IN Ireland decided on
Saturday morning to let the poor fellow go Tree II
will be found that Kelly has been subjected TO a
rigorous discipline, which. taken In connection with
the quality aud quantity oil food given TO him.
10 have been perfectly achieved The man has
the OF years been reduced to helpless
ans pana h s1 s Is 70 SUSy wouS
be Jolly TO pretend that Kelly ever recover
or hope for length Of days would DO quite beside
he sentenced to ponal servitude Tor fifteen years
Il was plain then, and Is pfan now that This heavy
which was not proven against hun. Talbot fell un-
avenged. The man who ehos him was never
Kelly on this head, pains were spared 10 convict
him Of the secondary offence, aud on conviction
terrible sentence was passed upon him. Bearing tnis
mind will be that the ministers Of justice
were not iamely served by the officers who had the
administration OF that perfect system OF reform
which now amazing and anriyhting mankind. We
have had agonizing revelations as 10 what
life Spike Island 10 for those who offend against
the political dom,naton ei England IN this country.
The story OF Robert Key will not dminls the hor-
ror aroused by the death OF Sergeant Mccarthy aud
the exposure thcn made as 10 convict lie In Chat
ham
AN INroLERABLE sYsrsx
The plain fact Is, these revelations cannot be any
mate prestige which systematically repressed crlne
by crime. II matters not TO what class OF politicians
man may belong; politics do not make Us savage
ana We believe one Will read tho story OF this
wretcned man without feeling that England IS sbamed
and dsgraced before the world by permitting men TO
be done 10 death by y cold -bloodsd and relentless
discipline. Here have o man convicted oil cerlAtu
offence; and, strictly speaking, there WAS nothing
political IN tho offence. But tue mans politics are
known and nis hardships are rendered exceptionally
and, We would say, but Tor iacts within our own
knowledge, incredibly horrible. The mind revolts
from picture in which healthy beng Is chained TO
dreadful creatures covered with oAtbsono sores and
made to suuar the agonies OF physical cooIxct
the victims Of appalling disease. Loyal mon VIII
oil sucn DarDarities 10 u country In
which religion recognized and rsvered. We do not
now desire TO blame any oincer or omcsra W. we
aud makes and has made moro enemies Tor England
In this country and IN America than years oil Dene-
hcial Legislation convert. II would be lar moro
humane, far more worthy OF great and powerful
natiOn repeal the lag touching capital punish
10 revive hideous punitive OF the last
century and hang men tor political offences It Is
moan and cowardly IN the last degree TO Keep
wretch the verge OF The grave IN all the 4gones OF
moral and physical despair or weeks and months and
years together. What does such system accomplish
Where, ask, IS the exemplary feature IN the case
OF the dead McCarthy and tno dying Kcllyr Is not
cloar that deadly haired Will DO ch ished instead 0f
warning beng incuIcatsdY
His Grace the Lord Lieutenant has acted 10 this
matter, no doubt, as he was directed HIS pardon
with sorry effect upon tho people Of this coun-
Try There Is, h0xever, one way lett by which he
might retrieve the lamentablc disasters which this
cruel prison code now inaictiDg on the iame OF
England HIS Grace TO have acted upon the ad-
vice OF two medical gentlemen who investigated
Keily's ply sical condition Might We ask how such
u proceeding necessitatcdy Was there not
IN Spike Island medical officer who was
quite capable OF representing the wretched mans
conditouY Did he report, and, II SO, why notr Are
tho other political prisoners now remaining IN Spike
Island done the very verge Of The grave In the
same mannerY Arc there DO victims 7
These are questions which will naturally occur t0 all
who reud ts-day's starting disclosures The icerOy
can best answer them by directing an Immediate IN
vestigation INTO convict lie Spike Island, anu
give Ocst earnest OF the desire 70 put down cruelty
by pardoning the political prisoners now Ia
servnudc. In their behalf every municipality
In the country has petitioned for clemencY.
All our corporations have besought mercy Tor
The unfortunate mon, and years uyo eleven OF
the jury VINO convicted Kelly mcmoriaiied tho
then Lord Lieutenant, the Duke OF Abcrcorn, Tor d
remission OF tho terrible scnteuce meted out TO MIN.
But up tho present the authorities havo bcen
moved, they deemed moro victims necessary.
surely, the time opportune Tor the government 10
every quarter OF tho country. One may say with
Ayay sSureIy the bitterness OF death is pact" Is
The story OF '67 never be closeds HIS Grace Will
hnd of carly and poiitic generosity tho best
way the settlement oi the difficulties which harass
anu epiex tho Two nations. The present disgraccs
are noleraUie, and cannot be endured longer in pa
tlonco or III silence.