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Show THE FENIANS. Tho notorious Fenian ex-prisoners, Condon and Melody, are probably, ere this, in New York, they having been released from Poitland prison, England, ten days ago. Their arrival hero ends a long chapter that opened eloven years ago in a semi-farce but which resulted moat Berioualy for the two minor heroes, and some of their friends. The public well remember the daring and foolish attempt that waamado in 18G7 to blow down the wall ot Clerkenwcl'l prison with a barrel of gunpowder, for the purpose of releasing Borne Fenian prisoners held there. Coudon was ouly indirectly implicated in that desperate aflair, but bia troubles can bo traced to it. In September ot tho Bime year twu of his Fenian friends named Deasey and Kelly wero arrested in Manchester, England, on a charge ol engaging in a conspiracy against the government. Some days afterwards, while being conveyed in a prison van, they were rescued by a Fenian mob. Iu the row a public officer was killed, though it was not known by whom. Only five of the mob were captured, and three of them wcro tried, convicted and hanged. Their names were Allen, Gould, and Larkin. The other two were also convicted, but one of them, Maguire, was pardoned, the evidence not being clear us to hia guilt. Tue fifth of the ill-fated five waa Eil ward O'Meara Condon, who has just reached this country. The namo under which he waa tried was Edward Shore, and that waa the name ny which he waa sentenced to death Condon waa born iu Ireland, but had heeii raised in this country, waa a citiz'uo. the United 3;ues. and during t. civil war fought gallantly in the Union army. It wnq this lasi fact thtil cr.ned 31 much interest in hiru to be talent) uu ;lm side of thu water. Hd h.d espjuaed an inline, or rathi. r hopeless cauao, and bjiug bright, intelligent and of ardent temperament, ho fKtu rally exercised exer-cised considerable influence upou hia deluded tellowi. The sympathy felt throughout America for the Fenian movemeut probably impelled him forward somewhat, as he, like many others, confidently looked for powerful power-ful aid from not only Irish-American citizens, but from tho United States people generally, if not from the gov ornment itself. His blunders under the circumstances may, in a measure, be excused. It baing shown that Condon was not armed at the time tho Manchester prisoners wero reached, rea-ched, and further, that ho had no part in the kiiliug of the police acr geaot, his sentence wa3 conniuted to penal servitude for life, and for eleven long years be ha3 been carrying carry-ing that sentence into eflect as fast aa possible. The United S;ateacougre;?,ou two or three occasions, has caused the president presi-dent and the American minister at LonJon to solicit the British government govern-ment Is: his pardon. Each successive United Stales minister at the court of: St. James has made representations in Condon's behalf, but always without with-out avail, until Mr. Welsh, after one failure, mode a Geoud trljrt, which has been successful. The pardon is full, but the ex-iroiivicl cannot reside on British soil. Tho British guv-1 eminent has done a wise and ( generous deed in liberating this enthusiastic but misguided man. According to t' e laws of the laud he deserveJ di-ath. and his life might have been taken and no one could have complained. H,is long imprisonment ; has given him ample time tn reflect and see the foolishuess ul his v.tin eSorts to icfhci an injury upon the; mtioo to hue which wn bequeathed 1 to him M a : hr.giu, inu a i"-l which he can iinl lull'- ual on-i? I : 1 grievance. U 11 to be boptd lh.i lie comes back to his adopted bo tue a wiser IE9D, and that he will not forget for-get the kruduesj of the m to whom he had forlciiixi his lii, uor tho interest j taken in ni;n by ibi nation and the: Amcr:e.:i p.jopie. lie served his country ily and ilia country has more than repaid him. |