The Government, though not, as it boasts, amenable to pressure,
is certainly amenable to flattery. The American Government has twice asked for the release of Condon, an Irish-American, con- victed of murder in the Fenian attempt at rescue in Manchester in 1867; but the request has hitherto always been refused, the last refusal having been given only in 1877. Mr. Welsh, however, has renewed the request once more, on the ground that "the action of your Government has brought it so much honour," that "the exercise of mercy might be peculiarly agreeable ;" and the remark has so touched the Cabinet that it has given way, and released Condon, as well as Melody, another convict, convicted for the same offence. The wisdom of yielding to the request of a foreign Govern- ment what is refused as a demand of justice is at least questionable, while the folly of conceding to America what was refused to a great party in Ireland is undeniable. The Fenians now declare that the Government is merciful only to American citizens, and the State loses any advantage to be obtained from immovable sternness as well as any popularity to be reaped from lenity. The re- lease is accompanied by a proviso that neither Condon nor Melody shall reside in her Majesty's dominions,—that is, Condon is par- doned and sent home to his friends, while Melody is pardoned and sentenced to banishment for life. Yet they had committed the same offence and received the same sentence,—penal servitude for life.
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