Mr. Cosgrove goes on to defend the recent action of
himself and his colleagues in detail, but, though we hold that he makes out a perfectly good case for the execution of Childers (provided that Childers was compos limas) and also a good case for the execution of the three men who suffered with him, we cannot, for the reasons already given, admit that the reprisal executions were justified. We do admit, however, that when Mr. De Valera's organ described the murder of Mr. Sean Hales as " a just extermination of one of a treacherous band," and the De Valerites acted in consonance with that declaration, the rulers of the Free State were given some excuse, though not adequate excuse, for what they did. Mr. Cosgrove Sends his _memorable article by the declaration that the clouds are breaking. Let us hope that his words will be made good by events.
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