5 OCTOBER 1872, Page 2

Mr. Butt, of course, demanded the release of the remaining

"political prisoners," making light of the plea that the soldier's mutiny in entering a disloyal association is a very different crime from a civil conspiracy, and asserting that where the educated civilian leaders had been pardoned, the poor, ignorant soldier f subordinates should not be left in prison. Mr. Butt for- gets that penalties cannot be preportiosed- solely to moral guilt, but must bear some proportion, to future dangers. If soldiers who break their oattt are to be let off as easily as civilians who conspire, the- cHscipline of the Army will not be safe for a day. We- will undertake to say that no independent Irish Government would listen to the proposal to pardon treachery in the ranks of an Irish Army.