MORBID SENTIMENTALITY.

Manawatu Times, Volume IV, Issue 88, 10 November 1880, Page 2

MORBID SENTIMENTALITY.

We are no adrocatos for capital punishment, and goodness forbid that we should utter one word to stay the divine prerogative of mercy, but there are occasions whon that god-li ke qualification can be abused. For the past two years society has been horrified by the atrocities of the Kelly gan^, by whose excesses life and property m tho nortb-eastern district of the Victorian Colony was not worth a moment's purchase, trnda was pamh-ped, and the community shocked by the daily repetition of the most cold-blooded murders. As no doubt our readers are ftwave, the gang, with tho exception of its infamous lcadev, paid tho penalty of their misdeeds by a horrible death, Ned Kelly alone falling into the hands of tho law which he had so grossly outraged. He has had a Ion" respite from the expiation of his misdeeds ; plenty of time to ponder over liis tiger-like ferocity

m hurling victim after victim into eternity ; a fair and impartial trial, and if ever blood cried aloud to heaven for vengeance it is that of the victims slain by his hand or command. It is therefore with the feelings of the greatest surprise that we learn from a cablegram that at a meeting at which six thousand persons were present speeches were made m his favour, and a petition started to obtain a commutation of the sentence. Had such a step beea taken m the Orsns district, which bristles with the relations and sympathisers of the outlaws, and aven the rospecfcablo inhabitants appear to be under some sympathetic spell, it would be a matter of little wonder ; tut thai such action should be taken m theve-y heart of Melbourne, far removed from the scene of his so-called daring exploits, where the deeds of the miscreant were the theme of exepration, and amongst a class who should bo freo from such spurious heroworshio, is certainly incomprehensible. The laws of his country has sentenced Ned Kelly to expiate his black-hearted crimes upon the scaffold, to-day has been the last day which he has been allotted to live, and if to-morrow's morn doe 3 not see the expiation made, and the last dread sentence carried into effect, then the Government Gf Victoria are guilt y of tho murder of his companions m crime.