New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-20
HALEBRED INDEPENDENCE.

The Red River instruction, insignificant ms
it frat appeared, points to wider consequences
than have been practically anticipated by the
royal establishment in Canada. How Tar does
the Indian Bill of Rights harmonic with the
Columbian plea for annexationY To what ex-
tent is the democratic spirit OF mutiny in Nova
Scotia related to the Winnipeg protest against
Government not elected by the people? Does
any similarity exist between the feeling which
impels the Observation-Disclosures to dislike the
titled and heterogeneous Confederation, and
that which threw the half breeds into line with
the Declaration of Independence DO the great
body of Canadians desire Government OF
inert responsibility, qualified with an imperial
system of DisallOwances, any more than do the
Chippewas Governor who may act precisely
as he pleases Are our British American friends
disposed to sneer at the Columbians and In
dians and absurdly throw the blame OF their
discomfort upon emissaries of ours, when III
their own Confederation the standard OF indie
pendence, has, with the appreciation OF more
than one English gentleman, been raisedf Is
that astute Governor-General who avowedly
foresees that his Confederation is tired of lead
ing-strings, blind to the fact that some OF the
States are annoyed with illogical tetherings
These questions Canada may ask herself with
profit and without any risk of being III the
smallest degree dsloyal to herself.
Halfbr independence is ono thing; thor
ouphbred is another. The demands of the
half-breeds, ard perhaps Others of Red River,
are mainly the right to eject their Legislature,
the place of which is taken by council APP
pointed by Gov. McDouGall solely; the legis-
- .l..ltn IN Inv fkyn
thirds vote homestead and proGmption laws.
and internal improvements aud the support
of their officials for given number of years
to be paid out of the Dominion. The last de-
mand, our British brethren may fancy, con-
trasts ungratefully with the others, and Gov.
McDougall may argue to himself that q terri
tory which is to be a charge upon the public
ought to be ruled mt the discretion OF those
who clothe it with authority and feed IL with
Offices But, upon the whole it may be cheaper
TO give the half-breeds their rights and bounty
beside than maintain the disaffcctiOn of $1,000
people, well-Organzed, unitedly resolved, aware
of their backwoOds advantages and used to
them, and so isolated that the only British
route to them open to troops would be by
ship to Hudson Bay, and thence 500 miles 10y
means of canoes and across numerous pOrtages.
Gov. McDougall, we understand, is anxious to
pass troops through United States territory,
which may be one sufficient reason why Cana
dian officials should deny any disposition to
act with legislative hostility against our short
comings in reciprocity; but even this plan in
wolves trouble long drawn out From the text
presented by the Red River difficulty the admin
istration of Canada may learn u profitable lesson
in the art of governing States contiguous to
republic; and, as we have said, 1t is only
symptom of half-bred independence. The real
question is what the Thoroughbred will he.