New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-10
TIE PED RIVER QUESTION.


THE RED RIVER QUESTION:
When the British Minister at Washington
assured our Government that the Red River
rebellion was peaceably and completely quelled,
we ventured to doubt whether his antlclpa-
lions were not more rosy than judicious.
Already our fears are confirmed. Inc Brltlsh
and Canadian expedition is in the midst OF the
wilderness, and Riel, we are told, purposes 10
fall upon it there with all his forces, anu 10
listen to no terms until the Dominion Parlia-
ment has granted an entirely new list OF de-
monds. which seem to have been made upon
his individual responsibility. In some particulars
the ultimatum of the insurgent president oilers
no very grave difficulties. There are condl-
tons touching the public lands, the debts, and
the terms of legislative union which Canada
can satisfy, at least without sacrifice OF her
dignity. But the question of amnesty Is a
very serious one When the Red River dele
gates agreed at Ottawa to the terms OF settle
ment which resulted in the Manitoba bill, it
is understood that they received official assur-
ance of a royal amnesty for the leaders in the
instruction. Riel seems unwilling to
trust this promise, or doubtful whether it will
be construed to cover his shocking MUIR
der of the unfortunate Scott, and therefore
demands a distinct legalization of all his past
acts. This of course places the British Gov
eminent in dilemma very much ike tbat OF
the Greek Government with regard to the
Marathon brigands, and it is amusing to see
what difference it makes in English eyes
whether it is the Greek OK which is gored or
the British bull. The execution of Scott was
a murder committed under circumstances OF
great horror. and the widest stretch OF law
and common-sense could not turn it into
nautical ofiense A government which should
formally ratify deed like that would make a
pitable confession of its inability to rule,
though for the sake of peace and on general
considerations of public policy the crime might
perhaps be quietly overlooked. 1t was just 80
with the Greek brigands They demanded a
formal amnesty, which the Government had
no power to grant, and the same Englishmen
who scout the idea of a ratification OF Riels
misdeeds, were furious because King George
did not issue decree both unconstitutional IN
itself and fatal to the good order of the king
/ dom. How impOlitic amnesty would have been
i'm that case was shown almost I'M
mediately afterward at Gibraltar where a
party of brigands, encouraged no doubt by
the apparent readiness of Great Britain to
make foreign countries pay anything and for
| give anything rather than British subject
| should lose his life, fell upon an English
household and carried off everybody in the
family. If the demands of the Marathon
| bandits had been granted half the rogues In
Greece would have seized their rifles and gone
to the mountains, and not an Englishman in
the kingdom would have been safe.
The case now comes home to Great Britain,
and her eyes are suddenly opened. AT Gibral-
tar an admirable way was found out of the diff
Guilty, for they ransomed the prisoners and then
killing all the robbers, took the ransom back
again, thus satisfying humanity and justice at
the same time; but of the Red River dilemma
no such easy solution is possible. Rlel seems
to have brought matters to pass wherein
negotiation is almost hopeless. The population
of the Red River country has always been d.
vided in its allegiance, and it is highly prob
able that in this last revolt a great majority
would favor the acceptance of the Manitoba
bill if they had an opportunity to express
their wishes. The conflict is between
the British Empire on the one hand
and few men inspired partly
by ambition and partly by fear of outlawry on
the other; and of course such conflict can
not be long one. The movement of a mill
tary force through that difficult region will be
attended with hardship and danger; but from
that the nation which sent an army into the
heart of Abyssinia is not likely to shrink. We
do not share the aDprehensions which are felt
in Washington of a general war throughout
the North West and though there can be no
objection to the proffer of whatever friendly
offices we may be able to perfom-if we are
able to perform any-we may safely leave Riel
and Great Britain to settle this difficulty them
selves. The Canadian militia, which single
handed whipped $4,000 Fenians, and now talks
of declaring war against the United States be-
cause we did not arrest O'Neirs army before
it reached the frontier, will undoubtedly be
competent to manage a little affair of this kind.
TAMMANY REPUBLICANS.
Mr. Mark Lanigan, a member of the Repub-