The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-05-01
THE RlEL REBELLION.
Alleged Rights and Privileges for which
the Canadian Insurgents Are Fighting.

/
Alleged Rights and Privileges for which
the Canadian Insurgents Are Fighting.
The Instruction in the Saskatchewan
Province, in Northwestern Canada,
having assumed serious proportions as
an organized rebellion. it is a fitting
time to investigate its causes and the
rights and privileges for which the in
surgents are fighting. The HacEeye
has before mentioned the bill of rights
adopted by the half-breeds at their
meeting last September. There were
seven provisions inserted by Riel in the
bill as follows:
L The subdivision into Provinces Of the
| Northwest Territories.
| and other advantages as the Manitoba half
breeds.
4 Patents to be issued at once to the col
4. The sale of half a million acres of Douin-
| ion lands the proceeds to be applied to the
establishment in the half-breed settlements of
schools. hospitals and such like institutions
| and to the equipment of the poorer half-breeds
| with seed, grain and implements
8. The reservation of 100 townships of swamp
land for distribution among the children of
8. A grant of at least 81 900 for the mainte-
nance of an institution to be conducted by the
nuns in each f-breed settlement.
Z: Better provision for the support OF the
Indians.
1t is said that Riel does not expect to
obtain all the privileges called for
above, and that he asked more than be
expected to receive in the hope of get
ting as much as they really wanted. In
the beginning the half-breeds were I'M
doubtedly right in asking for an abate-
ment of the grievances and burdens
under which they labored. The Cana
dian Government, instead of treating
the actual settlers Justly, granted favors
at the expense of the half breeds to a
gigantic corporation and monopoly, the
Hudson Bay Company. - Riel headed
one instruction against the course of
the Provincial Government, in 1S69-70.
which was soon subdued. Bitter feel
ings have existed ever since and these
were aggravated by the apparent
partially shown the inhabitants of the
neighboring province of Manitoba, al
though history shows that the farmers
of Manitoba are by no means satisfied
with the attitude of the Government to-
ward them.
Under the leadership of Riel the re-
bellion presents phases that must be
condemned. Chief among these is the
melting of the Indians to rise against
the whites and the Government. This
feature is greatly to be deplored, and
does much to lesson the sympathy that
would otherwise be felt for the half
breeds, who have been oppressed to ia
vor monopoly. Riel inserted the last
clause in the bill of rights given above
for the express purpose of gaining the
support of the Indians and to bring all
the horrors of savage warfare upon the
innocent settlers. The Sioux, Crees.
Blackfeet, Piegans, Gros Ventres and
other tribes are threatening insurrec-
ton, and some of them have already
taken the war-path.
Whether Riel is a patriot, anxious to
subserve the best interests of his coun-
trymen, or a mere agitator and COM
munist. can not now be fairly judged.
There are two sides to this question, as
there is to every question. While some
of the motives of the rebels are praise
worthy, while their principles may be
in accordance with the inspirations of
justice and liberty, many of their meth
DDS are to be condemned by civilized
world, yet any other course could hard
ly be expected after the present crisis
was reached. Half Indians themselves,
with all the traditions, practices and
sentiments yet fresh in their lives and
memories, it is not to be wondered that
they look to the Indians for assistance,
and have no hesitation to intro
duce the terrors of Indian warfare
in their resistance to the Canadian Gov
eminent Here is where they lose the
sympathy of the lovers of liberty among
the civilized nations of the world. The
same is true in regard to the SOudan
war. England is not fighting against
the Arabs from principles of civilization
and humanity. Her purpose is the ag-
grandisement of empire. and the
sympathies of liberty are so far with the
Arabs who have risen against the in
vader. Beyond this point the sympa-
thy and respect for civilization inter-
venes and the heart of the enlightened
world goes out to the handful of brave
soldiers in the Soudan desert fighting
the evils of tropical climate and BRAY
ing the hordes of the false prophet.
The Riel rebellion has assumed such
proportions that it is more than likely
that months will elapse before peace is
restored. The triumph of the Cana
dian Government is only a question of
time, but the final victory will be long
in achievement, and it is not unlikely
that the half breeds will gain part of
that which they are fighting for. 1t
would seem to be wise in the Canadian
Government if it should grant the
reasonable requests of the insurgents
and thus avoid long and bloody sea-
son of guerilla warfare, but such is not
the usual custom of the subjects of the
Queen. be it in England or her numer-
Gus colonies. HQukeue.