Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-29
The RieI Rebellion.

Canada has a little rebellion to look
after which may prevent her from assist
ing England in putting down the rebellion
in the Soudan. The half-breed, Louis
Riel, has succeeded in collecting a very
considerable force OF half-breeds and In
dams to sustain him in defying the legally
constituted authorities in Northwest
Canada.
II the distance were not so great, and If
the difficulties to be overcome at this
/ season of the year in order to reach the
scene of the disturbance were less, it
would not require much time for the
Canadian Government to put an end to
Riel's pretensions.
OF course Riel knows that he has not
much chance of gaining even a tempo
rary success, and it is therefore difficult
to understand what he hopes to accom-
plisb. 1t is probable that he has not
very clear idea of what his purposes are.
He is one of those restless sort of persons
who are guided by impulse rather than
judgment.
Without doubt there is good deal Of
dissatisfaction in Northwest Canada, both
among the half-breeds and the Indians.
Tae half-breeds think that the lands which
the Canadian Government is dispOsing Of
belong to them, and that they ought
to have absolute control of
them. The Indians complain that
they are robbed by the government agents,
and that they get only a small percentage
of the supplies intended for them. Riel
and his halfbreeds hate the Canadians,
and insist that they have no right to ex-
ercise control over the territory which is
the scene of trouble. They want the
country for themseles, although they
would hardly know what to do with it if
they had it. 1t is in some respects quite
attractive, and is being settled by a very
good class of immigrants.
There is no reason for thinking that the
rebellion will amount to much. The best
information is that Riel has about 1900
men under his command, but it is not
likely that he will receive any considera-
Bile accession to his forces. There may be
some fighting, but the battles that may
occur will hardly be more than mere
skirmishes.
The present occasion is not the first
time that Riel has attracted attention in
the section of country in which he is now
operating. Fifteen years ago he was the
leader Of a similar revolt. At that time
he, and those who were associated with
him, set up provisional government at
Fort Garry, and seized hundreds of thou
sands of dollars worth of property. The
slight resistance which the few English
settlers were able to offer was quickly
overcome.
Lord WOlseley. who was then a Lieu
tenant Colonel stationed in Canada, was
directed ito smash Riel,' and he had
a much more rapid success than he APP
pears to be having in his attempt ''to
smash the Mahdi." On the approach of
Lord Wolseley to Fort Garry with his
militia Riel and his followers beat hasty
retreat.
Rel was born in Manitoba. His
parents were French, with a little Indian
blood in their veins. lie is we'll educated
and is bold and daring. In 1873 he was
elected to Parliament as a delegate from
Manitoba, and went to Ottawa to take his
seat. The feeling against him was so
bitter, however, that he thought it wise to
leave the city. He was soon expelled
from Parliament, and never afterwards
made his appearance at Ottawa.
The scene of the present disturbance is
Prince Albert. The town has pOpula-
ton of about 800 and the settlement
about 1000. The French, Scotch and In
dian half-breeds Outnumber the settlers
from other parts of Canada. Riel and his
fOIln,rrarc not lrin1 Of fo no
allowed to control affairs anywhere. They
would not know how to use power judi
ciously if they had it. The present rebel |
lion will come to as inglOrious an end
probably as did that of 1870.