St. Paul daily globe., 1885-05-27
priests to do all. If they had been in favor

priests to do all. If they had been in favor
of peace l would have been with them.
They were in favor of fighting for the
priests, but not for the people. They used
a double-edged sword. They turned the
people against them because they as
sumed civil functions. They turned the
ProteStants against them because they Op-
posed them. The priests seek power for
themselves, not the good of the people.
They are against the ProteStants both po-
litically and religiously. They are against
me now, not because rebelled, but because
did not succeed in helping them"
Riel further said that the people COM
PEELED him to fight and would not let him
GO BACK TO MONTANA.
He was on his way to give himself up to
Middleton when captured by the scouts.
Another extract from the conversation
reads:
''Will the Indians fght?"
81 don't know. Otter'S attack on the
Indians prevented them from joining us.
Had they come as they were expected, the
fight would have been worse. had about
250 of them with me-"
did you send messengers to them over
the country after the Fish Creek battle?!"
Yes. L sent them to Qu'Appelle and
Battleford, but not to Calgary"
In a second letter PitbladO gives a con-
versation in which Riel set forth the claims
of the half breeds, when enSued the follow
ing:
why should you rebel to get this
granted?"
I'VE did not rebel; this matter is not re-
bellion. We have never yet been treated
wit oh Th lT-hc
Manitoba have entered into treaty. That
treaty stipulates that the arrangements to
be made with the half-breeds OF territories
would be similar to those made in Mani
toba. No treaty has ever been made with
us. We never transferred our rights, and
before they are taken from us we wish to
have a treaty made. and we think we have
the right to expect that the conditions OF
that treaty will be similar to the one made
with the settled half-breedS of Manitoba.
No. my friend
THIS Is NOT REBELLION.
We simply defend ourselves. We don't
belong to the Hudson Bay company. They
sold their interest in the country. The In
dians who took the treaty sold what in
terest they had in the country. The half
breeds of the territories are the owners OF
the soil they occupy. They have no interest
in the country with which they have never
parted with. They desire to have an equit-
able arrangement made for their inter
ests. They defend themselves. In reply
to a question as to what he would an
swer if charged with treason, Riel rambled
away off
THE FORMER REBELLION.
He would advance the former treaty made
by the government with him and also his
being recognized as the governor of Mani
tOba for two months. He had not at this
time rebelled against the government.
Also, he was citizen of the United States,
and so could not be traitor to Canada.
When asked why he went to the States
he said at the solicitation of Archbishop
Tache. He cOntinued: Il knew that the
government was between a crOSS-tre from
the opposition and my SylnpathiZerS.
told the Archbishop that there seemed to
be something wrong i'll asking me to go.
but would leave the consequences with
him. He said friend or friends would
give me e200. | said | wouldn't take money
in that way, but if the government would
pay me for my services while governor and
while serving against the FenianS, and give
me something for damages, l would. After
a while assurances were given me, and l
went to St. Paul aad stayed there some
months. When the elections came on the
archbishop sent for me. I came back. [
was returned for the province three times
and as often turned out Of the house and
declared an outlaw, and then Went to the
States, to which I was banished for five
years" z.,..~..
How much money did the government
give youS"
''They gave me $500 and my wife $780,"
Poundmaker May Fight.
Special to the Globe.
WINNIPEG, May 26.-NewS from the
front has been meager to-day as the wire
has not been working well. Nothing def
mite is yet known about Poundmaker's
intentions or Middleton's further move
ments, but the latest advices from Battle
ford would indicate that Poundmaker does
not feel like surTendering unconditiOnally.
He may think differently when
he sees the formidable force gathering
against him. Two mail carriers who az
rived yesterday at Saskatchewan Landing
report seeing the trail of large body of
Indians travelling eastward. These were
thought to be B ig Bear and his followers
going to join Poundmaker in Eagle hills.
The two mail carriers say they
saw Indian scouts twenty miles north
of the Landing, which may
indicate that the Indians are looking for
way of escape southwark. A convoy of
17S teams left Saskatchewan landing for
Battleford yesterday under escort. They
will be met by another strong escort from
the Battleford side. The Montreal artillery
left this evening for Regina where they
will be stationed for some time.