River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-06-11
what Arohp,shop raohe SAYS Of Ri.l.

Archbishop Tache of Manitoba passed
through st Paul, en- route from Winnipeg to
Montreal He spent the time OF his stay as the
guest Of Bishop Ireland. interviewed by re-
porter Archbishop Tache said:
The Geographic report from Winnipeg, stat
ing that / left hurriedly for the East 10 inter
cee for Idefs life, is absurd and false in every
particular So far from leaving hurried
~, | should have been at Montreal three
months ago TO attend to my educational
charges: but DELAYED my departure because Of
this trouble. Now that it has nearly subsidized,
! return 10 my work. / do not think any effort
will be made in Riel's behalf, except 10 engage
good counsel to defend him, His language in
regard to the clergy since his arrest has con
siderably decreased the sympathy for him, and
! think tlIat whatever remains is now rather
opposition to the government on the part OF the
Liberals than friendship or sympathy for Riel
Inderany circumstances the feeling in his be-
half viii not be sufficient to cause any trouble
lie viii be tried, and If convicted, SEN
tence passed upon him without any de-
monstratlon on the part of his friends
My connection with Riel has been greatly
exaggerated and an extensive romance woven
out of nothing. When / went to st Bon
lfaoc, in 1887, | found young Iiel, young
Schmidt and young Macdonald-three half
breed boys of thirteen-at school l took an
interest in them as in all members ofmy flock,
and as they were bright and intelligent Sc
cured them scholarships and gratuitous educa-
ton in schools in Lower Canada. l saw very
little of them, however, | was away a good
many years and Riel afterward vanished for
years. So that really saw but very little Of
him. After the rebellion Of 1863, for which
there was agood deal of justification, natur-
ally took an interest in seeing that the word of
the government given TO Riel-through me-
was kept, and labored TO that end.
This time, however, matters were very differ
emit The trouble WAS outside of my diocese,
IN That of Bishop Grandin. l knew that there
was a good deal of dissatisfaction among the
half breeds, both through the press and through
priests there No, ] certainly had no knowledge
of armed preparations There was no armed
preparations. | do not think the real cause of
the outbreak is understood. of course the half
breeds were indignant and dissatisfied that the
government was 90 slow in settling the claims;
but the true cause was this They felt that
they were looked down upon and regarded and
treated with contempt by the new settlers and
by the officials and people generally. This
ranked terribly; that instead of beng respect
ed as the original settlers, they should be looked
down upon with scorn, and considered be-
meath every newcomer This feeling grew,
and at last they took up arms They did
not anticipate that the government
would ever send an expedition against them
they merely expected to have to cope with the
mounted police There were only 30 half
breeds concerned IN the revolt, and about 100
Indians at or near Batoche's OF these, at
least fifty were unarmed, and the others very
poorly armed There were a few rifles, but
many old flint lock guns, almost wortheless
They hoped to defeat the police, an 1 thus COM
pei respect for them, and force the government
to accede to their claims | think Middleton
made very good campaign, considering the
country and the bad season of the year. No,
my trip East, has nothing to do with Ricl. !
must get priests to fill the places of the muir
dered and wounded and have other affairs to
attend believe tibet Riel is completely insane
at times and not responsible for his actions.
He will be accorded fair trial by the authori-
ties, and freed or punished, in accordance with
the verdict