The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-04
THE NORTHWESTERN REBEL.
The French Canadians Taking a Deep Inter-
est in His CaSe--Sketch of His Career.

TORONTO Aug. 3.-The verdict of the jury in
the Rel trial is looked upon here as a just one,
and the opinion is freely expressed that Rel
should suffer the extreme penalty of the law.
On the other hand, there is intense feeling
among the French Canadians over the conviction
of Rel, and strong feeling is developing against
the government because they say the Ministry
sought to pander to the Orangemen Of Ontario,
who hate Rel for causing the death Of Scott.
Petitions to the Governor-general asking for
Riels pardon will be at once put in circulation
and will be signed by almost the entire French
population. 1t is possible that counter petitions
may be sent in from Ontario. The question viii
prove most embarrassing one for the govern
ment but what the Ministry and their friends
hope for is that the British government may in
terfere, as the Governor general may undertake
to exercise his preogat;ve of cemency without
any advice from his Ministry, and thus enable
the latter to evade responsibility.
For over ten years the Conservatives have
been holding up Riel before the French
Canadians as a great patriot, and hero who
was prosecuted and bauished from the country
by the Liberal government in 1875 and now the
men who have been landing Riel find their hero
sentenced to death as rebel and murderer.
they Fave been saying IN praise OF Rlai was
wrong, and must make an effort to save him.
French Canadian members of the Cabinet are
IN an extremely awkward position. They got
into power IN 1873 largely on the strength of the
cry that the Liberal government of that day had
az Justly treated Riel by turning him out
of Parliament aid sentencing him into
exile. Unless they do better for him now,
when he is in danger Of being hanged, the Que
bee province will be aroused against the Conserv-
alive party. Chapleu, Secretary of State, who
wrote letter denouncing Riel, and denying that
the half breeds had pettioned for a redress of
their grievances, is now strongly condemned
even by the supporters of his own party, some Of
whom declare that he is renegade statesman
ana that the half breeds never made complaint
to the government, has been shown to be untrue.
The conduct of the Crown Prosecutor in re-
fusng to produce the papers captured at the
taking of Batoche also produces much bad feel
Ing as French Cana 1lans are persuaded that if
everything was made known Riel could not be
convicted, as. according to the most reliable
statements, he had very little to do with melting
the half breeds to take up arms
Rel was first heard of in 1869, when the gov
eminent having bought the greater part of the
lands of the Hudson Bay COMPANY undertook
to survey and put upon the market the lands
thus acquired, without regard to the pre-emp
ton claims of the half breeds who had taken up
and improved great part OF the land One day
as a surveyor and his men were surveying base
lowed by a party of unarmed half breeds, put
his foot on the chain being used, and ordered
the surveyor and his men to leave work. They
did So Subsequently in the fall of 1863 he
took possession Of Fort Garry, now Winnipeg,
and armed his followers with 800 Enfield rifles,
found in the stores Of the Hudson Bay Company.
He issued bill of rights from Fort Garry, and
continued the insurrectlon until the following
spring, when he was driven across the border
into the United States, by the forces under
Colonel, now Lord, Wolseley. An act
Of Parliament passed Danish
ing the vanouished rebel for five years.
lie then returned to Manitoba, and was elected
to the House Of Commons. After taking his
seat in Parliament he left account of the ex
element his appearance occasioned, and never
returned One result Of the first Riel rebellion
was that the government gave 24O acres each to
the half breed settlers in Manitoba. AS this ex-
cluded from the advantages of the concession
more than it included, the grievance as described
in the last paragraph still existed, and was the
cause of the late trouble. The rebels who served
under Riel demanded that the claims arising
from possession should take precedence Of the
claims arising from patents, where there was a
conflict that each settler should have his posses
sion to the extent of 24O acres confirmed by
patent: that his location" of his land should be
respected; and that the government should make
provision for the education of the children
of the half breeds and for the support of the
Indians. Riel was born in 1884, within five
miles of Fort Garry. He was educated for the
priesthood at Montreal and possesses the ability,
especially in tact craft and persuasion, which,
aided by considerable attainnents and a strong
sense of what he believed to be the wrongs
suffered by the half breed, accounts for his dom
nation over the aggrieved Indians and half
breeds who followed his leadership. While the
form of his features suggests the Indian his
complexion is fair and his eyes are light blue.
After several months warfare marked with
several bloody fights, Riel was captured May Is
last by three scouts. He said he was on his way
to surrender and only asked for fair
trial He was duly indicted and his
trial has just closed Testimony was
introduced by the defense to show that Rie
had been confined at time in an insane
asylum at Montreal, and he is also said to have
claimed divine inspiration for his rebellion. Rel
clerked for a short time in dry goods store at
st. Paul In April, 1881, he married half
breed named Marguerite Belimeure, daughter
of Jean Baptiste Bellimeure. of Fort Ellis. After
his marriage he lived with his wife at Sun River,
in small log house, and was very poor. He
pursued the life of trapper until he was asked
by the half breeds of Prince Albert to 90 with
them their ri ghts. He did not wish to accept
the responsibility, telling them he was an
American citizen and did not care to pix himself
up in any more trouble on Canadian soil; but.
in the former rebellion, they insisted his
taking their part, and he finally consented, eav-
ing Sun River with his wife and two children to
go to ST. Laurent where he staid at the house
of Charles Nolen, eX-meInber of Parliament for
Laverendry.