The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-03
Causes of the Outbreak.

New York Herald.
The small cloud of war which so lately APP
peared in Northwestern Canada-no larger than
mans hand-has already grown into menacing
proportions. The Canadian government seems
fully alive to the seriousness of the revolt among
the Canadian half breeds settled in the extensive
terrtory-which runs almost ono Thousand miles
northwest of Winnipeg, on the Saskatchewan
river, and beyond the Manitoban territory. The
population of this region has greatly increased
within the last decade, and the lands which they
occupy, and which are open to future settlement
as the population further increases, are valued
by them as their natural patriInony and heritage
under proper laws and regulations.
The present revolt has been fomented by
causes similar to those which melted what was
then known as the rebellion in 1860 in the sup
preston of which Sir Garnet, now Lord Wolse-
ley, won his first laures as a military leader.
The causes which led the Manitobans to revolt
are to-day in operation in the Northwestern set
Element, and the half breeds there are having
resort to the same means OF redress-the abitra-
ment of tho sword. The conflict, however,
should hostilities continue, will be on q much
larger scale than marked the campaign of 1869.
Rel, the head of the present rebellion, the same
redoubtable leader that led the rising of the
Manitobans, a veritable paladin of war, is again
in the front 1t will be remembered that Riel,
during his former brief campaign, set up a pro-
visional government at Fort Garry and reigned
there as director for a time He has now put
himself at the head of the new revolt, and will
push hostilities to the utmost of his ability and
opportunities. The half breeds, of whom he is
the chief, hate the Canadians, and should they,
AS is feared they may, be joined by the Indians,
will cause the Dominion government great
deal of trouble, resulting in more serious con-
sequences than were involved in the revolt of
1863
The scene of warfare is somewhat changed
but the of disaffection the same.
Soon after the settlement of affairs in Manitoba,
in 1869, the Canadian government sent out
surveyors to cut up the lands of the settlers
into blocks, as had been attempted and success
fully resisted by the Manitobans on their settle
mentS
These surveys entirely ignored the river front
age, the right to which was already claimed by
the settlers Their lands were specially selected
on account of the advantages arising from water
frontage, and they are determined to resist to
the death any encroachment ON their privileges
i'll this respect Since 1869, the Northwest, the
seat of the present troubles, has filed up i'm
mensely. and the settlers feel themselves strong
enough to resist the survey, which would deprive
them of all the advantages of favorable settle
ment. These men demand, substantially, the
same rights of settlement and location that were
conceded the ManitobanS in 1862.
To this extent the present outbreak is repeti-
ton and reflex of the rebellion of 1869, and in
wolves in the settlement of the question like
cessions to those which were wrung from the
government in 1869 before peace can be pro-
claimed. The French Canadians throughout the
Dominion to great extent, sympathze with
the struggle of their half brothers, the half
breeds, and show no disposition to strengthen
the hands of the government in sending men
and munitions to the front. 1t is generally adj
mitted that the country has been the prey of
eastern spectators. The possessors of the lands
have, in many cases, been unable to get their
patents. and white encroachment has gone on in
creasing During the past year peaceful agi-
tation has been kept up, mainly at the iDstiga-
ton of Re the former leader. 1t has been
wholly unsuccessful, and the old expedient of
arms has been resorted 70. The demands of the
half breeds are admittedly reasonable, but the
having disposed Of many Of the half breeds
homesteads to spectators in Eastern Canada.