Little Falls transcript., 1885-04-10

Dy the french half-hreeCis along the crooked
rivers Of Canada We're in most cases long
parallelograms, with a narrow river frontage
and extending back inland These the do
miniou surveyors were obliged to cut up
and divide up in a manner that seemed ut
terly reckless to the poor half-breeds, and
there were many protests and threats.
Then there had been delays and more or less
other hand the law Of apportonment was
appreciated to such an extent that half
breed infants came TO be at premium, and
it is even said that children were transferred
from one family to another in order
to obtain land Next, lands were
dren should have come of age, with the spe
cial stipulation that they should be consid-
cred to have attained their majority at eight
cen. La many cases, however, the money
realize by the sale Of lands was not placed
in the care Of the court, but orders were even
given that the money should be given to the
care of parish priests or the heads of families.
Lands were also taken out of chancery and
sold out rapidly, and land sharks were about
making all they could by taking advantage
OF the peculiar feature OF the infant provis-
ion The half breeds themselves were an
easy going people. and the lands and scrip
granted to heads Of families were in many
cases squandered Doubtless there were
numerous abuses Of this kind, but the law
was generally acceptable to the half-breeds
Ol MaulLOUA, anu GOOR 1ul1 dOVhu GdSe
OF it Now, beyond the confines OF Manitoba,
in the Northwest Territory, lay few half
breed sections, for the inhabitants of which
nc provision was made in the Manitoba act
AS a matter of fact, the inhabitants OF these
places did not demand an apportionment Of
land at the time. The St Laurent district,
the seat of the present uprising, was among
these sections.
THE AGITATION AT ST. LAURENT
About ten years ago. however, the settlers
Of this district began to wake up to the fact
that they should receive some consideration,
with regard to homestealls and lands as the
half-breeds of Manitoba. Later dominion
surveyors were sent into the country to lay
out the lands. Here the same difficulty was
met as in the Red and Assinahoine
river districts. The half-breeds. accord
out their farms in parallelograms
along the banks Of the, Saskatche-
wan and its branches, and the surveyors
were of course compelled to destroy this ar
rangement The people earnestly protested
They also renewed their claims for grants of
this the agitation has been kent up Various
complications have arisen in the meantime,
and complaints have been made of delays
and arbitrary acts on the part of the govern
ment. Riel was again called upon tor
counsel and advice He was visited in Mon
tation of the half-breeds, and in response to
their appeal Went into the st. Laurent
country. The half breeds, in the meantime,
had laid their grievances before the domin-
ion parliament at Ottawa. Last September
they held a meeting at st Laurent, at which
following is the substance:
First, the subdivision into provinces OF the
Northwest territories; second, the half breeds
to receive the same grants and other advantages
Nor ffNh0 holt hVnn nIcs h3r1 H>otn re- fN
be issued at once to the colonists In possession;
fourth, the sale OF half million acres Of domin-
Ion lands. the proceeds to be applied to the es.
tablishment in the half-breed settlements Of
schools, hospitals and such-ltke institutions,
and to the equipment of the poorer breeds
with seed grain and implements; fifth, the res
distribution among the children of half f-breeds
during the next l2O years; sixth, a grant Of at
least 81 900 for the maintenance Of an,1nstitu-
tion to be conducted by the nuns IN each half
breed settlement; and seventh, better provision
for the support of the Indians
The last item, it is said was inserted by
R1el in order to please Poundmaker, an In
dian chief who has made common cause
with the half-breeds. The bill of rights ap-
parently asks for good deal more than
the rebels have any idea of obtaining, but it
is said that Monsignor Grandin, the Roman
Catholic bishop of that region, and most Of
the English eaking settlers are in favor of
it. Since Riel's presence in the Saskatche-
wan country he has been actively at the
head of the movement for rights, and under
his leadership the forces have organized and
the present rebellion has been engineered.
The events OF the conflict are still fresh in
the memory Of all. Ss' ''S>"
THE PRESENT REBELLION.
The rebellion war started In the early
part OF last week At first the do
minlon government professed to con-
slider the insurrection as of no i'm
portance. but the cutting of the telegraph
n Thn ffv0o fnnfy rr,yfc <Hf In