The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-15
LOUIS REL.
Leader OF the half Breed Rebellion Against
the Canadian Government

which has already caused considerable
bloodshed, is assuming proportions
that alarm the Canadian Government.
All possible haste is being made to
| suppress it by the dispatch of military
in sufficient numbers. Thus far Riel
has been successful in operations he
has undertaken. He is said to have
an army of more than 1900 men and
six cannon. 1t is possibly larger by
this time. Nothing succeeds like sue
cess" and as about one-third of the
Indians of Canada, or nearly 1000,
are in Manitoba and the Northwest,
and as these people, or the mojority
of them, have grievance, there is
imminent danger the movement under
Riels leadership will attain formida-
bic strength. He is competent to lead,
as was demonstrated many years ago,
and is able to work adroitly on the
view of their interest taken by the I'M
educated half-breeds and Indians in
habiting the district of country in
which he is operating, IN the enlarge
ment of the movement which again
brings his name prominent into his
tory.
Riel was first heard of IN 1869, the
gear in which the Canadian Govern
ment bought the greater part of the
lands owned by the Hudson's Bay
Company. Soon after the Northwest
became part of the Canadian Con-
federation, and the government under
took to survey the whole country
with the view of making allouments
of land to settlers. These rectangles,
it seems, are measured off apparently
without regard either to the natural
features of the country or to the
habitations or claims of the settlers,
mainly half breeds, who are already
in possession. Even when the half
breed has not established a habitation
he has staked out "claim," and
he has "located" it, as matter of
course, with the greatest possible
frontage upon one of the rivers, which
are the only highways of the wilder
ness. No record existing anywhere
OF these claims, and the Government
at Ottawa has disposed of them to
persons who had acquired no rights
by settlement, but who had complied,
as the half breeds in possession had
failed to comply, with the require
ments of the law. One day, as a survye-
or and his men were surveyinga base
line through some property Riel, who
was followed by 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 1869
he took possession of Fort Garry, now
Winnipeg, and armed his followers
with 800 Enfield rifles found in the
stores of the Hudson's Bay Company.
He issued a bill of rights from Fort
Garry and continued the Instruction
until the following spring. when he
was driving across the border into the
United States by the forces under
now Lord Wolseley. An act |
of Parliament was passed banishing
the vanquished rebel for five years
He then returned to Manitoba and |
was elected to the House of Commons.
After taking his seat in Parliament he
left it on account of the excitement |
his appearance occasioned and never |
returned.
One result of the first Riel rebellion
was that the Government gave 240 |
acres each to the half-breed settlers
in Manitoba. AS this excluded from
The advantages of the concession more
han it included, the grievance as de-
'cribed in the last paragraph still
Exists, and is the cause of the present
rouble. The rebels now serving
inder Riel demand that the claims
lrisine from possession shall take pre-
,edence of the claims arising from pat
,nts where there is conflict; that
ZACH settler shall have his possession
o the extent of 240 acres confirmed
" patent, that his ''location" of his
and shall be respected, and that the
Government shall make provision for
he education of the children of the
lalf breeds and for the support of the
indians whose alliance is courted by
his demand.
Riel was born in 1874, within five
niles of Fort Garry. He was educated
Or the priesthood IN Montreal, ana
assesses the ability, especially in
act, craft and persuasion, which,
ided bv considerable attachments,
nd strong sense of what he believes
} be the wrongs suffered by the half
reeds, accounts for his domination
yer the aggrieved Indians and half
reeds who follow his leadership.
While the form of his features sug-
ests the Indian. his complexion is fair
nd his eyes are light blue. The ex-
ectation of war between the United 1
ingdom and Russia and hostilities in
he Soudan seem to have precipitated
is insurrection. Whether or not he
rs an understanding with the Irish ]
,volutionists is unknown. Probably {
. has. as negotiations took place be- s
veen him and them in the past.
lille the early suppression OF tho re- (
elton is expected, directing attention,
! it does, to apparent injustice. this
i'll probably be removed by the action i
the Dominion Government.
A Veterans VicisSitudeS.