Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-08-06
REL, THE DOCMRD REBEL.
Brief story OF the Treason which II
IL to Expiate on the tiRllOws.


IL to Expiate on the GaIIows.
Louis Riel, the Canadian rebel, who is to
be hanged on Sept ls for treason, was born
within five miles Of the Fort Garry settlement
in 1874, when the old Hudson Bay Company
regime was still IN power. He is half breed,
but has fair hair and light blue eyes and
usually passed for a full blood European. He
was bright boy in his youth, and winning
the favor Of Archbishop Tache, he was sent
by the latter to Montreal to be educated. His
patron had intended to make a priest of him,
and young Riel completed the usual course OF
studies for admission to the priesthood, hu,
when he presented himself Tor holy orders
ordination was refused him. He went back
to Fort Gary, and there his suavity of man
ners and native sbrewdness secured him a
host OF friends among the French half
breeds, and gave him influence in the tribe
When the half breeds resolved iu 1869 to
resist the invasion OF Canadians just after
the purchase OF the territorial rights of the
Hudson Bay con psny, r ell put him elf at
the head OF the rebels. Riel, with his forces,
descended upon the company's fort, lied it,
set up provisional government OF his own,
and issued bill OF rights demanding repre-
sentntion in the dominion government and
series OF public improvements. He had se-
cured an abundance OF arms and ammunition,
and he suumarily crushed the efforts of the
little colony of English settlers who strove to
resist him. and took all the prominent Cana
dian residents prisoners. To terrify the
settlers further, he bad their leader, Thomas
Scott, OF OLtario, shot.
General Wolseley, VINO was then a Cana
dian lieutenan colonel OF no particular promi-
nence and with little hope of advan cement,
WAS chosen to lead the expedition aga nst the
rebels. The moment Wolseley, backed by
1000 regulars aud militia, set his foot in
Fort Garry settlement, Rie disbanded his
government and fled to the United States.
The Canadian parliament advanced Cen
eral Wols.ley and banished Rel for FIVE
years. The hali-breeds were guieted for a
time by grant OF 2iO acres of land 10 each
OF them living in Manitoba as a compensa-
ton tor disturbing the old river frontage
system Klel WAS more popular than ever
win the half-breeds when he got back to
Manitoba after his exile, but be now played
the part OF loyalst md offered to aid Gem
eral Archibald to resist the Fenian invaders,
who, under O'Donahue, proposed to sweep
down on the province OF Manitoba Imme-
diately afterward, in 1873, he was elected
representative in the dom MON parliament
from the province. and went to Ottawa and
was sworn into office by the clerk while the
building was deserted. News got abroad
among the people that Rel, the man who had
ordered Scott to se shot, was in town, and
and hearing Of the threats of infuria,ed 10y
allsts to shoot him in revenge if he attempted
to take his seat in parliament he fed from
the city and never again entered it.
His seat was declared vacant the newt day.
and he Travelled ia the United States until.
IN 1854, mutterings OF fresh outbreak
among the half breeds in the northwest led
him back to his birthplace, and again he was
chosen leader, this time by his dissatisfied
fellows at Prince Albert settlement.
The halt breeds here, rs well as at all other
settlements along the Saska,chew wa q, had been
excluded from the grants to the Manitoba
nail breeds In 1863, and when, early last
winter, government surveyors entered the |
Prince Albert settlement and began to Law on,
in blocks the land on the river banks, depriy.
ing the half breeds OF their river frontage.
Riel demanded that the hal; breed rights I've
respected just as he had previously done in
Manitoba He declared that the laws would |
have to be equalized. The demand WAS not an.
swered as Riel thought il ought to be, and he |
got together 300 halt breeds, armed them
with Winchester and Remington rifles, and |
opened warfare without ceremony. MANY
Indians Joined in the insuireciion. Riel |
made speech to his followers, saying that |
he would deliver them from their oppressors.
and that he had the means this time that
would make his fight for their rights success
ful. Major General Middleton was scot from
Ottawa to march with Dominion militia to
put down the uprising, but it was not until
May II, after weeks of skrmishipg and
lighting, that the rebels were routed at Ba.
touche, and four days later three Dominion
scouts captured Rlel on an unfrequented In
dian trail three miles north of Ba,ouche. He
was tried before Judge Richardson at Regina,
his counsel pleading insanity, but he himself
declaring that he was sane. He was con.
victed and sentenced on Saturday.
Throughout Manitoba he conviction and
s. n ence OF Louis Rpil, the rebel leader,
Is the all-absorbing topic. T G Orangemsn
and English subjects generally consider il a
righteous judgment, while among the French
Canad ans considerable excitemen nj and iudip-
nation is manifested. The latter assert that
the trial was not fair one, that valuable ev.
idence from the half breed stand point VAS
suppressed, and that important witnesses were
not permitted to testify. Levecque, who tore
down the Riel etiiPy during the reception to
the Sharpshooters, today received a present of
gold watch and chain.
He Didn't Uaderstand Him.