St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-11
WILL REL HANGa

The unanimity with which the American
press has protested against the hanging of
REL is only an expression of American
sentiment in regard to the matter. This
opinion is not the outgrowth of any feeling
or prejudice that the people of the United
States hold against the Dominion govern
ment On the contrary, our relations are
the kindest, and it is because of the good
feeling and kindred interests which prevail
between us that we feel all the freer to ex-
press our opinions in reference to RIEL's
case. We do not assume that the Domin-
ion government has not perfect right to
hang him if it chooses to exercise that right.
Nor is it asserted on our part that
he has not had fair trial. So far
from anything of that sort we freely admit
that REL is rebel. We also admit that
his trial was conducted with the utmost
impartialitY, and that the evidence justified
the verdict of the court The point is that
the Dominion government has the power to
reprieve the convicted rebel and that power
should be exerted. So far as REL is indi-
vidually concerned it doesn't make par
ticle of difference to the American people
what becomes of him. But so far as there
is principle involved in the cause which
he represents, the people of the United
States do feel decided interest in the fate
which is to overtake the rebel leader, and
it is for that reason they enter a protest
against his execution. First of all,
our civilization has progressed so far
that popular uprisings against governments
which inf1ict wrongs upon their subjects
are no longer regarded in the light OF
treason. The odium which once attached
to the unsuccessful leaders of revolutionary
movements no longer exists. The world
has grown up to the idea that the people
have rights which even governments are
bound to respect. If RIEL is a criminal
the Canadian government is responsible for
the crime. Its disagreement OF the
Northwest produced the condition which
provoked the half breed rebellion. The
hanging of REL will not wipe out this
stain upon the government. nor will his eX-
ecution atone for the wrongs per-
petrated by the government. What
ever part REL took in the up
rising he is no more responsible than
the others. If he is hung it will be dec
laration on the part of the government
that it justifes itself in its treatment of
the half-breed Indians of the Northwest.
No fair-minded person will ever assent to
the justice of such claim as that. The
history of the governments dealings with
these people is familiar to all. The
candid opinion of every person who has
investigated the matter is that Sir JOHN
MACDONALD is responsible for the acts of
the half-breeds, whom he drove to despair.
Now if he hangs REL the verdict of his
tory will be that he murdered man in an
attempt to cover up his own wrongs. In
stead of covering RIEL's memory with in
fanny and handing his name down to future
generations as the synonym of all that is
base and treacherous, he will exalt him as
heroic martyr, who died for a good cause.
and will invest his memory with immortal
glory. In the light of future history,
RIEL's name will shine with luster, while
that of his executioner will only be seen
through cloud Of infamy. The Canadian
government has nothing to gain by hanging
REL, and everything to lose. His execu-
ton will be as fatal mistake for the Brit
ish government as was the execution Of
ROBERT EMMETT.