Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-01-14
CANADIAN TROUBLES.

CANADIAN TROUBLES.
That the troubles of our neighhors
across the border has not ended with
the execution of Louis Riel, appears
evident from reports received at OF
tawa TO the effect that rebellion Of
the half-breeds and Blackfcet Indians
in the Northwest Territory is immf-
nent. The body of Louis Riel lies
moulderirg in the grave, but the spirit
that animated him and his followers
is still marching on and may end iii
disrupting the Canadian coniedera-
ton. The French and Indian half
breeds have real grievances, and al
though one champion of their rights
was branded as rebel and hanged,
other leaders are ready to take
up the fight, and this time
the rebels, so called, will have not only
the sympathy, but the active cooper
alton OF the French Canadian province
of Quebec, the people of which, all cx-
cept the few Orangemen amongst
them, sympathize with the half
breeds. Immediately after the execu-
ton of Ricl, public Indignation meet
ings were held all over Quebec, al
which members, not only of the
Quebec legislature, but also the French
members OF the Dominion parliament.
denounced the action of the govern
ment IN violent terms, and any men,
Der of parliament who failed to de-
clare his position on this burning ques-
ton, could not hope for reelection.
The whole country was aroused and
riots took place between the French
Canadians and the oraDgemen. Que
bee threatened to secede from the fed
Grafton and matters became so serious
that Sir John 4. Mcdonald premier
of the dominion government, fled to
England. leaving his colleagues to
withstand the storm as best they
could. 1t was in 1864. we believe.
that the British provinces of North
America united in federation known
as '.The Dominion of Canada" In
1874 trouble arose between British
Columbia and the dominion govern
ment over the Canada Pacific railroad
onI t>of
cede, out through the skillful diplo-
macy of Lord Dufferin, who was then
encouragement of the dominion, the
threatened rupture was averied.
but the people of British Columbia
have never been satisfied with their
position in the confederation. owing
mainly TO the fact that there exists no
community of interests between them
and their sister provinces. They are,
therefore, willing TO see the confedera-
ton dissolved at any time.
The difficulty in Manitoba and the
northwest territories originated with
the establishment of the province of
Manitoba and its admission 10 the
confederation. Up to that time all
that immense territory bordering on
Hudson's bay and Lake Winnipeg and
traversed by the Red river
of the north and the Sascatch-
avian vas under the con
troll of the Hudson Bay company, an
English corporation organized by
Lord Seikirk nearly century ago,
and was the great fur producing re-
gion OF British America. This coun-
try, especially TIE vallies of the Sas-
catohawan and the Winnipeg, was cul-
tivated to some extent, and inhabited
BY French and Indian half-brecds.
whose title was to be respected by the
dominion government. In surveying
this country, the farms of the half
breeds were cut ND and settlers from
Ontario and from Great Britain
often took possession of the lands of
the French half-breeds, who lost their
little claims altogether on account of
their unfamiliariiy with the law. This,
then, is the half-breed grievance, and
which never has been righied, and it
was 10 maintain the rights of this peo-
pie that Riel and Lapine began the
first rebellion, when the OraDgeman,
Tom Scott, LOST his life, which circum-
stance bred feeling between the
French Canadians and Orangemcn of
Ontario that win take a generation
TO eradicate. This, then, i the Cana
dsan problem, and inasmuch as Brit
ish Columbia, the half-breeds and the |
entire French province of Quebec are
dissatisfied with their position in the |
union, breaking up of the dominion |
confederation is probable. a new
governor general and the change of
government may possibly staye off the
inevitable for some time by making
liberal concessions to the disaffected, |
but if this is done then the province of
Ontario will kick and demand separa-
ton. In any event therefore, trouble
is imminent