The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-10-15

- - - 49,
forming a provisional government of
which this man Riel was chosen presi-
dent. In the bill of rights that Riel
drafted for the ManitObans, he de-
manded, among other things, fair re-
presentation in the dominion parlia-
ment, a provincial legislature, local
self-government, the official s of
both the French and English Ian
guages, land grants for the parish
schools and public improvements, a
free homestead law and the issuance
of patents to settlers for their re-
spective holdings.
Now, while Riel has been common
ly classed as a visionary, and not in
frequently as a mailman, it will be
difficult for anyone to find anything
in the foregoing demands that was
either unreasonable or impracticable.
It must have been in later years
that the alleged unreasonable dreams
Obsessed the man; for most, If not all,
of these demands of his have since
proven safe and sane methods of gov
ernmental practice.
The Manitoba Revolt
Riel led the revolt against the Do
miniOn government with dauntless
vigor and untiring energy. Siezing
Fort Garry, he speedily established
the authority of the insurrectionary
government throughout the province.
A Canadian by the name of Thomas
Scott, who had defied the authority
of Riel, was tried by a c~Ourtmartial
for treason to the republic, sentenced
to death and executed-an act of
cruelty for which it would be futile
to attempt any justification.
Hon. William McDOugall had been
appointed governor of Manitoba; but
when he reached the boundary line
on his way to the provincial capital,
he was there met by a delegation OF
the Metis who forbade him to enter
the province.
Archbishop Tache was a man OF
strong personality and a powerful in
fluence among all classes in the pro.
vince at the time. He enjoyed the
confidence of Riel and the insurgents
This man visited Fort Garry and b.
liberal promises of clemency, created
a more cOnciliatOry sentiment be
tween the two factions. This was evi
denced by the action of Riel and hi
: followers when they participated il
3 the celebration of the Queens birth
}. day. Another result of Archbishop
J, iTache's influence was the sending o
. ment at Ottawa.
The Red River Expedition
5 The dominion government ha,
: sent the Red River. expedition unde
Colonel Garnet Wolsely, to suppress
: the instruction. Due to the fac
I ! that it was impossible for this com
mand to enter or pass through tn
United States, it experienced a toll
some and tedious march across so
miles Of unbroken wilderness, and
g did not reach Manitoba until Angus
Is Of 1870.
y The Manitoba Act
l In the meantime, the dominion pa
u lament has passed the Manitoba &C
. which admitted the province into th
federation, with local self-goverI
= ment and representation at Ottawa
/ also making provision to recogniz
% the rights of the h~alf-breeds to the.
4 lands. Nearly all the demands Of til
10 rebels were by this act conceded; an
when the expe~ditionary forces ha
= ACoCAC0 IAC WCONSAA RAONAhOOg ~
~ provisional government had passe
"A out Of existence and the insurrectiC
was apparently at an end.
v Riel then took refuge in the Unite
~ States. Full Information is not
IT, hand as to Riel's movements duriT
the eight years that followed. A
~ counts available indicate that he s
~ journed for some time at Washin
ton, and later visited a matern
= aunt at Woonsocket, r. /.
Riel Elected to Parliament
The notorious Canadian Pacii
railway scandal of 1873 broug
is about the resignation of the Ma
Donald ministry then in power in t
he Dominion. A general Dominion ele
OF ton was at once ordered by Alexan
nd er Mckenzie, who succeeded Ma
or Donald. This election was held ear
ID in the year 1874. AS a result thel
of, Louis Riel was chosen a memb
ng of the Dominion parliament for t
a district of PrOvencher in ManftOl
IRE Despite the fact that there was an
dictment hanging over his head,
sulting from the murder of the {
Os- angeman, Scott, Riel went GLAND
stinely to Ottawa, where, by mea
40, that have never been explained,
at took the oath and signed the memb
oIy ship roll, but ~thereupon he INN
diately departed from Canada.
When parliament convened, a q
lct ton was presented for Riel's exp
'Ils sion, and this was Immediately ado