Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-04-05

/ States However, the incident possibly
possesses some significance as show
ing the care that Riel exhibited il
guarding the welfare of his people. HI
was himself a man of exemplary habit.
and intensely religious.
NV next interview with him oc.
CURED, as nearly as can fix the time
in the spring of 1884. He was then
as he had been for some years previ-
Gus, teaching an Indian school undel
the auspices of a Catholic mission
on sun river. He had made the jour-
ney to Helena in a cart and upor
his arrival went into camp in the
outskirts Of the city. With him were
his wife and babe. The former hao
the appearance of a full-blooded In
dian and could neither read nor write;
but 1t was touching to observe the
courtly tenderness with which he pre-
sented her and caressed the little one
Another member of the party was
no less than Gabriel Dumont, later
the commander of Riels army in the
Saskatchewan rebellion, who so won
the admiration of the Canadian SOL
diery by his skill and daring in that
rebellion that, if they did not connive
at his escape, they were at least easily
consoled when he was spared the fate
that befell his leader. For aught
may know to the contrary Dumont
may still be living. He was diffident,
taciturn man, and in the many hours
that I passed In his company scarcely
spoke a dozen times; but his short
stout frame and strongly marked fea-
lures conveyed the impression Of a
reSolute character.
On the occasion Of this visit, Riel
informed me that his object was to
become a citizen of the United States
I gave him all the assistance IN my
power, and I am not apt to forget the
almost childish delight with which he
received his certificate of naturaliZa-
ton, to which Mr.. Beattie, the clerk
Of the court, had affixed seal on
glittering gilt paper and had not
omitted to charge him $40 for the en-
Enlistment.
In 1.-THE History Of the Northwest
Rebellion Of 1885" by Doctor Mulvany,
I find the following:
when the northwest half-breeds
asked him (RieD TO lead them, as he
had led them In Manitoba, he at first
refused, saying he was an American
citizen and wished to have no more to
do with Canadian troubles, but their
entreaties prevailed on him to con-
sent"
While Riel may have seen fit to be
coy, cannot accept the above state
ment In its entirety During the visit
I mention he called repeatedly at my
office and my house. In the course
Of our conversation he disclosed the
fact that he had already projected a
for the independence of
the half-breeds and the establishment
Of republic in the provinces Of AS
sinaboia and Saskatchewan. He told
me that he had drafted a constitution
and full plans for his scheme.
said, "Riel, you had better be-
careful of those papers; they are like
British authorities" To which he re-
piled, "Ah, I have buried them deep
In re ground"
There is reason to believe that so
far from hesitating to accept the
leadership Of the half-breeds, because
he was an American citizen, he ac-
quired his citizenship for that very
purpose. Repeatedly he limited at
schemes to involve the United States |
IN his revolutionary enterprise. 1t was
conceivably with a wild notion that |
It might further this end that he
asked me to appoint him a deputy
United States marshal, request that |
felt obliged, under the circumstances,
10 deny.
It was not a little interesting to
listen as he unfolded his dream OF a
half breed republic. In his belief the |
half breeds were a people and he |
could not be made to see q doubt that
hey were deserving of political equal |
ty and adequate to the responsible tties |
If self-government Some explanation
If his confidence may be found In the
TACT that the Nets, with whom he |
was associated in his earlier years. |
we're the agricultural settlers Of Mani
5oba, who were presumably more
stable and intelligent class than the |
xretched nomads who constitute a /
part Of the half-breeds
If Montana.
His project was to gather all the
1alf-breeds of the United States and /
Ill the British provinces in North |
America and so build a nation 1t was |
TO possess a republican form of gov
but one that approaches the |
of a theocracy. The Cath |
bic religion was to be recognized in |
the constitution as the true and only |
iaith; but there was to be a distinct |
population of the authority of Rome. |
No doubt may be entertained as to his |
choice of the man who was to be |
The leader of this unique experiment, |
and it is possible he saw occasion for |