Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-10-03

other provinces. Other grievances ex-
listed among the half-breeds, and when
Riel went among them in the fall
OF 1884 at their request, it is conceded
BY Canadian historians that he spoke
with moderation and advised only
pacific measures. His bill Of rights
called for Cd division Of the northwest
territories into provinces; (2) the half
breeds to receive the same grants and
other advantages as those in Manitoba;
80 patents to be issued at once TO
the colonists in possession OF LANDS;
"a the sale of lands to establish
schools. hospitals, and to provide the
poor with seed and implements for
farming; 80 reservation of certain
swamp lands for distribution among
the children OF half-breeds; 90 grant
of at least 81 900 in aid of an institu-
ton to be conducted by the nuns IN
each half-breed settlement, and Cd
more liberal provision for the Indians.
Says He's "Liberator"
Riels petition having been thrown
aside by the government, he assumed
aggressive tactics. Believing that Eng
land was about TO go to war with
Russia he proclaimed himself The
Liberator," and established msurrec-
ton headquarters at Batoche.
rebellion. He provided a commlsSarlat
for the insurgents, selected Strategical
points for occupancy by his troops, and
in the person of Gabriel Dumont,
chose a man of rare natural gifts as
a military commander. Some fighting
followed, in which the half-breeds
battled fiercely. but they were unable
to resist the trained forces that they
encountered. Riel was not directly re-
- a Z
Lake, where a civilian settlement was
murdered by the Indians.
The leader of the Indians at Frog
Lake was Big Bear, chief of the rene
gade band of CreeS and Chippewas
that have been wanderers in Montana
ever since Little Bear, who is the son
of Big Bear, is chief today OF these
Indians, who have now been granted
a reservation on the old ASslnnlpone
military reserve, where they are slowly
starving to death.
After a few hard-fought battles the
rebellion was suppressed and Rlel gave
himself up as a prisoner OF war. he
was tried for treason at Regina. The
trial was participated in by eminent
counsel from remote parts OF the do
minion. RielS attorney made a plea
of insanity, which he, himself, scorn-
fully repudiated. He was convicted,
and on the 18th OF October was hanged.
On the scaffold he bore himself with
dignity. and protested to the last that
he had acted in fulflllment OF a
mission.
So great was the sympathy felt for
Riel by the French population OF the
dominion that the Macdonald govern
ment at Ottawa was nearly overthrown
because of its refusal to commute the
sentence against Riel.
Riel had been called the John Brown
of the Breeds, and this name Is
not inappropriate in some respects.
Like John Brown he was a dreamer;
again, there may have been faint
of insanity in his makeup. His de-
mands for the people of Manitoba
were for the most part granted, and
while the Canadian authorities were
preparing to hang him. they were also
proceeding to grant the demands that
Riel made for the half-breeds In the
northwest territory. Patents were is
sued to them for the lands which they
occupied, and in less than year after
Riels death they were granted repre-
sentation in the parliament OF the
dominion.
In the little churchyard at St.
Boniface, outside of Winnipeg, lie the
remains of Louis Riel. His grave Is
a shrine for the French half-breeds
of the dominion, who believe today
that he, like the man of Harper
Ferry, offered up his life in behalf Of
a poor and oppressed people.