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

dictionary force had reached Manitoba,
the provisional government had melt
ed away, and the inSurrection was at
an end.
States. Full information Is not at hand
as to his movements during the en-
suing eight years. II appears that he
lived for some time at Washington
and later visited a maternal aunt who
resided at Woonsocket. r. I. The Ca
madam Pacific scandal of 1878 re-
suited in the resignation Of the Mac
Donald ministry. Alexander Mckenzie,
who succeeded him as premier, ordered
a general election, which was held
early IN the year 1874. At that election
Riel was chosen a member of the
dominion parliament for the district
Of Provencher in Manitoba. Notwith-
standing there was an indictment
hanging over him for the murder Of
Scott, he went clandestinely TO Ottawa,
where, by means that have never been
explained, he took the oath and signed
the roll, but thereupon Immediately
departed from the dominion.
When parliament assembled a mo-
ton for his expulsion was immediate
ly adopted. A new election was Or
dered to fill the vacancy, but on this
occasion an order was made that after
five years of Punishment, the amnesty
which had been granted to other
rebels should be extended to him
Evidence Is not wanting that at all
times he had strong following at
the capital of the dominion
In 1879 he settled in Montana,
where he was employed In teaching,
as already stated, occasionally joining
bands of half-breeds to hunt the
buffalo. During all these years he lived
in extreme poverty; and when I saw
him. although his personal equipment
was not wanting In neatneSs, it would
have been extravagant to estimate the
cost at more than $25.
The uprising In Saskatchewan In |
1884 and 1885 was cognate In its
causes to that in Manitoba Is years
before. The dominion Of Canada, In |
the act previously mentioned, had /
granted to every half-breed in Mani
toba $40 acres Of land. No such con-
ceSsions had been made to those in |
the other provinces, and their re-
peated petitions In that behalf had |
been ignored. Other grievances exist
ed in the denial of representation in
the dominion parliament, the number
Of government employees in the men,
bership of the northwest council, the
autocratic powers Of the governor, and
Inc management Of public lands.
When Riel went among them In the
fall of 1884 in compliance with their
invitation, it is conceded by Canadian
historians that he spoke with great
moderation, and advised only pacific
measures of redress. His bill Of rights
called for ID the division of the
northwest territory; % the half
breeds to receive the same grants and
)ther advantages of those in Mani
,oba; % patents to be issued at once
10 coloniStS in possession Of lands;
40 the sale of half a million acres of
and, the proceeds to be applied to
he establishment of schools and hos
'itals and the supplying of the poorer
lalf- breeds with seed and grain and
armtng implements; 90 the reserva-
ion Of 100 townships OF swamp land
or distribution among the children
4 half-breedS during the ensuing 100
n aid of an institution to be con-
lucted by the nuns In each half-breed
settlement, and Cd more liberal pro-
1sion for the Indians.
1t will appear from the above that
7iel for the most part avoided de-
hands of a political character, and
hat he had shrewdly deferred his
,roject for a half-breed republic His
PETITION was forwarded to Ottawa and
,ontemptuously thrown aside. Then
2iel, encouraged, it is said, by re-
)ort that England was about to be-
ome engaged in a war with Russia,
Issumed a more aggressive attitude.
7e proclaimed himself THE Liberator"
md established insurrectionary head
quarters at Batouche.
AS In Manitoba, Riel displayed a
genuine talent for rebellion. He took
'rompt and efficient measures to pro-
Tide a commissariat for the insurgents,
selected strategical points for their
with excellent Judgment,
md in the person Of Gabriel Dumont,
hose man with rare natural gifts
IS a military commander to conduct
he active operations of the inSlngent
orces. A history Of the engagements
,etWeen the government and the rebel
orces would be of questionable inter-
|