LOUIS RIEL'S SENTENCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 122, 3 October 1885, Page 3

LOUIS RIEL 'S SENTENCE.

After a abort trial, Eiel, the leader of the recent rebellion in the north-western part* of Canada, was sentenced, Augußt 1, to be hanged at Regina en September 18, proxi* mo. He took the result coolly, even when Judge Richardson said he could hold out no prospect of reprieve or interference by Her Majesty, although the jury recommended his case to the imperial clemency. When the foreman, Francis Cosgrove, gave in the verdict of "guilty," he wept like a child. The prisoner, at the same time, was kneeling in his box, 'and praying fervently, evidently having withdrawn his mind from what was paßßing around him. Before the jury went out, Kiel, by permission of the Judge, addressed the Court. He said .— " Your Honor, gentlemen of the jury : It would be easy for me to-day to play insanity, because of the natural excitement caused by my trial. The excitement would cause a nature like mine to b6 far from calm j but I hope, by the help of God, to retain my calmness. The jury will see by the papers that I am inclined to be religious, but I trust my religious actions will not be thought insane." After repeating a prayer, Riel then said that his mother, who gave him birth forty years ago, had taken care of him and nursed him. He had another mother, the Northwest, whom he loved, and who he was sure would not kill him any more than his earthly mother did. He next proceeded to talk about his grievances, and showed how he came back to the country to benefit the hall - breeds alone, He spoke in English, and said he would try and do his best to be understood. He would yet be justified. He sought to bring about practical results, and when he was dead, which might be soon, he hoped his spirit would yet bring about practical results. For the past ten years he believed he had a mission to perform. He believed it still, and, with the help of his God, he was performing that mission in the criminal's dock, fie had waited patiently for years for an opportunity to perform it. Even if condemned and hanged, he would have the satisfaction of knowing that the world did not believe him insane. By the grace of God, he was the founder of Manitoba. The whites were the pioneers of civilisation, but they had brought demoralisation among the Indians. As to the evidence that he had called Archbishop Tache a thief, he explained that the Archbishop had taken the property of a widow. He was proud that he had the manliness to stand up and denounce such an action, even if committed by such a dignitary. At the close of Kiel's speech two of the jurors were crying, and so were some of the ladies in the Court. The campaign against Riel's half-breed rebels has had the effect of reducing that class to the lowest depths of privation and misery. .Priests, writing from the north-west, cay the Canadian volunteers robbed and plundered the half«breed settlers mercilessly. One padre* Andre, writes to ft Montreal paper: "I regret that Middleton did not complete his work, and that to plunder he did not add massacre, as a painful spectacle of the pro* longed agony we see around us." General Middleton, who conducted the campaign against the rebel Riel, has been created a Knight Commander of the Orders of St. Michael and St. George. The Indian chief JPoun'dmaker, concerned with Riel in the north-weßt rebellion, was found guilty of treason and felony on 18th August, and sentenced to three years' imprisonment in the Ottawa Penitentiary.