Codex Battleford
Transcription: 20
Transcription:
{19 [written in the top right corner of the page and some scribbles]
the long story of his recriminations and threats. It was going too far. [crossed out] and repeat his charges and threats. This wa [crossed out] That was to [sic] much [added above]. The Fathers [crossed out] priests [written over the text] answered him, saying [crossed out] replied [written above] they could no longer tolerate such a scandal, nor approve by their silence, that display of [added] subversive ideas [crossed out] theories [written above]. Hence forth the rupture was made; [added] they would treat him as an enemy. At these words, Louis Riel burst into tears, and gave signs of profound sorrow. To assure themselves of [crossed out] ensure [written above] the sincerity of his regret [crossed out] repentance [written above], the[y] missionaries conducted him to the chapel, and [crossed out] made him swear before the altar that he would never raise a revolt against authority.
This double-dealing did not fail to perplex them. What course should they follow regarding this relapsed? [crossed out] Should they continue to admit him to the reception of the sacrements [sic]? Or should they exclude him as a public sinner? The[y] unanimous response was [crossed out] decided unanimously [written above] that he should receive the sacrements [sic] as in the past [crossed out] usual [written over the text], seeing that his errors [crossed out] intemperance [written above] of language, and his outburst of rage must be attributed to overwork [crossed out] strenuous work [written above], moral sufferings and past troubles, reasons [crossed out] motives [written above] which, according to the general [added in the margins] opinion of all [crossed out], sufficed to cast his mind--not too strong [crossed out] sound [written above]--into a state bordering on insanity, and rendering him to a certain point, irresponsible. estranged [written in the margin]
The situation, in the meantime, became more painful for the missionaries, who [crossed out] who [written again above] saw the minds [crossed out] feelings [written above] of their people, formerly so childlike, so candid [crossed out] friendly [added], and so docile turned from that [crossed out] estranged from them [written above] by an individual [crossed out] this man [added] who had become their idol. All attempts to rectify these perverse ideas [crossed out] wrongs [added], only served to enlarge [crossed out] were of little avail, and [written above] the gulf chasm [written above in pencil] which had been opened up between them and their flock, was enlarging daily [added, crossed out] widening daily [added]
They hoped, somewhat, that Riel fatigued by the struggle, would return whence he had come. Had he not said when leaving that [crossed out] Montana [written above], that [added] he would be absent until the autumn [crossed out] return the next fall? [added above] If he went away, the country, without doubt, would recover its tranquility [crossed out] calm [added in pencil].
This hope was soon revived. Two days later, Riel informed Father Andre of his project to leave the country, on condition, that he received an indemnity. He requested Father Andre obtain for him an interview with Mr. Mc Dowall, member of the North-West council. Father Andre succeeded in persuading the latter, and a confidential meeting took place at the mission of St. Laurent [corrected from “Lawrence"], on December 23rd. Riel made known his plans. If the Canadian Government consented to pay his passage [crossed out] journey [written over the text], and grant him thirty-five thousand dollars, he promised to abandon the North-West territory, and to cease at once all relations with the half-breeds. Father Andre objected, saying that even if he did get that sum, the question of the half-breeds would remain the same. Riel answered. “If I am satisfied, the half-breeds will be also.”
Father Andre did not doubt Riel’s sincerity, and thought it good policy, for the general good, to get him away as soon as possible from the scene of troubles. But the government had contrary designs.
The 20th of January, a telegram arrived from Ottawa, announcing that the government acknowledged all the rights of the half-breeds, and that it had named a commission charged with the application of this decree. The fact that the telegram was not addressed to Riel, showed, without the shadow of a doubt that it would not have any [crossed out] the [written above in pencil] relations, neither direct nor indirect with the agita [crossed out] leader between the leader and the government were xx more strained than ever [note added in pencil, then crossed out] the relations between the Canadian Government and the halfbreed leader were more [crossed out] as strained as ever. [note added at the bottom of the page]}
the long story of his recriminations and threats. It was going too far. [crossed out] and repeat his charges and threats. This wa [crossed out] That was to [sic] much [added above]. The Fathers [crossed out] priests [written over the text] answered him, saying [crossed out] replied [written above] they could no longer tolerate such a scandal, nor approve by their silence, that display of [added] subversive ideas [crossed out] theories [written above]. Hence forth the rupture was made; [added] they would treat him as an enemy. At these words, Louis Riel burst into tears, and gave signs of profound sorrow. To assure themselves of [crossed out] ensure [written above] the sincerity of his regret [crossed out] repentance [written above], the[y] missionaries conducted him to the chapel, and [crossed out] made him swear before the altar that he would never raise a revolt against authority.
This double-dealing did not fail to perplex them. What course should they follow regarding this relapsed? [crossed out] Should they continue to admit him to the reception of the sacrements [sic]? Or should they exclude him as a public sinner? The[y] unanimous response was [crossed out] decided unanimously [written above] that he should receive the sacrements [sic] as in the past [crossed out] usual [written over the text], seeing that his errors [crossed out] intemperance [written above] of language, and his outburst of rage must be attributed to overwork [crossed out] strenuous work [written above], moral sufferings and past troubles, reasons [crossed out] motives [written above] which, according to the general [added in the margins] opinion of all [crossed out], sufficed to cast his mind--not too strong [crossed out] sound [written above]--into a state bordering on insanity, and rendering him to a certain point, irresponsible. estranged [written in the margin]
The situation, in the meantime, became more painful for the missionaries, who [crossed out] who [written again above] saw the minds [crossed out] feelings [written above] of their people, formerly so childlike, so candid [crossed out] friendly [added], and so docile turned from that [crossed out] estranged from them [written above] by an individual [crossed out] this man [added] who had become their idol. All attempts to rectify these perverse ideas [crossed out] wrongs [added], only served to enlarge [crossed out] were of little avail, and [written above] the gulf chasm [written above in pencil] which had been opened up between them and their flock, was enlarging daily [added, crossed out] widening daily [added]
They hoped, somewhat, that Riel fatigued by the struggle, would return whence he had come. Had he not said when leaving that [crossed out] Montana [written above], that [added] he would be absent until the autumn [crossed out] return the next fall? [added above] If he went away, the country, without doubt, would recover its tranquility [crossed out] calm [added in pencil].
This hope was soon revived. Two days later, Riel informed Father Andre of his project to leave the country, on condition, that he received an indemnity. He requested Father Andre obtain for him an interview with Mr. Mc Dowall, member of the North-West council. Father Andre succeeded in persuading the latter, and a confidential meeting took place at the mission of St. Laurent [corrected from “Lawrence"], on December 23rd. Riel made known his plans. If the Canadian Government consented to pay his passage [crossed out] journey [written over the text], and grant him thirty-five thousand dollars, he promised to abandon the North-West territory, and to cease at once all relations with the half-breeds. Father Andre objected, saying that even if he did get that sum, the question of the half-breeds would remain the same. Riel answered. “If I am satisfied, the half-breeds will be also.”
Father Andre did not doubt Riel’s sincerity, and thought it good policy, for the general good, to get him away as soon as possible from the scene of troubles. But the government had contrary designs.
The 20th of January, a telegram arrived from Ottawa, announcing that the government acknowledged all the rights of the half-breeds, and that it had named a commission charged with the application of this decree. The fact that the telegram was not addressed to Riel, showed, without the shadow of a doubt that it would not have any [crossed out] the [written above in pencil] relations, neither direct nor indirect with the agita [crossed out] leader between the leader and the government were xx more strained than ever [note added in pencil, then crossed out] the relations between the Canadian Government and the halfbreed leader were more [crossed out] as strained as ever. [note added at the bottom of the page]}
