With all this attention being paid to the country and with the press of
Canada awakened to see the possibility of extending Canada in this
direction, it is not to be wondered at, that adventurous spirits found
out this Eden and sought in it for the tree of life, perchance often
finding in it the tree of evil as well as that of good.
Of course, to the modern philosopher the disturbances of these peaceful
seats is simply the symptom of progress and the struggle that is bound
to take place in all development.
But to the Hudson's Bay Company pessimist, or to the grey-headed sage,
the greatest disturbers of this Eden were two Englishmen, Messrs.
Buckingham and Coldwell, who, in 1859, entered Red River Colony, and
established that organ for good or evil, the newspaper. This first paper
was called "The Nor'-Wester." It is amusing to read the comments upon
its entrance made by Hudson's Bay Company writers, both English and
French. The constitution and conduct of the Council of Assiniboia was
certainly the weak point in the Hudson's Bay regime, and the Nor'-Wester
kept this point so constantly before the people that it was really a
thorn in the side of the Company.
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