It was a cold-blooded,
cruelly-executed and revolting scene--it was the act of a mad man.
"Whom the Gods destroy they first make mad." The execution of Scott was
the death-knell of Riel's hopes as a ruler. Canada was roused to its
centre. Determined to have no further communication with Riel, and
feeling that he had done all that he could do, Commissioner Smith, on
the 18th of March, returned to Canada. On the 8th of March, Bishop Tache
returned from Rome. A few days after Chief Factor Smith's departure, he
was followed to Canada by Father Richot and Mr. Scott, and they shortly
after by Judge Black, accompanied by Major Button. The conflict of
opinion was transferred to Ottawa, and the act constituting the Province
of Manitoba was passed.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
WOLSELEY'S WELCOME.
Canada's military experience, ever since the excitement of the "Trent
Affair," had been in dealing with a persistent band of Irishmen, posing
as Fenians, and egged on by sympathizers in the United States. Now there
was trouble, as we have seen, in her own borders, and though here again,
American influence of a hostile nature played its part, yet it was those
connected with one of the two races in Canada who were now giving
trouble in the Northwestern prairies.
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