Saturday, May 28, 2011

Setting the Record Straight

This appeared on the editorial pages of the Winnipeg Free Press recently...
In your editorial Radicals always in our midst (March 16), I was surprised to read in your editorial that in 1871 "the Irish rebel John J. O'Neill met Métis leaders in Manitoba to enlist support for an invasion of Canada in an effort to weaken British oppression in Ireland." I would respond: what Métis leaders?
I have researched this issue extensively. William O'Donoghue had recruited four Fenian leaders to come to Manitoba. The Fenian Brotherhood did not officially sanction this trip, but provided funds for 300 muskets. They had about 30 men with them when they crossed the Manitoba border and ransacked the HBC post at Emerson, which was called "Fort Pembina."

Someone ran across the border and notified Capt. Lloyd Wheaton at the U.S. military post. Wheaton, who had been warned by the White House to stop the raid, crossed the border, rounded up the Irish Americans and took them back across into North Dakota. Canadian patriots in Winnipeg were still rounding up recruits to repel the invaders.

When they appeared before a Pembina magistrate, they were liberated on the grounds it did not break American law to invade Canada. However, three Pembina Métis were later arrested for helping the Fenians and charged with treason by officials in Winnipeg: Louis Letendre, Andre Jerome and Isadore Villeneuve.
Only one was convicted, but Jerome was held over the winter at Lower Fort Garry. He later claimed he had been tortured to give up the names of the Métis who helped the Fenians. He did not confess and was later set free as there was no evidence against him. However, these three Métis were later exiled to the U.S. in 1872.

I conclude that they were put through these show trials to intimidate other Métis from taking up arms against the Canadian government. The Fenians involved were not punished. John O'Neill did not meet Louis Riel or any other Métis leader, since he did not get beyond Emerson.

It is unfortunate this failed Fenian raid is usually dismissed as "an absurd example of failed terrorism." It had a traumatic effect on the families who were terrorized by Canadian government officials.

I refer you to our article The Métis in O'Donoghue's Raid, published in Manitoba History, Spring/Summer 2000: 24-38. Andre Jerome is the great-grandfather of my co-author, Edward A. Jerome of Hallock, Minn.
It is unfortunate your editorial writer knows more about John O'Neill than about the three Métis who were scapegoats in this tragic event.

RUTH SWAN
Winnipeg

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:10 AM

    Trish
    Unfortunately, I did not read the Free Press editorial, to which Dr. Swan’s response is directed. I am however, very familiar with the events to which it relates. Dr. Swan’s response puts into perspective not only these events but also the prevailing attitudes toward the Métis people of the area. It sheds light on what was to be the final Fenian incursion into Canadian territory. Ironically, when the international boundary was finally surveyed a few years later the building was found to be on US land. However, to suggest that the Métis people were somehow complicit in this event cannot be substantiated.
    William O’Donoghue was at one time an ally of Louis Riel. In 1870 he had hoped for a full scale Métis uprising that would eventually lead to the American annexation of Rupert’s Land. When this failed to happen O’ Donoghue turned to the Fenian Brotherhood and the United States government for help. In, Riel: A Life of Revolution, Maggie Siggins writes that by 1871, O’Donoghue, considered Riel to be a “coward and a traitor”. With the assistance of Pembina lawyer and Dakota legislator, Enos Stutsman, a document was drawn up that was to be presented to President U. S. Grant. Its wording suggested that there was a great deal of Métis support for annexation. O’ Donoghue then drafted a, “constitution for the Republic of Rupert’s Land.”
    In reality the was no support for this. In fact, Riel and his supporters had agreed that, “…a visible demonstration of Imperial loyalty would refute…the charges of treason and hasten the promulgation of the expected amnesty.” Siggins further states that the when news of O’Donoghue’s planned invasion reached the Métis, scouts were sent out to determine the size of the Fenian force and keep the Canadians informed.
    After the US military had rounded up the Fenians, and returned them to Pembina, it was Métis scouts that located O’Donoghue hiding about three miles north of the border, and returned him to Pembina. Siggins further points out that Métis support for the status quo was again confirmed when, Lieutenant- Governor Archibald, dispatched 150 Métis troops to the border to ensure that, “no stray Fenians were about.”
    After a brief hearing O’Donoghue and the other Fenians were released. The reason being that no American laws had been broken, this however could have been refuted as a point of jurisprudence. In two previous Fenian encroachments into Canada Fenian leaders were arrested and charged under breaches of American Neutrality laws. Speaking in his own defense O’Donoghue at the hearing was angry at Col Wheaton and the United States army for interfering. He was disgruntled that American soldiers had dared to fire on fellow citizens. To paraphrase. O’Donoghue, “it is lucky someone wasn’t killed.”
    Someone however, had to be accountable and sadly Jerome and the other two Métis men were handy. Their arrest and interment was simply the result of the prevalent racism and anti-Métis sentiments that existed with the Canadians of Manitoba. Someone had to be punished. Of course, the final punishment of the Métis nation came 15 years later at Batoche. There Canadian troops , answered the Métis concerns with cannon and rifle fire, that led to the arrest, trial and ultimately to the execution of Louis Riel.
    James McClelland

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  2. James, thank you for the further information, which fills in many gaps. I will have to check the book out you mention...

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