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The following letter in reply to a criticism in the South Edmonton News has been handed the Buxtetin for publication : Ottawa, Jan. 30.—My Dear Father Lemarchand: I am very thankful to you for having called my attention to the article in the South Edmonton News regarding my scheme of a reservation for the half-breeds. I find it very strange that some people are afraid of my plan and accuse the govern ment, while the plan is yet unknown to tohem. Is it jealousy or misunderstand ing? I trust it is the latter. Let my good friends who have already found fault with the government and myself calm themselves by reflecting on the following statement : 1. In my memorial to the government in which I expressed my scheme I asked a certain portion of land to be used and uti lized in trust and by a lease, as long as the purpose intended is obtained. If the plan should prove a failure, the land reverts to the crown. 2. What objection can these fault finders have because the government is lending some ground of the Northwest Territory, removed from the white settlement, sur rounded by Indian reserves, to one class of citizens, who are poor today and who can not compete with their brothers, the Whites? If it is not an act of justice it is an act of charity and patriotism. In that new location, being alone and by themselves with the aid of their missionaries, the half breeds may be rendered once more happy and contented, . 3. The supposition tht this land is given to the church (Roman Catholic) as its property is simply abserd. Let these people not be too quick in denunciation which resembles somewhat jealousy. I know as well as Rev. Mr. McDougall that all the half-breeds are not Roman Catholics. Therefore in the above mentioned scheme it is provided that a certain portion of the territory shall be set apart for the Protest ant half-breeds, provided they desire to accept it. So, the rey. pastors would be free to accompany their flocks there. Who has ever pretended the contrary? Let the Presbyterian, the Methodists, the Anglicans etc., make the same applications for their own people. That is their business. They can address their application to the proper face and leave me alone with my work. am very much surprised to find objection, not from recently arrived immigrants who pretend to be gentlemen, but from people fom whom I might reasonably expect better feelings and frateral philanthropy. 4. Regarding the words “lazy and shift less” applied to the half-breeds, leave it to the credit of the journal, which knows very little about these people in the old times. The christian missionaries of that period, of every denomination, remember as well as I that these half-breeds,English or French, Protestant or Catholic, were good christians honest and smart. That is the reason why I love them yet and am trying to redeem them. My work is not a work of prosely tism, but of self supporting. At the same time I would advise the manager of the South Edmonton News to watch his own words. He might find some day that it is not proper to apply names to people who gives no provocation. Once for all I inform those opponents of the half-breed race that I will stand in the front to defend and protect those whom I am glad to call my children. For our newcomers into the country, and always disposed to despise the poor half breeds, let them read the reports of the tourists, engineers, surveyors, and other overnment parties, etc., and they will earn that these ‘lazy and shiftless ” half breeds are reported as nice people, good guides, best interpreters, and honest ser vants. Yours, very and truly, brother in Christ. A. Laconis, oO. M. 1
Newspaper Details
Edmonton Bulletin
Edmonton, Alberta, CA
Thu, Feb 27, 1896
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Cherish M.
USA 26 Jun 2026
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