Yes. sir. There are about a million of French Canadian citizens in the United States. and I submit we are not going to permit those men. after they become naturalized. to be hanged for nothing in Canada. without intiuiring of foreign poweis. when it is brought to the attention of the Government of the United States that they have been wrongfully accused. that they are in a condition of mind incapable of committing crime. and that even due process of law has been violated in trying their case. I know those people have not had all the advantages of American citizenship. but there are a great many intelligent. cultivated. and eminent gentlemen among them. and as a whole population. I believe there is as much of hope in the FrenchCanadian population as in any of the immigration which seeks our shores. But to proceed at the point where I was interrupted: Fourth. The Government would not be disposed to inquire into or review the proceedings of the court which tried Riel unless it was shown that he was discriminated againsti. e.. that ne was tried by harsher methods than a Canadian citizen would have been tried by. Fifth. Tile Goverunment recognizes the principle that every country has a right to determine for itself what constitutes treason. and it would not be disposed to question Canadas right to try Riel for treason even though he be a native or naturalized citizen of the United States. I understand the Secretary to say that Wiels ease was like some of the Irish socalled revolutionists. so far as it regards this Government. and that the Ainerican Government would do all that was proper for Rie]. as it had done for the others. With these views of the Department of State before us. it seems to me thatour duty is traced more clearly.
Keywords matched
naturalized immigration