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HIS HONOR: Prisoner, have you any remarks to make to the jury, if so, now is your time to speak?
When I came into the North West in July, the first of July 1884, I found the Indians suffering. I found the half-breeds eating the rotten pork of the Hudson Bay Company and getting sick and weak every day. Although a half breed, and having no pretension to help the whites, I also paid attention to them. I saw they were deprived of responsible government; I saw that they were deprived of their public liberties.
It is true, gentlemen, I believed for years I had a mission, and when I speak of a mission you will understand me not as trying to play the role of insane before the grand jury so as to have a verdict of acquittal upon that ground. I believe that I have a mission, I believe I had a mission at this very time.
He said: ‘Yes, I want to know what it is.’ I told him the prayer. It is speaking to God: ‘My Father, bless me according to the views of Thy Providence which are bountiful and without measure.’ He said to me: ‘You can say that prayer while I bless you.’ Well, he blessed me and I pronounced that prayer for myself, for my wife, for my children, and for Gabriel Dumont.
He did not say that in the box. My word is perhaps not testimony, but if he was asked in the box to say if there was an oath taken, he could not deny it, and he would have to name the four men, and he would have to name himself.
Your Honors, gentlemen of the jury: If I was a man of today perhaps it would be presumptuous to speak in that way, but the truth is good to say, and it is said in a proper manner, and it is without any presumption, it is not because I have been libeled for fifteen years that I do not believe myself something.
When we got to the church of St Anthony on the 18th, there was a witness who said, I think George Ness, that I said to Father Moulin, ‘You are a Protestant.’ According to my theory I was not going to speak in that way, but I said that we were protesting against the Canadian Government, and that he was protesting against us, and that we were two protestants in our different ways.
Last night while I was taking exercise the spirit who guides and assists me and consoles me, told me that to-morrow somebody will come , five English and one French… I am consoled by that… I said that to my two guards and you can go for the two guards. I told them that if the spirit that directs me is the spirit of truth it is today that I expect help.
I am glad that the Crown have proved that I am the leader of the half-breeds in the North-West. I will perhaps be one day acknowledged as more than a leader of the half-breeds, and if I am I will have an opportunity of being acknowledged as a leader of good in this great country. The half-breeds also knew that I told them that they would be punished, that I did not say it of my own responsibility, but that I said it in the same way as I have told them other things. It was said to me that the nation would be punished. Why? Because she had consented to leave Rome too quick. What was the meaning of that? There was a discussion about too quick; they said that they should do it at once. Too quick does not mean too soon, if we say yes, it shows no consideration to the man.
You have given me your attention, your Honors; you have given me your attention, gentlemen of the jury, and this great audience, I see that if I go any further on that point, I will lose the favor you have granted me up to this time, and as I am aiming all the time at practical results, I will stop here, master of myself, through the help of God. I have only a few more words to say, your Honors. Gentlemen of the jury, my reputation, my liberty, my life, are at your discretion.
2nd That the North-West Council generated by the Federal Government has the great defect of its parent.
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