THE LAST GREAT MONOPOLY. 41 



exercised their almost absolute power well and justly, 

 in so far that they have administered with impartiality 

 the laws which they have made. They have gained 

 the affection and respect of the Indians by kindly 

 intercourse and just dealing. But the day of mono- 

 polies has gone by, and it seems strange that the 

 governing power of this colony should still be left in 

 the hands of a trading company, whose interests are 

 opposed to its development. It is time the anomaly 

 should cease, and a proper colonial government be 

 established, whose efforts would be directed to the 

 opening out of a country so admirably adapted for 

 settlement. 



From Eed Eiver to the Eocky Mountains, along 

 the banks of the Assiniboine and the fertile belt of the 

 Saskatchewan, at least sixty millions of acres of the 

 richest soil lie ready for the farmer when he shall be 

 allowed to enter in and possess it. This glorious 

 country, capable of sustaining an enormous population, 

 lies utterly useless, except for the support of a few 

 Indians, and the enrichment of the shareholders of the 

 Last Crreat Monopoly. 



Since the time of our visit the Company has 

 passed into other hands. The fact that the new 

 directors sent out Dr. Eae to survey a route for a 

 telegraph line through their territories into British 

 Columbia, redounds greatly to their credit, and in- 

 duces a hope that their policy will be more liberal 

 than that of their predecessors. 



The stationary condition of the Eed Eiver 

 colony is not, hovv^ever, to be entirely attributed 

 to the despotic rule of the Hudson's Bay Company, 



