The Radicalization of the Montreal Irish: The Role of The Vindicator

The author investigates the political influence of the Montreal pro-Patriote newspaper "The Vindicator" in the decade leading up the 1837 Rebellion. He notes that following on from The Canadian Spectator which, under its radical Irish editor Jocelyn Waller (c. 1772-1828), had supported Papineau's party from 1822 till 1828, Daniel Tracey's (c. 1794-1832) "The Vindicator" became the stablemate of La Minerve in offering a forum for the Patriotes' more radical ideas. Tracey took up their demands for constitutional change and suffered imprisonment as a result. Tracey's candidature in the 1832 Montreal West by-election involved him in the worst street violence that Montreal had witnessed in a long time. Following Tracey's premature death the editorship of The Vindicator passed to Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan (c. 1797-1880), who maintained the strong radical line of his predecessor. The paper championed the Patriotes' Ninety-Two Resolutions and confronted the deep political divisions that existed in the Irish communities of Montreal and Quebec City until its sudden violent demise in November 1837.

Canadian Journal of Irish Studies/Revue canadienne d’études irlandaises

Vol. 31

no. 1

90-97

Spring 2005

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