New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-08
THE TREASURY or QUEBEC EMPTY.

THE QUESTION NOW Is HOW SHALL THE
JESUITS BE PAID FOR THEIR LOST ESTATESi
Ottawa, April (SpeciaD.-T Government has
learned through Mr.. Mercier, Premier of Quebec,
that the Provincial treasury is absolutely empty.
The Federal Parliament having refused to indorse
the Protestant proposal to disallow the Jesuits'
Estates Act it will be necessary in short time
to procure somewhere or other the 100000 to be
handed over under that world-famed measure to
the Jesuits and other Roman Catholic bodies in
the Province, and placed at the disposal of the
Pope. In the depleted state of the treasury the
Premier proposed to raise the money by public
loan. Under the laws Of the country this would
require an act Of the Legislature, and the act
must be signed by the Lieute nant-Governor Of the
Province, who has the veto power Now it can be
stated on excellent authority that the Lieutenant
Governor has not only made up his mind to veto
this bill when presented to him, but has so advised
the Premier.
When this becomes known It will create sensa-
ton. The Protestants have been organizing and
tretting and resolving on the assumption that the
Government has sold the country to the Pope and
the French Canadians, and now It will happen that
a loyal son Of the Church, who is French Cana
dian too has done what all the Protestants Of the
thing by simply refusing to sign the BILL and that
on constitutional grounds. lie will not sign the
bin because he cannot do SO without violation Of
duty.
The powers of the Legislature to vote money
are rigidly restricted. The compensation Of the
Jesuits is not among the purposes for which the
public credit can be pledged, or the public treas
ury drawn on.
The Jesuits for whose exclusive benefit the
act was passed, and who were the chief movers in
the matter, find themselves quietly put aside when
il comes to the appOrtonmcnt Of the grant The
act left the disposition of the fund in the hands
Of the Pope, and the Holy Father has decided
that only $3.50, 900 out Of the 100000 is TO go
to the Jesuits the remainder being divided among
the ecclesiastical and scholastic institutions and
bishops. The award, however wise and just it
may be- has aroused strong feeling, and subjected
every act of the Government to the Severest
scrutiny. Even if the LicutenantGovernor were
willing to run the risk and incur the odium OF
signing the bill 10 raise the S40O, 600, which he
is not he would not be permitted to do SO as long
as there remained the slightest shred Of luegthty
The Premier of Quebec, whose chief glory in
the eyes OF the masses OF the Province Is the pas
sage of the Jesuits' Estates Act in the teeth OF
Protestant opposition is the leader OF the Liberal
marty of the Province The Liberals are in power
in Quebec, but in opposition in the Dominion
Parliament The situation is equivalent 20 Dem
oerntic majority ruling In New York or massa~
chnsetts with a Republican President aud RepuO-
hcan majority in both houses at washington.
The Lieutenant-Governor Of Quebec, however IS
q Conservative, and strong one, lie Is: there,
fore opposed to Ghe Premier and the party IN
power at Quebec. and in sympathy with the Pre-
mier and the party in power at Ottawa.
The situation is undcniably one OF the moSI .yI
complicated ON record, and its development VIII
be watched with deep interest by students OF
social political and religious struggles