The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-21
All Canada Shaken to the Center,
Tremendous Opposition to the
Award to the Jesuits.
Catholic Property to the Amount
Catholic Property to the Amount
OF s3oo,ooo,ooo at stake.
Sir JOIN Macdonald Has an Ugly
Fight on His Hands.
VIII It Hasten AnnexaAon9-The Prot
estln. Element Profoundly Asit-
atad-Angry Discussion in
Canuck Circles.


treal special says: Canadatoday stands ON
the brink OF u prccpicc from which, TO an
unparalleled observer seems but two
ways OF csclpo-a religious aud civil war
OF unparalleled virulonce or an appeal TO
the Congress of the United States for adj
mission into the Union.
1t all arises out OF very clover move on
the part OF the Catholic Church.
A few years since all the provincial gov
ernmcnts were in political sympathy with
Sir John Macdonald's administration at
Ottawa, except that OF the premier prov
incc OF Ontario, where the Liberals have
held the fort since confederation. This
state Of affairs, with It's smooth running
and lack Of friction between the central
power and the various branches of this
very much governed country did not suit
the purposes Of Ia g leaders Of the Catholic
Church, aud so q determined secret move
mcnt was set atoot by which the conscrva-
tive provincial govern ments should
be overturned aud their places
taken by Liberals, with whom
the Church entered into u compact
that their success should bc mutually
beneficial. The proyucrso OF Quebec aud
Mani ,oha were the last to ial into line a
little over year since, aud since then
there has BEEN in both Of these provinces
particularly, a marked advance in the in.
ilucncc cxcrtcd by the church and the
Catholic party.
Quebec, rs is we'll known, isoverwhclm-
incly French and Catholic, and Manitoba
las o very large proportion OF French or
ha,i.brccd Catholics in it's population.
In Quebec It was the agitation consequent
upon the execution Of Louis Ricl. the
hllibrcci leader oi the Northwest rebel
lion OF 1855, which swept the Conscrya-
tiycs from power aud carried consttu-
cucics which from time immcmoriul had
voted the Conservative ticket into the
ranks OF the Liberals. ln Manitoba the
influence OF Archbishop rache, all para
mount among ihc mctis, G.iicod 10 carry
tho Liberals into power on the ggi alton
which, though i.s o.tcU die object was 10
secure independent railway commuuica-
ton with the United STATES, really had a
lNIHN NllNlN ht l.N lfHW NlA NNt' tAtifiNta W
the church 10 tho side OF the Liberal
party.
TIM CuSTIsCNrtoN riAN.
But in Quebec the bargain had its price.
The Church, always Witchlul Ia increase
Dos prestige among the hab.Auis, even tu
demanding that is able representative,
Cardinal IJsChcwau, shall have equal
rank with the representative u the Queen
un state occasions, had made ils compact
with the victorious Liberals and ,odly's
agitation Is the result tionUrc MERCER,
the clover aud not over srrupulous poll.
| iician, lhc pusgu PWmioroi thu province,
was educated by the Jrsuiis. and has aIl
his life long had their influence no his
back. aud his accession to power was
marked by the -citlcmcntof what rs known
Us the Jy.mils estate question, matter
which had dyfUd thc efforts oi all previous
/ rrcmigIs. probably because he was the
| Inst direct instrument Of the Jcsuits In the
government Of the province. These estates.
| decided 10 the Society ul Jesus ni various
| times, or purchased by them during the
/ French regime, were soon after tlc com
/ quest Of Canada declared cDntBratcd Ia the
/ Crown Of Great Britain, and their proceeds
/ were added io thr vast wealth Oi the
hlAlH W AHltNiAAAH ~. I'i.AliN W AlAtH 'flt-
| hscaliOn may be- q question which will
! bear a good deal Of discussion but the
/ suppression OF the Spiriy Ut Jesus by
| Pope Clement in l713 settled the question
/ oi the Jrsuits ONncuhip of the estates in
/ Canada, aud even thc modern Successors
/ Ut the society admit that they have no
especially legal claim Ia either the estates
or their proceeds
II was IN 1874 tia, Pore Plus rc-cslab-
/ lishcl thc order, aud ifIm that time down
Ia the present day lhp authorities oi thc
| Church have been rnduyurlnl 10 persuade
the Guycfnmcut OF The province ui Quebec
/ Ia award some compensation Tor the estates
cundscatcd b. thc Crown by George III.
! aud transferred 90 thr provinces 10 the
1851.
NrucirE'suurauy.
Tlonorc MERCER byrlm. Premier In Fob
! mary. 1855. and had hardly passed through
his lirt big encounter boo ihH Legislature
before be- began correspondence with the
Propaganda regarding ibHHu estates. Tho
history ol thu negotiation which followed
will be- ul interest us pI. #Hns ,hr nader ~
understand the situation thoroughly la
the lr,t letter ',G alru.af indicated That
his attainment 90 power would enable him
90 carry out what hli h.Hp Dis higH uu-
bIt.on restitution 90 iHH society ui Jesus
Tor H. coniscalcd property and accord.
ingly hc asked the peru. zion oi the Holy
See 10 sell the properly known n the
jcsuils College 90 Quu.t 1nd deposit the
proceeds pending iu1. sHi lrmcnL Ju'
der date oi March ] Co., fmurncn Cnrii.
nal sgooni replied, uali.uR. ihg request
~ scll tho property which belonged
10 the JpsuiB bpi1w ihrir lupprrs.
sion, upon the expires condition that
the sum received FuI. h' deposited and
let free Tor the dispUsI. ui ihn Holy See.
On March y tho QWDrr government
called that they could uli accept these
terms, rs calculated 81 place the Govern
mont too much nj thU power ol lhc ifop'
agunda; but better DIH.rH .poh pre-
vailed, and when on Che -lh oI 'he same
month clblcgran SOS 'r'lIen ron
, Cardinal >imcOni the Gov. hmehl yic'uel'
This message ran.
"IhC Pope allows iN0 Government ~
retain tho proceeds U. ..r s''D oi ",
JcsuIts' estates asa spool l'p'n' 70 y,
dispoled Of according lu 'Ic s'N'uoh o.
/ the Holy Sec" .,, ,
. Premier McFoier a' Hu l,i ,.,''ll
into communication WI.l vac i'e'' f"'''0'