New-York tribune., 1890-05-01
MANTTOB4'S NEW SCHOOL-LAW
TO GO INTO FORCE To-DAY-A BITTER WAR OF
RACES AND RELIGIONS REGARDING IT.

RACES AND RELIGIONS REGARDING IT.
Nortreal Anrn 20 fsnecian-The new school law Of
Manitoba goes into effect tomorrow. and interest III
It's working is aroused to a high pitch not onN III
that Province. bu, throughout the "hoe Do'hl"io'
The Question of religion and race are rddlcaN III
volved in it, and the advocates ana opponents oi IL
are equally resolnte 10 fight it out 70 the bitter end
The purport Of the law. briefly stated j 10 apoil'h
the separate School system, and TO consolidate ''e
educational interests Of the Province under one man
acemcnt and to bring the pupils of all races ana re-
ligions under one form Of instruction 'huer tl'
measure the state Will recognize ana support ho "o
nomnational schools. All schools RECEIVING pnDhc
aid or counenance Of any kind must Oe Pu'ho
schools subject the control OF pubAc school boaiuS
and a. to general principle, Of management 10 tc
Advisory Board of the Province. The new system IS
a very simple one in its details There VIII be a
Department OF Education. CO.'S sting of th" EA"cn-
tive Council or committee Of that council. Inc
functions OF this Department will be to appoint schooI
in -pectOrs and teachers OF model and normal h"oN
and fix their salaries. u provide for schooi regis
ers ETC., and 10 make stated reports on cuHcdlI"h ID
matters. The Advisory Board will consist ol five
members of whom two will be appointed by the De
partment of Education one viii be elected by tac
school trustees. one will be elected hY the school
teachers. and will he chosen Ov the University
Council This Advisory Board Will have power u
arrange for the equipment and pr pc ventilation II
school houses TO select and determine 'hc text books
10 be used. to decide 10 the qualification OF IN
spectors of schools 10 fN the standard 10 be Oh
tanned by pupils for promotion 10 hG. schools. {"
prescribe the forms OF religious services I" bc fol
lowed in all the schools. and 10 make general
regulations for the manaG mcnt Of educational wora
ii Is provided. however. that the trustees of ihc
schools be free accept reject the religious
exercises which the board prcscribc>. but they can
not adopt any other exercise, without the consent
Of the board
~ was foreseen. this law has been at every step
bitterly opposed by the French Roman Catholics, and
a formal appeal against it in their behalf has been
made 10 the Ottawa Government. This appeal i
base on constitutional grounds. 1t j. argued that
by abOlishing the separate schools the Province takes
from the minority right in the matter of education
which was guaranteed t. it by the term, q Union
This argument rests upon the clause in the British
North American Act, which reads thus: " IN AID
each Province the Legislature may exclusively
make laws in relation to education, subject AID a.
cording TO the following pToy.sos /. Nothing IN
any such law snail pIeludlcaIY alect any reht vf
privilege with respect 20 denomlnatOnal schools wh
any class OF person, have by law Ia the Province AT
Against this it is urged that Manitoba shlcl came
in 20 long alter confederation and then with SPECIAL
legislative powers which this claus implies. IL
support of TINS view the Prince Edward Island
j. cted That Province came in late ana
not &9ree to any such restriction Of legislative an
and Was thus relieved Of the pressure Of other m,i
ters, il turned its attention t. educational reform
adopted system practically Identical with that
which is about 10 % into force IL Manitoba.
The opponents oi the re" y st'm moreover declare
that the order of separate schools -ps,.av
authorized and agreed t. by the Dominion Got-rri
ucnt under tAe lill o. flights Hhlch presented
before the entrance Of Manitoba by delegate. from the
Provincial Government Of Louis Rel. Ihis .> au,n.
"a taat tlc tHYtc! fIIcit could
not without stultfylH- itself make auy such agree
m.nt the delegate. OF government ~Hlrh u ic-
gdrded wholly unauthorized and .uI-t t4tOialiy
unable 10 perform any legitimate a. ui government.
And even If any agreement Wa made with govern
ncnt which the Dominion did not recognize. there b.
y stem formed part Ol IT, or that that y-tcu Nd,
thus 10 be imposed perMaue y upon the ucW Province.
il - even declared on excellent authority that
II the Constitution cqulc, the continuance OF tae
Statue quo which existed before the InurAa;lJu ol ilc
Province 1t does not therefore NECESSARILY tali for
separate schools, for At That time there ~t:tc
aided sepd.a ate schools. The dcLolindi4 ,,
had before the Union simply the right fo open L..r
own schools at their expense and tl.., rIelt j.
not htcrfered with by the new law which g,t, -lto
force tomorrow.
1t i, likely that the appeal will be dispose Of hy
decided purely on grounds Of political cNpcdcncy.
Relations between Manitoba and IN" ret Of a..
Dominion have for long time been g.catly ,trdll"l.
iHc totraidui party there Ia, loudly talked Of
SION from the dominion unless tl"y. bong IN the
MAJORITY, are allowed 10 !ce.lat" a, They pca-c. The
catholic party has been oquaIly out-pOhcI and now
threatens, ~ cas- the new school - stem is allowed
TO 20 and remain in force 10 20 over sOlldv 10 the
party idN0llng annexation TO the United states, be
DcVlnc a. they do that were they taken into The
American | hion their separate schools would be-
recognized and supported by the stale. Whatever
ment.