New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-15
MANITOBA'S ADMISSION.

Three wears later the Province OF Manitoba was
constituted and admitted into the confederation
and the act by which this was effected also mad
nrovlson OF the same kind. Under this act the
Roman Catholics Of Manitoba acquired the right
Of supnort from the public funds for their separate
schools so long the province cnose 10 40 So
The province supposed 10 nave assumed inc
obligations OF the agreement by which Roman
Catholic schools aided by the dominion DE-
FIRE the Province OF Manitoba was carved out OF
the Northwest Territories; but. as Is strongly con-
tended those obligations were not to be perpetual
After twenty years OF this state or educauohal
affairs the Manitoba Government resoVed 10 es-
bsh a system Of unsectarian popular educauoh
The Public Schools act OF 1920 was passed DONG
away with Government support of separate schools
Then began the litigation whose results have been
briefly stated. The outcome OF all the 1udiciai pro-
ceed,ngs constituting q series ascending from the
first decision in Manitoba TO the iinal one by the
Prjvy Council in the present year, Is that the de-
termination OF the question whether Manitoba
shall have an unsectaran school system or not
rests in the first place with the Dominion NaDine',
and. falling this, with the Dominion Parliament.
II is deeply to be regretted that the judicial deber-
atons with the ability and mpartality which char
acterize them. should be superseded IN the treat
ent OF this question by the political exigehcy ana
prejudice with which partisanship Is necessarily
charged II 10 now little better than chance
whether the educational interests of Manitoba
shall receive broad and equitable consideration
Tho course OF events thus far confirms this. Both
political parties show nervous Apprehension OF
being considered too decidedly on one side or the
other and with good rcason-tor the rank ana ME
OF both are composed OF Protestant and Catholic
electors. 1t is that. under the power given
,ho,, hv the act above referred to. the Dominion
Cabinet has issued remedial order 10 the Mani
,oba Government 10 restore separate schools. and
th.s would apparently indicate its adherence to the
poIicy of the Roman Catholic hierarchy
But there is much confusion and uncertainty as
TO the support which Is now given, and which In
Few months will be ardently sought for at gem
eral election from the Conservative party as a
whole That party contains large Orange as well
as a Roman Catholic element. At the last session
OF the House Of Commons there was no decisive
commitment by either OF the two political leaders
az to his future course. The Manitoba Govern
mont has distinctly refused to obey the remedial
order sent forth from Ottawa Fearful of the con-
aict which would be FASTENED by rash action. the
Dominion Cabinet has extended the time WITHIN
which It is hoped Manitoba VIII see the way to
acauescence compromise and In the mean tine
the education O; public opinion goes on
THE ROOTS OF THE DIFFICULTY.
II II were only a discussion OF technicat.es or a
d,spute in regard the disposition OF public funds
there would not be the resoute attitude which
marks opposing views on this question But the
difficulty Is much deeper than this, and touches
racial as we'll religious prejud.ces. The solid
French influence OF Quebec Is thrown in to bend
political acton to i;s will. This IL the most dis
turbing factor OF the situation The solidarity OF
the Roman Catholic Church in that province makes
1t unit OF political force whose direction is al
ways the same. II could hardly be expected to be
otherwise: but the Issue ~ complicated by funda-
mental difference between the point OF view OF
Roman Catholics and that OF Professionals To the
Roman Catholic the question OF separate schools
is a religious one; to the vast majority OF Protes-
tans It s political. When the religious conscience
OF the former meets the sense of political equity
to which the latter appeals, 1t is difficult TO find
a common ground OF reconciliation. one points 10
the Church as his ultimate guide. the other to the
history OF religious liberty and the principles which
have been established by L.
Again. while the Roman Catholic preates stand
for the view which is authoritative for that COM
Iuunion. they do not command tho unanimous