The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-14
MANITOBA is DEFIANT
THE DOMINION GOVERNMENTS DE-
MANDS WILL NOT BE OBEYED.
AttOrncy-GencraI SiftOn, in Memo
rial. Says Separate Schools Cam
not He Established.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, June BIN. the
Manitoba Legislature this afternoon Attor-
ney-general Sifton gave notice of a motion
setting forth Manitoba's reply To the DOM
inion governments demands that separate
schools should be established in Manitoba.
1t is direct refusal of the demand. The
reply is in the form OF memorial ad-
dressed TO his Excellency, the Governor-gen-
eral of Canada in council. 1t first recites
the remedial order. and then presents the
following
are commanded to restore TO our Roman
Catholic fellow -citizens. are substantially
previously to the year 1890. Compliance
with the terms of the order would restore
Catholic separate schools, with no more sat
than existed prior to the said date.
The educational policy embodied in our
present statutes was adopted after an eX-
animation of the results of the policy there
tofore followed, under which the separate
Roman Catholic schools (now sought TO be
restoredD had existed for upwards of nine
teen years. The said schools were found TO
be inefficient. AS conducted under the Ro-
ton they did not possess the attributes of
efficient modern public schools. Their con-
Si fective. T AS result OF of leaving a large sec
ton of the population with no better means
of education than was thus supplied. mary
people grew up In state OF illiteracy so
far as we are aware; there has never been
an attempt made to defend these schools on
their merits. and We do not know of any
ground upon which the expenditure of pub
lie money in their support could be justi-
fled.
spectfully state to your Excellency in coun-
ell that we cannot accept the responsibility
of carrying into effect the terms of the
1890 have given an impetus to educational
work, but the difficulties which are in
| herent in our circumstances have constant
lxy tn he met obvious
establishment of a set of Roman Catholic
schools, followed by set OF Anglican
| and other schools, would impair our
present system that any approach TO even
our present general standard OF efficiency
| plate the inauguration OF such state of
affairs with very grave apprehension We
have no hesitation in saying that there
| to minds, would more seriously i'm
| peril the development Of our province.
| der was made there was then available TO
your Excellency in council full and ac-
curate information as to the working of
| believe that there was lacking the means
! of forming a correct judgment to the
effect upon the province Of r,d the changes paGs
spectfully submit, that, it, is. not
| investigation OF the whole subject. Should
! such a course be adopted we shall cheer
| fully assist in offering the most complete
| Information available.
1T is urged most strongly that upon so
important a matter, involving. as it does.
| the religious feelings and convictions of
! different classes of the people in Canada
| and the educational interests of a prov
| ince which is expected TO become one of
| the most important in the. Dominion, no
| hasty action should be taken, but that,
| on the contrary. the greatest care and de-
! liberation should be exercised, and a full
/ and thorough Investigation made.
Ac hss1 piSla tive hnI1 hot
| Legislature of the province. and that their
| part OF the public funds of the province
could be made available for the support of
separate schools without the voluntary
action of the provincial legislature. If this
! be the case. nothing could be
| fortunate from the standpoint of the Roman
| Catholic people themselves than any hasty
or peremptory action action on h the par, part, of the
would probably produce strained relations
and tend TO prevent the possibility of re-
storing harmony.
1--WE understand that it has been lately
suggested that private funds of the Roman
| Catholic Church and people has been in
| vested in school buildings and land that
/ are now appropriated for public school
| purposes. No evidence of such fact has
\ ever been laid before Us, so far as We can
ascertain. but We profess ourselves will
| ing If any such injustice can be estab-
lished. to make full and fair compensation
| therefor.
| .'In conclusion, We beg respectfully to
| place on record our continued loyalty 10 her
| gracious Majesty and TO the laws which
| the Parliament OF Great Britain has. i'm its
wisdom, seen nit TO enact for the good of
the government of Canada"
The House then adjourned till to-mor-
row L, is not expected debate on the
! question will come up till next Monday
! when Premier Greenway reaches the city