The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-06-14
Manitoba Replies to the Dominion
Governments Demand.
DIRECT REFUSAL TO COMPLY WITH
THE REQUEST.
VIII Not Accept the Responsibility Of
Carrying Into Effect the Terms of
the Remedial Order-The Political
System Would Be Impaired by the
Establishment of a Set Of Separate
Roman Catholic Schools.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WINNIPEG MANI, June 13.-In the
Manitoba Legislature this afternoon, At
torney General Sifton gave notice Of
motion. setting forth Manitoba's reply to
| the Dominion Governments demand
that separate schools should again be
established in Manitoba. 1t is direct
refusal of the demand. The reply is in
the form of memorial, addressed to his
Excellency, the GovernorGeneral OF
Canada in Council. 1t first recites the
remedial order, and then submits the fol-
lowing:
These privileges. which, by said order.
we are commanded TO restore to our
Roman Catholic fellOw-citizens, are SUBJ
stantially the same privileges which they
enjoyed previous to the year 1890. Com
| plIance with the terms OF the order would
restore Catholic separate schools, with no
more satisfactory guarantees for their
efficiency than existed prior to the same
date.
| The educational policies embodied in
our present statutes were adopted after
an examination OF the results of the pol
| icy heretofore followed, under which the
| separate Roman Catholic schools NOW
sought 10 be restOred) had existed for up
were found to be inefficient. AS con-
| ducled under the Roman Catholic section
| of the Board of Education they did not
possess the attributes OF efficient modern
public schools. Their conduct, manage
ment and regulation were defective. AS
result OF the leaving of large section
of the population with no better means of
education than W as then supplied, many
people grew up IN a state OF illiteracy. SO
| Tar as we are aware, there has never been
an attempt to defend these schools on
| their merits, and we do not know OF any
ground upon which the expenditure of
public money in their support could be
| justified.
We are. therefore, compelled to respect
fully state to your excellency in council
that We cannot accept the RESPONSE bility
of carrying into effect the terms OF the
remedial order. The reforms effected in
1890 have given an Impetus to educational
work, but the difficulties which are in
| herent in our circumstances have con-
stantly to be met. II would be obvious
that the establishment OF a set of Roman
Catholic. schools, followed by set of
| Anglican schools and by Mennonite. Ice
landic and other schools, would so impair
our political system that any approach to
even our present general standard of etfi-
cheney would be quite impossible. We
contemplate the Inauguration OF such a
state OF affairs with very grave appre-
tensions. We have no hesitation in say
ing there cannot be suggested any meas
ure which, to our minds, would more
seriously imperil the development of our
Province. rt.s,-a.,-.r
We believe that when the remedial
order was made there was then not
then available TO your excelIency in
council full and accurate information as
| to the working OF our system OF schools.
lao Iul, . III
the means OF forming correct Judgment
as to the effect upon The Province OF the
| changes indicated in the order. Being
| impressed with this view, we respect
| fully submit that it is not too late to
make full aud deliberate investigation
of the whole subject Should such a
course be adopted. we shall cheerfully
assist in offering the most complete in
formation available.
1t is urged most strongly that upon SO
important 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 on the
contrary the greatest care and deli Oera-
ton should be exercised, and a full and
thorough investigation made.
AS to the IeglSiatlvegrant,w we hold that
it is entirely within the control of the
! Legislature of the Province, and that no
part of the public funds of the Province
could be made available for the support
OF separate schools with the voluntary
action of the Provincial Legislature If
this be the case, nothing could be more
unfortunate from the standpoint Of the
Roman Catholic people themselves than
Iasty or peremptory action on the part
Of the parliament of Canada, because
such action would probably produce
strained relations and tend to prevent the
possibility of restoring harmony.
We understand that it has lately been
suggested that private funds of the
Roman Catholic Church and the people
have been invested in school buildings
and lands 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 willing, ii any such injustice
can be established, to make full and fair
compensation therefor.
In conclusion, we beg respectfully to
place OH record our continued loyalty to
her gracious majesty, and to the laws
which the Parliament of Great Britain
has in it's wisdom seen fit to enact for the
good government of Canada.
The House then adjourned. 1t is not
expected that the question will come up
until Monday when Premier Greenway
reaches the city from Ottawa.