The Dickinson press., 1895-12-28

Winnipeg, Man.. Dec. 25.-The Mani
tot,a government has thrown down the
gauntlet to the dominion government
on the separate school question. Pre-
mter Greenway to-day dissolved the
legislature, and has ordered general
election for Jan. is, only three weeks
distant. In his address to the people
of Manitoba the premier says:
'"Tle menacing attitude assumed by
the dominion government with refer
encc to the educational legislation Of
the province has made it necessary to
take the sense Of electors upon the
question thus forced upon them. On
the 21st of March last the dominion
prlvy council hastily issued remedial
order which commanded the legislat-
ure of Manitoba to restore the separate
school system as 1t existed prior to
1880. TO this the legislature declined
to assent. On the Sth day of July last
Hon. Mr.. Foster, speaking for the do
minion government in the house Of
commons. stated that a communica-
tion would be sent to the Manitoba
government to ascertain whether set
tlement of the school question could
be made, and that In event of re-
fusal a session of the dominion parlia-
ment would be called to meet not
later than the first Thursday of jan
uary next, when the dominion govern.
ment would introduce and press to q
conclusion such measure Of relief,
based upon lines Of the judgment of
the imperial privy council and the re-
medal order Of the 21st of March,
1895. A similar statement was made
about the same time in the senate by
Sir Mackenzie Bowel, the premier Of
the dominion.
Separate Denominational Schools.
'From the uttclances Of the domin-
ion cabinet and from the facts known
to all who have watched the contro-
versy, 1t is clear that nothing short Of
a separate denominational system Of
schools will be accepted as an ade-
quate measure of relief. To the COM
munication forwarded in pursuance Of
the above announcement by the do
lninion government of the 9th of July
last inviting the Manitoba government
to take such action as would remedy
the alleged grievances Of the minority,
we have replied definitely and posi-
lively rejecting the proposal to re-cs-
tablish separate schools in any form,
and expressing the intention to uphold
the present uniform non-sectarinn sys-
tenn.
"As the federal parliament is about
to be asked to legislate upon this sub
ject, it is of the utmost importance
that the views of the electors Of the
province should he clearly and unmis-
takably expressed. I assert that our
people are perfectly competent to deal
with their own educational concerns,
and I resent the imputation that they
have treated any portion of the COM
munity with injustice or in spirit Of
intolerance. l protest against the pro-
posed action Of the dominion govern
ment in inviting parliament to destroy
our national school system without in
vestigation and in ignorance of the cir
cumstanccs. II your votes are over
whelmingly In favor of the stand
taken by my government there ia no
doubt that the views of the members
Of the dominion parliament will be ma
terially affected thereby and coercive
legislation my be altogether averted.' -
The people Of Winnipeg are greatly
excited over the announcement of the
election date, and there will be hot
fighting in political circles during the
next three weeks. No one expects the
defeat of Greenway, but If he is re-
taincd, what then? is the question
asked