The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-24
THE MANITOBA SCHOOL QUESTION


ion government that separate schools for
Roman Catholics be established in that
province. The government Is placed in an
extremely embarrassing position thereby
and as the cabinet IS hopelesly divided on
the question * is impossible 20 predict
whether any remedial legislation wifi be
introduced or what the final outcome OF
the controversy VIII be.
Following the law and the practice IN
the United Kingdom. a number OF the Ca
madam provinces have separate schools
supported by the double mode of govern
ment grants and local taxation In On
tario. Quebec and the Northwest terri
tories this double system of separate
schools prevails. Protestants and Catho-
lies receiving privileges on the same basis.
Manitoba. however, in 1880. by local
statute. abolished the double system, do
ing away with the Catholic schools and
deprivzng the people OF the Catholic faith
of the public school privileges which they
had hitherto enjoyed.
This radical change In the system OF edu-
cation was brought about after a very
careful examination by the province
into the educational methods which
had existed since about 1870. This
examination. according TO those WAC
advocated a change, showed that such
schools as were conducted under the Ro-
man Catholic section OF the board OF edu-
cation did not possess the attributes OF
efficient modern public institutions OF
learning. Their management and regula-
ton was defective, and the methods OF
teaching unsatisfactory. AS a result Of
leaving n large section OF the population
with no better means of education than
was thus supplied. many people grew UP in
a state OF illiteracy. Therefore, as no
serious attempt was made to defend these
schools on their merits. the people came to
believe that there was no ground upon
which the expenditure of public money in
their support could be justified.
Separate schools having been abolished
in 1890. an appeal was taken by the Cath
olics to the crown, with the result that a
decision comes down In the shape of a re-
medal order in council restoring 10 the
Catholics the privileges accorded them un-
der the old law. The act of adjustment
is declared inequitable on account OF
pledges given prior to the Incorporation
of the province, and the province actually
commanded to re-establish the old order
or things
The legislature OF the province. in a very
courteous and diplomatic memorial TO the
governor general. presents it's side OF the
case and concludes with a fat refusal TO
carry out the demands of the Canadian
authorities. The province claims that the
order was issued without an accurate
knowledge OF the unsatisfactory workings
of the old system OF schools and believes
that those at ottawa could not possibly
have contemplated the very serious effect
the restoration OF the old system would
have upon the entire population. Al
though there were many difficulties TO 20
met the people OF Manitoba claim that
through the reforms effected In 1890 a great
| impetus has been given 10 educational
work throughout the whole province, and
they naturally contemplate return TO
the old system with grave apprehension.
with the establishment OF a set OF Roman
Catholic schools, followed by set Of
Anglican and probably Mennonite, Ice
landic and other schools, It is
claimed that the present standard
OF efficiency will be completely de-
stroyed. Under such circumstances
| the legislature. while processing 10y
atty to tho queen and respect for the
laws Of Great Britain, cannot take the re-
sponsibIity Of jeopardizing the interests
OF the people Of Manitoba by carrying into
effect the terms Of the order in council
The situation is perplexing one. not
only to the Mauitobans. but to the Cana
dian authorities as well. While thesprov-
I inces are possessed Of a large measure OF
local self-government. this school Ques-
ton VIII bring them TO a realization Of
the fact that they are subjects Of for
eign crown and that the foreign crown.
through its final court can exercise para
mount Jurisdiction even IN their domestlc
matters. II would seem only just that a
majority o. the people, as represented in
the provincial legislation. ought TO have
the right 10 decide how their children
=
81 the precedent set in Manitoba Is a good
one. why should not the majority OF the
people OF Quebec. which is largely Cath
Ollie. be entitled 10 the right OF derrlyiug
the Protestant minority OF the separate
schools 40 highly priced and cherished
by the Protestsnts ot that provincee
Tho Dominion government viii De slow
- cocrce the majority in Manitoba on
the question. Involving. as 1t does. the
religious feelings OF different classes az
people and the educational interests Of
a province which Is expected TO become
one Of the most important IN Canada. It
IS almost certain that TO drasticaUy CO.
| ercive measures VIII be adopted. but soma
compromise effected ana the question set
tea through constitutional means.
What the final outcome shah be * s
difficult - predict. There are many in
Canada, however. who believe that the
question VIII % solved Only by divorclns
school matters entirely from church or
religious considerations. The separate
school system. while adopted by Great
/ Britain, IS by 20 means the most eject
ual ln the new democrats conditions %
this continent. Secular instruction ex-
c'asively under the direction az he state
t-su-eS the greatest intelligence and the
h.sAtst average citizenship. while co-or-
d.nAte religious Instruction may most ad-
vantaEeous'y Re given apart from the
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