The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-27
FIGHTING MOOD.
Manitoba SoIons Are Divided
on School Question.
Greenway Men Blame Priests for
Stirring Up Strife.

WINNIPEG, March 27.-The first stop In
the renewed fight over the parochial
schools in Manitoba began In the legisla-
ture yesterday afternoon, when the full
message was presented from the Dominion
government at Ottawa, ordering the Man
itoba legislature to give the Catholics their
rights as they existed before the abolition
Of the parochial schools In 1890.
The reading of the Ottawa message oc-
cupied over an hour, and all verbiage re-
moved, 10 amounts to the request as above
stated. Mr. Martin, French Catholic
member OF the legislature, urged that the
government should take Immediate ac-
tion, but Premier Greenway protested,
saying that the message should be printed
in order that all members might kno W
what they were dealing with. Here the
matter rested.
Meanwhile the situation grows more
complicated. The Catholics and their
friends say that Greenway and his follow
ers-if they reject the order from Ottawa
are rejecting document ordered and
signed by the queen, and such an act
would be equivalent TO open rebellion.
They say they cannot conceive how the
Dominion government could do otherwise
made. as they are bound to take imme-
date action upon the decision Of the high
est court, and see that the grievances Of
her msjesty's subjects OF the Roman
Catholic faith in Manitoba received re.
dress at this earliest possible moment.
The Greenway Side.
The Greenway government contends, on
the other hand, that the present school
law is satisfactory 90 many Catholics IL IL
were not for the agitation by the priests
of tho church. They say that IL Manitoba
is coerced into reoreating a dual system
dualsm, both in language and education,
will be extended 10 the territories as WELL
and thus there would be perpetuated in
the west tho evils which have caused dis
satisfaction and stagnatiOn Ina the prov
ince.
Among the members OF the governments
side il seems TO De matter OF opinion
that the remedial order will be disposed OF
during the coming week and without any
great amount Of speaking. Premier
Greenway, speaking on the matter, said
the length of the discussion would depend
upon the mum ber Of individual members
who wanted 90 talk. Premier Greenway
denies that he will compromise the matter
by introducing a bill mssing the schools
entirely secular.
Ohcials Are Worried.
A dispatch from Ottawa states that the
news that Premier Groenway has declared
that "the governor generals order will be
rejected in its entirety" (meaning the order
60 grant remedial legislation to the Cath
olics in matters OF separate schools) while
not unexpected has created great excite
ment in official circles. IL Is admitted
that ths situation Is pregnant with criti-
cal possibilities and that much depends
upon the action Of the Dominion govern
ment.
1t is, Of course, possible that the Mani
toba legislature may shelve the question
for a year, in which event the present
Dominion government would be relieved
OF the necessity of action for that length
of time, and the federal parliament has no
jurisdiction till the governments of the
province acts, or refuses TO act, on the
remedial order. But this seems hardly
likely to happen, judging from the re.
ports Of the feeling among the majority Of
the people of Manitoba