The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1895-04-12
STATE RIGHTS IN CANADA.
Manitoba on ths Defense for Its
Local Autonomy.

Local autonomy
There is a serious controversy pro-
ceeding 10 Canada over principle
somewhat similar to the ostensib'e
one of the great conflict between
North Aud South in the States.
Ia 1890 the local Legislature, which
consists VI one chamber, abolished
the separate school System and the
Roman Catholics appealed to the
Dominion Government, which de-
cidod that a committee OF the Gov
etuur Generals Cabine. should hear
the appeal. The local chamber
denieb jurisdiction to the Dominion
Government aud refused To appear.
Appeal was taken to the y Ie.u's
Privy Council, which has decided
that the right Of the Roman Catho-
les 20 per capita 10 the general
school fund Of the province, tn
which they contribute on equal
terms, was a vested right acquired
Nv them constitutionalIy on admis-
sion as province to the Dominion
of Canada. tn. local legislature 81
Manitoba is ordered to repeal the
abolition measure, aud not only 10
give Roman Catholics their per
ctpita Of the school fund, but also
t. exempt them from proportion !
share OF school taxation in consider.
atiOl OF their construction aud
maintenance OF separate schools.
A Winnipeg dispatch OF March rs
says: The first step in the renewed
fight over parochial schools in Mani
toba began in the legislature this
afternoon when the full message WAS
presented from the Dominion Gov
ernment at Ottawa ordering the
Manitoba Legislature TO give the
Catholics their rights a. they exist
cd before the abolition OF parochial
schools in 1890. The reading OF the
message occupied over an hour, and,
removed ri all verbiage, it amounts
to the request above stated.
An Ottawa dispatch OF the same
date as the foregoing contains all
that IL given below: Every other po-
litical issue appears to have been
lost sight OF in the face of the action
the Dominion Government has taken
toward re-establishing separate
schools, which were taken away
from the Roman Catholics in Mani
tOba 10y the government OF that pro-
vince IN 1890. As to the effect OF
the step just taken by the Dominion
Government upon the two great po-
litical parties IN Canada II is impos-
sibls at this stage to give just
opinion. The Roman Catholics OF
CansdI number AZ percent of the
whole population, aud as the griev-
ances OF the Roman Catholics Of
Manitoba are shared by the whole
Catholic population OF the dominion,
il may rssdily he seen that the fight
for redress wall be a bitter one, with
the full force and influence Of the
Orange element arrayed against
them. The present premier, Sir
Mackenzie Bowel, is a very promi-
neut Orangenan. but with Sir
Chas. ". Topper, minister OF justice,
he took the ground that the highest
tribunal in the realm had declared
that the vested rights Of the Catho-
lies Of Manitoba had been interfered
with, aud it became question for
him either to deny them that right
or to restore TO them that which
they had been deprived OF. He chose
the latter course, even in opposition
TO the strongest Orange aud ultra
Protestant influence that could be
brought to bear upon him.
1t was a daring step.--a step not
taken without several OF his cabinet
threatening to resign-one OF his
ministers, Pat, erson, minister OF
militia, having since carried out his
threat. Clarke Wallace, comptroller
Of customs, who holds the position
Of sovereign grand master OF the
Orange order, still retains his posi-
ton in the government, but it il
said that he will have to resign, Is
the Orange lodges all over the
country are passing resolutions
strongly condemnatory OF the gov
ernment's action. There are other
dissensious in the cabinet over the
step taken toward restoring Roman
Catholic schools in Manitoba, aud
while it is hardly probable any fur
Their designations will follow, tbs
matter has created some very bad
blood among Sir Mackenzie's minis
try that may show itself when least
expected.
The liberal party is in no better
position than the government, for il
viii have to commit itself one WAY
or the other when the matter comes
before parliament next month. Thu
liberals have always had the create