Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-30

their rights and shrewt. The use Of the
French language Is authcrfZedin the courts
and in the province the relations between
church and state. the Church Of Rome and
the state CT England are official and
strong. Every census Of recent years has
shown that the French-Canadians ure In
plurality among the various nationalities
in the total population of the Dominion and
being aggressive have t&dvaiieed their IN.
huence and have caused the growth. Of an
intense Jealousy on the part Of the English
speaking sections Of the country. The
race antagonism as well as the religious
rivalry may be found in every part Of
the Dominion. Under these circumstances
therefore, any crisis caused by or bear
Ing upon the question of religious schools
Is certain to rend Canada In a 'tremend-
Gus internal struggle. the outcome of which
Is OF the greatest Importance to the people
OF the American contfnent.,4"' rDb ...r--'s--
The people of Manitoba, as represented
by their legislature, have been notified by
the central government of'.the Dominion,
which bears the same relation to the pro-
vincial governments that the administra-
ton at Washington does to the states of
the Union, Of the adoption Of an order in
council requiring them to enact REMEDIAL
schools. abolished in 1890. This re-opens
the entire question OF relfgi6us Schools ard
has wrought the people Of Manitoba. who
are mostly professionals, to unusual excite
ment They have practically declined to
obey the order though the question will not
be finally disposed Of until May. when the
legislature will resassemble. In the mean
time affairs will be so shaping themselves
at Ottawa that matters must come to a
head by that time.' The reported pesisna-
ton of Sir Charles Upper from the cabi-
net may be followed by others, and there
are hints Of the resignation of the premier,
which will necessitate a complete reorgani-
zafion Of the central government or cab
met. The utterances in the Manitoba
legislature and by the liberal press gener-
ally Indicate that only a spark Is needed
to send the flame Of antagonism sweeping
through the Dominion.
These matters have direct and interest
ing bearing on the whole question of an
nexation of CaEada to the United States.
Annexation IL not the issue most nearly in
point in Canadian politics, as will be seen
by the present excitement. but 1t Is always
possibility and is Of great moment to the
peoples Of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
who. having little In common with the
EiOtSA Peopic VI %ueUeCp are more nearly
assimilated to the social structure of this
government even though they are political
ly separate. Quebec or French Canada
would probably never be a willing party to
annexation with the United States, and it
is doubtful If the most ardent friends of
Canadian acquisition really desire the iu-
corporation of so foreign colony into the
body polite of the United States. Thus the
final settlement Of the parochial school ques-
ton. remote as 1t may Eow seem from the
question Of political union, Is bound to have
a bearing on the latter problem, for in the
controversy and perhaps the strife that is
almost sure to come In Canada between the
French and the Enghsn speaking peoples,
1t Is hardly possible that lines will not be
drawn and parties created suggesting po-
htical annexation as the remedy for the
domestic difficulty. Many classes of the
people in Canada are even now ready to
solve the problem by annexation. The COM
plete confederation of all the classes in
Canada is impossible and the present crisis
and all that 1t portends indt cate tho flu
tility Of the hope that harmonious colonial
organization can ever be accomplished.