Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-27
MANITOBA'S SCHOOL FIGHT
The Order in Council Read to the Legisla-
! ture.
Premier Greenwny Protests Against
Immediate Acknowledgement at
Ottawa and Quebec.

The message from the Dominion govern
ment at Ottawa, ordering the legislature
to give the Catholics their rights as they
existed before the abolition of the paro-
chial schools in 1880, was read to the Man
itoba legislature at Winnipeg yesterday.
Mr.. Martin, a French Catholic member Of
the legislature urged that the government
should take immediate action, but Premier
Greenway protested, saying that the mes
sage should be printed, in order that all
members might know what they were deal
ing with. Here the matter rested, and the
discussion will row probably not take place
till tomorrow.
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 a document ordered and
signed by her majesty. the queen, and such
act would be equivalent to open rebellion.
They say they cannot conceive how the
than make the form request they have
made.
Excitement ut Ottawa.
The news from Winnipeg. that Premier
Greenway has declared that 1.-The governor
generals order will be rejected in its en-
tirety" meaning the order to grant rene
dial legislation to the Catholics in the
matter of separate schools, while not unex-
pected has created great excitement In
official circles at Ottawa. Ont. 1t is adj
mitted that the situation is pregnant with
critical possibilities, and that much de-
ponds upon the action of the dominion
government. 1t is, of course, possible that
the Manitoba legislature may shelve the
question for year, as the federal par
lament has no jurisdiction till the gov
eminent Of the province acts or refuses
to act the remedial order. But this
seems hardly likely to happen, judging
the majority of the people of Manitoba.
Assuming, then. that the order in council
Of the dominion government is ignored,
what will be the steps taken by the gov
eminent to enforce it's commands? This
question may be determined by the out
come of two bye-elections one in Quebec
and the other in Ontario. which are short
ly to be held. EeScherrenS, an old Rouge
diberaD district in Quebec, is vacant. The
government will bring an election there.
and if conservative candidate is re-
turned, the government will be encouraged
to introduce a bill into parliament at the
coming session re-estabiishing the Catholic
parochial school system in Manitoba. The
other vacancy is in IIaldemian, which went
conservative by small majority at the
last election.
Should the result of the contest here
show. as it is expected it will, large lib
eral gains, it will be evident that what the
government has gained in the French and
English and Protestant districts and the
government will have to choose between
the two or to endeavor to appease both by
some remedial course. The British North
American act is in many ways an elastic
affair, and 1t will be difficult matter for
the dominion government to decide that II
has or has not the right to Interfere IN
the educational legislation OF the prov
inces.
Feeling Stirred Up.
I 10 h
able that such interference would make
the political divisions of Canada coincide
with it's great religious divisions, or would
lead to a series of appeals to the courts.
the end of which can scarcely be foreseen.
So far the action of the government has
resulted in stirring up feeling in Ontario
very hostile to ITSELF while In quebec IL
has had directly contrary effect: None
of the party organs In Ontario dare 10
commit themselves to any definite state
ment as to the course to be pursued
towards Manitoba. The liberal papers.
naturally: their party being IN oppositlon,
are delighted at the trouble. and devote
many columns to Geographic reports of all
news bearing on the school agitation. while
the government organs to give one ex-
nouncement in four or five lines of the
arrival of the order in council at Winnipeg.
But the Independent journals. without
exception, cry out against any interference
the province. Their cry is. Hands off"
and there is no doubt as to that being the
sentiment of the great majority of Protest
ant Ontario.
Excitement Mt Quebec.
The excitement at Quebec over the school
question is none the less real because 1t is
in a measure subdued for the time being.
1t is not yet known what will be the action
of the dominion government on the refusal
ef Manitoba to grant remedial legislation
to the Catholics. and until 1t Is known
there will be no great public outburst. The
tone of the French press. however. dis
tnctly indicates what will happen If
"Orangeism.' as they term it. triumphs
Considerable additional ill-feeling among
the French Catholics has been created by
a paper read recently before the Protest.
ant Ministerial Association by Rev. W. T.
GrahaS> 60 which has been ordered to
lie printed In full by the association. Rev.
Mr.. Graham made a bitter attack on the
.:esuits. and called on all loyal citizens to
unite to secure their eviction from Canada.
Mr. Graham closed his address with the
declaration that the right Of Manitoba to
er act her own school laws must be pre-
served.