The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-03
MAxrroB1,s scnooL FIGHr.
\ Bitter Provincial Mrangle That May
Wreck the Dominion Cabinet.

Wreck the Dominion Cabinet.
WINNIPEG, Jan. 1.-The Manitoba gen
eral election campaign, with the school
controversy as the chief issue, IS an ITS
height No more bitter warfare between
parties. creeds. and factions has ever
been waged.
The strength OF the Greenway Gov
eminent lies i'm the policy Of no sur
render. and the declaration that any
attempt boy the Dominion 10 restore
! Catholic schools viii Dee resisted at any
cost. This strength, however, rs now Dee
! ing sapped by the assertion tlat Green
| way mas made a compact with MI
Laurier. leader OF the Liberals In the
Dominion. the substance of which DE-
I that if Laurier srcceeds I'm olsting the
Government of Sir Mackenzie Bowel.
Grcenway Will make such compromise
| on the school question a. Will relieve the
/ Liberals. 10 which party he belongs, OF
all responsibility in taking action and
Will safely inirench them in power
There is general opinion here that
the Dominion Government as a result
of the recent defeats IN the bye-eiec-
| lions in CardWel, Montreal Centre, ana
jacques Cartier. will have 10 modify
| their school policy if they intend to re-
| tain office. They must not coerce Mani
| toba. IL Is evident from these cleo
! lions. that the Roman Catholics are not
greatly enamored OF separate schools
| lut as the minority in Manitoba nave
| asked for them. and are entitled 10 th'm
/ under the Constitution. the Government
claims 10 have no recourse Dul 10 carry
out the Constitution.
critical situation In Canadian politics for
| decades viii confront Che iafhaineni
| u,hicf meets here tomorrow. ON lhe
/ Manitoba school system the Govern
ment il likely 20 suffer defeat ana
| dissolution Of Parliament seems aiNio71
! inevitable. .,,
The bill which the Government VIII
present as its uitimatum IN the long
/ tonight contest provides .or the icstoid-
! lin, ~ Roman Catholic schools I'm Mani
/ toha. with full power 90 control theH
| reiigious exercises. The history of Eng
/ fand as written by Roman tathohc au-
tbors may be used, but the schools must
he no 20 the required standard a 'h-
cheney before they can De paid any inc ey
out of public funds. Their claim 10 pun
! he grant Is 10 bee measured allo-e''''
| hy their standard oi fh -leh'y-
The roots OF the present struggle run
hack to a time long anterior to conied-
Grafton. Catholic min0rities in British
settled provinces. as well as the Roman
| Catholic majority of quebec. have always
vigorously asserted the right to national
recognition OF separate schools IL was
! a subject Of great difficulty at the time
| OF the confederation.
| Special provisions We're inserted N we
| British North America oct qualifying
| tbe RIGHT of the province 10 make laws
! regarding education In the following
! manner. Nothing In any such law shall
! periodically affect any right or privilege
| with respect 10 denomnati0ral schools
! which any class Of persons nave 10y law
! I'm the province at the union
Under the act by which the P-0vinCe
Of Manitoba was admitted into The con-
| federation. Roman Catholics OF Mani
toba acquired the right OF support from
| the public funds for their separate
schools so long as the province chose to
DO 50. After twenty years OF this state
OF educational affairs. the Manitoba Gov
| ernu ent resolved to establish System OF
| unsectarian popular education. In is7'
| the Protestants having increased TO a.
| OoO. while the Catholics were but @,N0,
! a Jaw was passed abolishing the separate
| Protestant and Catholic schools. and
bringing all under one system with one
| set OF books.
Then began the trouble which has row
! eliminated in an agitation which has
stirred the whole Dominion ana lids
fair TO have lasting results. The Natho-
lies OF Manitoba held that the cutting
of Of State support Of their schcols was
an infringement OF their rights and
privileges. and maintained right to
appeal. The local courts disputed the
| right. and from court 20 court the
matter went until January 18th OF last
year. when the Imperial Privy Council
decided in the affirmative IL became the
| duty Of the Dominion Government then
To decide whether Il remedial order
should be issued and what IL should
be. Ii was decided that the order should
| be issued thai the Catholics slouII be
restored to their rights.
The Manitoba Legislature was hnwill-
ing 10 meet the issue, and Adjourned
| without action. In the mean time TIE
| canadian Parliament met. and c. cite
| uent over the question was at its
height The Premier minated that IL
was for Manitoba 10 decide what should
be done. and he fervently expressed the
hope that the province would settle the
| question. Manitoba's reply was IN thu
form OF a memorial IN which II was
asked that no hasty steps oe tlken.
The provincial Government declined 10
alter its school law, and entered upon a
demonstration to show the superiority
OF the present system over the fc'mer.
| There was a bitter debate In the Mani
| foba LEGISLATURE but the mcmO' al
passed by % to 15. On july Nh the
Dominion Ministry declared liz yolcy TO
be that OF non-interference in'itg the
session. AID promised 20 take pesitivc
steps in January II Manitoba had mean
while done nothing.
| Manitoba has plainly inlicat "a that he
Will not yield. and the Dominion Govern