New-York tribune., 1896-11-24
THE MANITOBA SETTLEMENT.

Ii was n fOregOnc conclusion that one party
or the other would be. for n time at least. dis
satisfied with whatever settlement might he
made Of the Manitoba school question. The
Catholics demanded separate schools. and would
be content with nothing less The ProieSianis
objected to separate schools. and would no ave
them A middle course, which would please
both. was impossible. An attempt to make one
would probably have ended In the disaster OF
displeasing both. The Dominion Government
has therefore practically conceded the demands
of that party. which inc'ules-and bids fair
permanently to includc-the Overwhelming ma
jority Of the people of the province. That is
what the settlement. As announced. really
amounts to. There are to be 10 separate schools
That Is the central and dominant fact. What
ever else there is or Is not 10 be matters httl"
There is to he only one set of Government
schools for children of oil sects and races. ana
the English language Is TO be taught In them
ALL That is what the Protcstants have con
tended for: that Is what the Dominion Govern
ment now agrees TO. and that Is what the Pro-
vincial Government will enact into law.
The Catholics. or many Of them. are disap-
pointed and dissatisfied. That was, from the
outset inevitable. There is reason To believe,
however that such feelings are far stronger aud
more general In Quebec than in Manitoba. In
deed. the French Catholics Of Quebec have all
along been more contentious in the matter than
their brethren in Manitoba for perfectly obvi-
ous reasons. The former are Interested in main
tanning the fullest possible political strength Of
their creed and race throughout the Dominion.
The latter. on the other hand, are Interested in
having as low taxes and as good schools
MI tl...v l,n hog. IRA.
more surely 10 be secured under the single
school than under the separate school system.
They have, moreover. a feeling OF local pride in
maintaining independence and home rule for
Manitoba So for those reasons. not few
Catholics in Manitoba have actually espouscd
the Protestant side of the ease. The French
Catholics Of Quebec are not moved by those
reasons and they are. moreover. especially
CALLED by the fact that the case has been decided
against them by the very Government which
they put into power, and the continued existence
Of which depends upon their support. The DO
minion has its first French Catholic Prime Min
istor. and he administers defeat 10 the French
Catholic party II is not to be wondered AT that
some bitter utteranccs are heard in Quelrc and
Montreal.
Such bitterness WILL however, probably soon
pass away. II can scarcely endure III quebec
if it is not felt in Manitoba. And in the latter
province both Catholics and Protesiants will
doubtless soon recognize this settlement to be
a good thing. 1t will make the schools less cx-
pensivc and the standard Of scholarship higher
than they would be under a separate school sys-
tenn. There will be no religious teaching i'm
posed upon scholars Of either creed, but scholars
may enjoy at the will of their parents. daily
instruction in school from priests OF pastors Of
their own faith. The English language must he
taught in all the schools. but French is also to
be taught where it Is desired. Surely there are
no Frenchmen who object TO their children learn
ing English at all They must realize. more
over that II is far best for the social, political
and industrial welfare Of the province that there
should be one common language. understood by
all the people, and that that language must he
the one which is the vernacuar Of the great
majority Of the people. At present there is
some dissatisfaction, irritation. resentment But
those feelings will pass Before long all viii
he agreed in the enjoyment Of free churches In
free State and In the maintenance Of one sys-
tenn of schools. one flag. one Government. one
prosperous province.