The herald., 1896-06-25
THE CANADIAN ELECTIONS

The result of the general election in
Canada on Tuesday sustains the sys-
tenn of non-sectarian public schools,
and should preclude the possibility of the
province of Manitoba being coerced by
the dominion government to amend its
public school act. Sir Charles Topper,
the premier of the Conservative govern
ment which introduced remedial legis-
Iation, has been defeated, and the Lib
erals, led by Wilfrid Laurier, French
Canadian of remarkable ability, will
assume Office with majority of at least
20 votes in a house of 213 members. Tup-
per, who sacrificed the important,
high-salaried and comfortable position
of high commissioner for Canada in Lon
don that he might assume the reins
and drive the Conservative party out
of a political quagmire to the goal of
victory. if really guided by selfish mo-
tives, as his enemies maintain, has a bit
ter pill to swallow in having now to take
his seat on the wrong side of the house.
But Laurier's position is also unenvia-
BILE. He is himself Roman Catholic,
and his natural sympathies are of course
with his brethren in Manitoba,
who object to paying taxes for
the support of the public schools
to which their consciences forbid them
sending their children. The rank and
file of his party. known in Canada as
"the grits," are unalterably opposed to
any interference with Manitoba and her
system of public schools.
The result of the election largely
hinged on the vote of the Quebec Cath
olics. The Conservatives presumed that
they would flock to Tupper's banner
and believe in his pledge to force Mani
toba to introduce remedial legislation.
Apparently they had more faith in their
fellowC Ca tholic, Laurier, who cleverly
compromised the situation by promising
to appoint that never-failing method of
delay-a royal commission. Commits
sions seem to be a favorite mode in Can
ada of temporizing with big question,
of substituting sop for a cure, and also
of supplying fat salaries to a favored
few. They generally result in gigantic
waste of time and money, and when the
reports are published the question at
issue is often no nearer its solution than
before. The Manitoba school question
has vexed the province and the whole
dominion for six years. has been carried
backwards and forwards from the Can
adam courts to England's Privy council,
but is not whit nearer solution today,
except in that it has been very definitely
proved that Manitoba will not stultify
itself and will not submit peaceably to
any attempt at coercion. The Conserva-
tives have failed to successfully adjust
the problem, and Mr.. Laurier will now
have an opportunity to try his hand. He
will prove himself a great statesman,
indeed. if he can pacify Manitoba and at
the same time not offend Quebec.
One of the most curious incidents in
the election was the defeat in Winnipeg,
his own stronghold, of Joseph Martin, the
author of the bill abolishing separate
schools in Manitoba and the great cham
pion of the cause of the public schools.
His successful opponent was Hugh J.
Macdonald, son of Canadas greatest pre-
mier, the late Sir John A. Macdonald,
a man of extraordinary personal popu-
larity, whom Sir Charles Topper had a
few weeks before the election appointed
to an important position in his cabinet.
This was a crafty piece of strategy on
Tupper's part, but while winning the
seat Of Winnipeg Macdonald loses his
portfolio as minister of the interior.