New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-08
LAURIER AND THE CHURCH
CLERICAL NON-INTERFERENCE IN POL
ITICs ONE OF HIS LIES LABORs.

cANApA's PREMIER REPLIES TO THE CRITICS OF
THE LIBERAL GOvERNMENT-THE MANITOBA
SCHOOL QUESTION SETTLEMENT JUSTIFIED.
Quebec. Jan. THE drill hall was closely
packed tonight with citizens Of all classes
anxious to hear Premier Laurer who Is mem
Der for Quebec East IN the House OF Commons
The Premier. when introduced by Mayor Parent.
who presided, was received with tremendous
cheers. Mr.. Laurier then began his address IN
French, which in part is as follows:
During twenty years Of public life It never
has been given me to address so many citizens
assembled In a. meeting / have come TO speak
to- you Of cause which stirs the heart OF every
citizen Of this country. 1t H. a cause which VIII
have a direct effect on the Constitution. we
have solved a problem which our predecessors
after years Of trial failed to settle one way or
another. The decision OF the Privy Council. say
our adversaries orders imperativey the restora-
ton Of the separate schools; deny this and l
protest against such assertions. The judgment
Of the Privy Council. which have here before
me- does not contain a word OF this The Catho-
lies of Manitoba themselves did not ask the
restoration OF separate schools. The Dickey bin
was not made to stand. 1t was but political
dodge in which no one believed. Such was most
OF the legislation Of the Conservative Govern
ment on the Manitoba schools. We have OBJ
tanned from the Grecnway Government the
necessary concessions which our Catholic fellow
citizens of Manitoba have long wished for.
When twenty-five children shall frequent a
school there shall be French-Catholic teacher.
as we have it in Quebec. and more than that.
ten Catholic children will have the right TO have
their religion taught them, even II the scnool Is
a Protestant one In majority. (Cheers)
For ten years our fellow-citizens have been
without representative in the House OF Com
mons, he having resigned his seat when he saw
the farce that was carried on about the schools
of his constituency. But Mr.. Prendergast will
re-enter public life that his fellow citizens
have been given justice.
Here the speaker referred to certain attacks
by 'L'Evenment," the Courier du Canada"
and the Minerva" of Montreal. and other Con-
servative papers, against him. He compared
the Hon Mr.. Royal, Editor of the Minerva"
who called him Gaurer) the devils advocate
to Balaams ass. which by its ncessant brayins
prevented the prophet from cursing the people
OF God.
Mr. Laurier gave several examples Of the re-
forms for which Papineau and La Fontaine
fought for in 1919 in favor Of parliamentary
liberty
We'll" added the speaker, "let there he in
scribed on my bier, that Of La Fontaine's.
May perish that my country be saved These
were the men from whom have inspired my
self in my political career Like these cham,
pions, | do not intend to enter into strife and
contentious with factions over mere words. and
words alone. do not intend to Initiate the con-
tentons OF Spain over trivial matters. and " i
can help it, we will not initiate Greece. which
was given TO interior dissensions while the Turks
besieged their city have labored. and | VIII
labor all my lifetime. for the triumph or CIVIL
liberty and clerical non-interference in matters
political. We must bend our energies toward
developing trade commerce and prosperity In
this land of ours, and shall not stop because
policy may be condemned by a faction.
lCheersD
Mr. I.aurier then delivered a short speech in
English and upon resuming his seat the Ma
tonal Snow Shoe Club, Of which he is patron.
presented the Premier with a handsome bou-
quet.
Mr.. Laurer was enthusiastically cheered as he
bowed his thanks to the audience
Resolutions approving OF the policy Of the
Liberal Government were unanimously adopted.