The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-13
CANADA.
Troubles OF Sir w. LRurier-The Race oues'
ton. Asiatic Labor and the TranSvaai.

Troubles of Sir w. LRurier-The Race Oues-
ton. AsiAtic Labor and the Transvanl'
MONTREAL Sept 11.--some OF the English
organs OF tho Conservative press here ana In
Ontario are doing their best to embitter the
racial strife raised by Mr.. HuRhJ Macdonalds
proposed bill dlsirancliising all voters In Mani
toba who cannot read and write English.
They insist that the measure will only apply
to the newly imported Slavs. but the Pdtrie
returns to the charge. and refuses to be salts
fed with anything less than such modification
OF the phrasing OF the bill as will conflne its
operation to those Of tho inhabitants OF Mani
toba who shall be unable to read and write one
or other OF the two official languages OF tho
country. 1t is quite certain that this question.
which will prove thorny one for both politl-
cal parties, is not going to be settled on
hand. In the case OF Manitoba the Con"
servatives will plead that the official recoani-
ton OF the French language only applies 10
Canada as It was known territorially at the
date OF the conquest and specially Represented
by what Ia now known as the Province OF que
bee that Manitoba. not having until very re-
cent time had either territorial or administra-
tive existence, Is entirely outside the scope OF
tho Act OF Capitulation. and that In conse-
quence the French language has no legal status
in that province. This view is supported oy
several OF the ultra Conservative French-Cana-
dams. among others by Messrs. Chapais.
Nantel and Bergeron. well-known Journalists
Their silence or a,quiescence has. however,
drawn down upon them severe reproaches
from tho French Liberal press generally. ana
even from some OF the Conservative papers OF
strong national tendencies.
The discussion has come very inopportunely
for the Government. which has moro than one
troublesome question to deal with. In addi
ton to the Alaska boundary matter. there V
the growing agitation in British Column la
over the Asiatic labor question:, which mas
Martin and the Dominion Representative OF
| Vancouver Mr.. W. McInnis. The latter gen
| tleman resigned his seat In the Ottawa Par-
| Lament. in which he sat as a supporter OF sif
Wifrid Laurier. and ia seeking reelection as
an opponent to the admission OF Aslattrs into
ment at the instance OF the British Colonial
| he and tho Hon. joseph Martin have been
| enthusiastically received at tho meetings al
| which they have spoken.
| Then. Sir Wilfrid Laurier's superabundan'
| loyalty in bringing forward the resolution re-
garding the Transyaal dispute is drawing verJ
| outsnoken expressions OF opinion IRON papers
| In different parts OF the country. some Of the
| strongest coming from places where the Brit.
| ish element is most influential. Even the
| Toronto Sun does not hesitate to point out tc
| him that in Offering the help OF Canada to Eng
| land in a war against the Boers OF the Trans
| wal he IL providing weapons that Will one day
| he turned against his own race in Canadt
| VIII enever q British Colonial Secretary deter
| mines to put into effect the pol 10y out lined "
| the Durham memorandum. submitted to n!
| British Government after the rebellion OF 1887
Altogether Sir Wilfrid's path is not strewI
| with roses.