THE SITUATION IN MANITOBA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 2, 10 May 1895, Page 11

THE SITUATION IN MANITOBA.

(From the Irish World, March 30.) It looks £s if the Canadian wing of tbeA.P.A. is bent upon stirring up a religious war in Manitoba. It is the old story of anti-Catbolic intolerance, which, in this country, dates back as far as the colonial dayß. It is more than two hundred yeari since Maryland, which was the first of the colonies to proclaim religious liberty, fell under the control of a Protestant majority, who signalised their advent into power by proscribing Catholics, whose liberality had offered a place of refuge to the persecuted Puritans of Virginia and to other Protestant sects. After the lapse of two centuries we see in Manitoba a repetition of what occurred in Maryland when Protestantism gained the ascendency. It is now twenty-five years since Manitoba entered the Confederation of Canadian Provinces. At that time the population was almost exclusively Catholics of French descent, who demanded and received guarantees that neither their schools nor their language should be interfered with. With this understanding the province became a part of the Dominion. Some years afterward, in consequence of a Urge immigration from England and from the other Canad an provinces, Protestants outnumbered the Catholics. It was the experience of Maryland over again. No sooner were the Catholics in the minority than the pledges given to them were trampled under foot. A measure was introduced in the Legislature abolishing parochUl schools and substituting for them so-called national schools, which, to all inteuts and purposes, are Protestant schools. This flagrant violation of good f tith aroused the Catholics to action. They felt they had ben tricked and determined to seek redress in the courts. When the matter was brought before the Supreme Court of Canada, that tribunal decided that the Catholics of Manitoba had a constitutional right to their schools. The Manitoba Government, which, at the time, was in the hands of Protestants, appealed from the decision of the Supreme Court to the Privy Council of England, which is the highest tribunal in the realm. The Privy Conncil, reversing the decision of tbe Supreme Conrt, decided that Catholics, as such, bad no constitutional rights. Thereupon the Catholics of Manitoba appeal 3d for redress to the Dominion Government, which tried to dodge by asserting that it had no power to interfere. It was the Oatholicß' turn to appeal to the Privy Council. That tribunal lately declared that the Catholics of Manitoba have a real grievance, and that it is within the powers of the Dominion Government to grant them remedial legislation. Wbea this decision was rendered, the Catholics made a second application to the Dominion Government. After a bitter fight in the Cabinet, the Governor-Gene-ral, acting on the advice of the Dominion Ministers, issued, a few days ago, an order calliDß upon the Government of Manitoba to restore the Catholic parochial schools.

This simple act of justice has stirred Protestant fanaticism to i's depths, Last Sunday, according to a Press dispatch, Protestant ministers, in their pennons, urged their congregations to stand firm against the remedial order issued by the Governor-General of tbe Dominion. The same dispatch informs us that " the Manitoba Legislature is awaiting tie receipt of the order. Without dc übt the Legislature will refuse to obey it by an overwhelming majority. Then will come open conflict between the Dominion and Provincial governments. It seems now that if an attempt be made to enforce the Governor-General's order, revolution will be inevitable." Like his prototype, the Orangeman, the Canadian anti-Ciiholic believes that an act of Government, which runs counter to his prejudices, is not entitled to any respect at hie hands. In the case of the Manitoba Catholics, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Privy Council of Bngland, and the Dominion Government have recognised the equity of ihe claims put forward by them. Four antf-Caiholic bigof, whether he happens to bo in Ireland or in the United States or in Canada, is never restrained by a regard for equity if he has a chance of indulging bis prejudices againsL Catholics and the Catholic Church.