Excerpt from Separate Schools: Introduction of the Dual System Into Eastern Canada and Its Subsequent Extension to the West

The prevalent erroneous and false ideas relative to the separate school question in the new provinces of the West, the persistent efforts of certain people to mislead the citizens of Canada with reference to it, and the evident reluctance of both political parties to boldly and fearlessly face the issue with the only effective remedy, are among the reasons which induced the author to lay the facts concerning this subject, which in importance far transcends all others of a provincial character, briefly before the public. It is his earnest hope that this little work may be the means of at least contributing to the dispersion of the mists emanating from misrepresentation, party expediency and political serfdom, which at present obscures the vision of our people, and bringing about the final overthrow of an educational system founded upon the principle of special privileges, which fosters disunion and disintegration, and must inevitably lead to national disaster.

The control pf education has been taken away from the Roman Church by every progressive and enterprising nation on earth, with most desirable and beneficial results, but in Canada we seem to be moving in the very opposite direction, and as time passes, we are handing over to the hierarchy of Rome some special privilege to interfere with our primary schools and the education of the youth of our land. Lord Macaulay thus writes with regard to Rome's history in educational affairs: "From the time when the barbarians overran the Western Empire to the time of the revival of letters, the influence of the Church of Rome had been generally favorable to science, to civilization, and to good government. But during the last three centuries, to stunt the growth of the human mind has been her chief object.

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