Documents
in Quebec History
Last
revised: 23 August 2000 | Les
Québécois, le clergé catholique et l'affaire des écoles du Manitoba / Quebecers,
the Catholic Clergy and the Manitoba School Question, 1890-1916
Laurier's
"Sunny Way" [Note from
the editor: In the fall of 1895, as the federal conservative government moved
progressively further toward compulsion on the Manitoba school issue, and the
Remedial Order seemed to have failed to bring about an end to the controversy,
Laurier enunciated for the first time his policy of the "Sunny Way".
He used one of Aesop's fable as a metaphor for the current situation. In the fable,
the sun and the wind are having an argument as to which is the more powerful.
The matter is to be decided by attempting to disrobe a traveller coming along.
To win, the wind, a metaphor for the conservative government, starts blustering
to blow the coat away, but the more the wind blows, the more the man clings to
his coat; in the end the wind is unsuccessful. The sun, for its part, shines brightly,
warmly and gently on the individual who readily removes his coat; the soft touch
and diplomatic ways of the sun came out the winner. So, presumably, would Laurier's
suggestion that diplomacy, gentleness and compromise would win the day in resolving
appropriately the school issue to the satisfaction of all concerned. It
was in Morrisburg, Ontario, on October 8, 1895, that Laurier first used the fable
to illustrate his point. It was an image that caught the imagination and would
have great success. He used it frequently in and out of the House of Commons.] [
] "The
government instead of investigating the subject, proceeded to render - what shall
I call it? - an order in council they called it, commanding Manitoba in most violent
language to do a certain thing, to restore the schools or they wwould see the
consequences. Manitoba answered as I supposed every man approached as the government
of Manitoba was approached, would answer; Manitoba answered it by saying, 'We
will not be coerced.' I ask you now, would it not have been more fair, more just,
more equitable, more statesmanlike, at once to investigate the subject, and to
bring the parties together to hear them, to have the faccts brought out so as
to see whether a case had been made out for interference or not? That is the position
I have taken in the province of Quebec. That is the position I take in the province
of Ontario. I have never wavered from that position. [
] Well,
sir, the government are very windy. They have blown and raged and theatened, but
the more they have theatened and raged and blown the more that man Greenway has
stuck to his coat. If it were in my power, I would try the sunny way. I would
approach this man Greenway with the sunny way of patriotism, asking him to be
just and to be fair, asking him to be generous to the minority, in order that
we may have peace among all the creeds and races which it has pleased God to bring
upon this corner of our common country. Do you not believe that there is more
to be gained by appealing to the heart and soul of men rather than to compel them
to do a thing? The government is not
very anxious to have my opinion as a rule. When they gerrymandered Canada in 1882
they did not consult any of the Liberals. When they passed the franchise act they
did not consult any of the Liberals. But upon this question they want to consult
me and to have my views. Here they have them. Let them act upon them and we will
be in accord; but more than that I will not do. I will not say that I will support
the policy of Sir Mackenzie Bowell until I know what that policy is, and then
when we have it in black and white it will be time for me to speak upon it. Let
the mininsterial press abuse me all they can [
] I will not come out until
I choose my time." [
] Source
: Oscar Douglas Skelton, Life and Letters of Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Vol.
1, Toronto, Oxford University Press, 1921, 485p., pp. 464-465. ©
2000 Claude Bélanger, Marianopolis College |