The Manitoba Act (1870), the 'Constitution' of the province, provided for the use of English and French both in the legislature and in the schools. At that time about half the resident population spoke French; by 1891 only 11 thousand of 152 thousand did so. Discusses the events of 1889-90 that led to the abolition of French as an official language. This step violated the understanding on which Manitoba had joined Canada. [L. F. S. Upton]