Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-08-19
The Position of Russia.
From the london Post, July

The aggressive attitude which Russia
has for century past consistently ASSUME
ed towards those nations whose frontiers
are conterminous with her own is at last
producing its natural result. If for time
that policy of annexation, which partly by
force she has so steadfastly pursued, has
| beed successful, the Nemesis has come at
last, and in the hour of her extremity she
looks in vain-to her neighbors for assist
ance and support. From Gonstantinople
to Stockholm the sentiment of hostility
towards so encroaching and dangerous q
power is unanimous and profound. It
is true that at Berlin an Infatuated Cabinet
is forcing an almost imbecile sovereign
into expressions of open sympathy with
the Russian Government; but the very fact
that such policy has entirely alienated
him from his son and his subjects, and has
provoked an infraction of the Constitution,
proves how distasteful il is to the country.
and how impossible iE would be, in the
case of war, for Prussia to form an alli-
ance offensive and defensive in the support
of so unpopular cause as the extinction
of the Polish nationality by Russia.
In anticipation of tho policy to be pur-
sued by Sweden in this crisis, and with
the view of throwing dust in the eyes OF
Europe generally, the Emperor ol Russia
has spared no effort since the outbreak of
the insnrrection to obtain from the Fins
addresses of loyalty. Three several at
tempts have been made since the COM
mencement of the year, and all with the
same result. The Fins, who have been
defrauded of their rights for upwards of
fifty years, steadily refused to compromise
their Just demands by concession which
they knew too we'll was only measure of
I,political expediency, and would produce
an effect precisely opposite from the one
desired. They had not been Russian sub
/ liects for half a century without discover
| ing that fear was the only sentiment which
could extort from the government the sat-
isfaction of their claim, and their calcula-
tions have proved well founded. The En-
peror, finding that neither threats nor ca
iolery were of any avail, has ann9unced
his intention of making u tour in Finland
in the month of August, and uksse has
recently been published convoking the
Diet at Helsiugfors for the 10th of Sep
tember. This Diet. promised by the act
of cession of 1909, has been perslstently
refused ever since that date, and the Fias
have not only been deprived of their con-
stitutionaI rights, but have been subjected
| to a measures of taxation and an arbitrary
form of government, far less rigorous ip-
deed than that adopted in Poland, but none
1.-THE less detrimental to the development of
1 the moral and material resources Of the
country, and TO the enjoymentpf the priv
lileges guaranteed by the act of cesslon.
| The time has now at last arrived when
they will have an opportunity of redress
ing their own grievances, and of proving
| 10 the world that they are capable OF
turning to good account 2 concession
! which could only have been gained under
suchfa pressure as the insurrectiOn in Eu-
rope has produced upon Russia. They are
| never again likely to find "a more favorable
moment for obtaining these concessions
which may satisfy their natural aspira-
| lions. and by means of which, partially
emancipated from the Russian thrRldom,
they might place their commercial rela-
| tions with foreign nations upon an i'm.
| proved footing, reform the defective inter-
| nal administration of the country, enlarge
its educational institutions aud establish
IneW ones. abolish the censorship of the
press and control their own finance. At
/ present the system pursued by Russia in
the raising aud application OF the taxes IS
1 q cause of serious discomfort, and, IN the
event of the obstinacy of the Cabinet OF
4 ST. Petersburg, forcing the country into
1 bostilIlies with Europe, Finland would he
compelled to contribute, both in money
land men.fto q war in whloh Finnish SYM
pathy would be all on the, other side. ii
There is already a strong feeling of at-
Il Election between the SWedes aud the Fins,
iiarising partly from similarity, of race and
partly Z from Old association and tits i'm.
4 possible 70 supposei in the case of war be-
Itween Sweden, IN alliance with the three
{ mowers. and Russia npon the Polish ques-
4 tion, that the, Fins would tamely submit K
be drained of their resources TO suppoTl
.Iit. They remembe with regret theii form,
Ier.connection with Sweden, and look witt
4 Longing eyes across the Gulf of Bothia Il
j their co-religionists, In the enjoyment o
Z ali the privileges of constitutional govern
metit. It is out Of the question that the,
icouid be bribsd by Russian promises o
II the same privileges, to be accorded at tn
! llsane time, to fight against the Swedes.-
5 The most thai, Russia could hope to seCur
- Lla..la..l