The New York herald., 1869-04-05
RUSSIA.
App-ehendcd Troubles In Finland-Russln and
Western EurOpe-General Autag0nism Toe
wards Russin.

Western Europe-General Autasonism To.
wards Russin.
ST. PETERSBURG, March o, 1859.
Something is going on in Finland. Some persons
believe that this seemingly out Of the way nook will
give US plenty to think about and to 90 one Of these
days-as mucn as Poland in her time, perhaps. We
have been found fault with enough ON account OF
our oppressive management of Poland, whose hatred
and rebellious tendencies have been explained and
justified on that plea do not intend, just at pre-
SENT to enter into dissertation rs to the Justice of
our respective policies, though will do so, histori-
cally, some day when l shall not be so hard
beset by abundance OF strictly contemporary
matters-questions du Jour-demanding i'm
mediate discussion. will mercy remark
that admitting that our course in Poland
made the people our inveterate enemies by beng
violent and oppressive 1t would seem in the natu.
raj way OF logical concatenaton OF causes and ef-
fects that an opposite course should have an oppo-
site result Now, starting from this position, we
should have no more devoted and grateful adher
ents than our Finnish neghbors--I scarcely venture
TO say subjects, so little they subjected to Rus
sian rule beyond being gathered under the same
crown-a mere personal union,u as the Germans
call the tie which subsiss only i'll the person OF the
sovereign, with complete administrative autonomy.
This is exactly FinaDd's case. she has her own
laws, institutions, her own distinct administrative
system, rights and privileges; her own religion her
own schools in which her own language iy taught,
and what Is the results a decided leaning towards
sweden which Is natural In so far that
the Old order OF things not having been inter-
Iered with nor superseded by another, there has
been no reason way It should not have kept Its
ground, not only In ITSELF but with a Its old attend
ing associations The Language OF the educated classes
Is and remains Swedish, consequently the literature
and nstory which form the subjects Of early teaching
II IS notorious that the people with whose writings
aud doings our minds earliest impressions and er-
lors are identified will always keep forcible hold
on our reverence and sympathy. Tlis viii scarcely
be denied by anybody least OF all by those who
have studied the classics. not from compusion. but
This, by the by is the reason why the Russian Ian
guage Is maze obigatory IN our western provinces,
why russian teachers 10 the exclusion OF indl-
genous ones, are sent to the schools, and Russian
literature and history Is insisted on. 1t is not
ruhany desire To tyrannize the conquered as Is
abusiyeiy imputed TO u.s. which lnstIgates this and
Similar measures; IL Is, the contrary, the well
meant wish to Identify them with ourselves 10 bind
al least the rising generation 10 Its poli metro
polls by every tie OF historical community ana OF
early association. II the grown up generation and
the Old people are beyond hope OF reconciliation.
But TO return 10 Finland. She was never wen dis
posed towards US; passive sullennesss was
a prodigious aud active hostility seems
20 be brewing everywhere, and there Is
no knowing when and now 1t win explode into
positive rebellion. The Russian garrison in Helslng.
fors lately organized a little amateur theatre FOR
tHeir own deleetation and that OF a small circle OF
lussian civil o1cers residing IN the town-the most
innocent utue concern, with no pretensiols to any
tbing but alOrding some amusement. VINO could
nave snougAt tnat Tue indigenous population would
nave iet onended-nay, outraged and endangered
by such natural proceed1ngf The Finnish papers
Immediately took up the cue and were loud IN their
walls "tnaL the intruders' began to drop the mask
to show their 'Rus-ciZng' tendencies la The oDcn
day, that the encroachment ami insult should not be
tanely bOrne,r and all In language 40 grossly abusye
as would DO honor TO an Austrian paper polemcing
against some uckless Slavonic opponent. The Ius,
sian Officers from tnat day forth became the canstan,
mark OF public dersion and III viii, aud avoided "a
much as possible, being seen In public places for
lear OF Deing openly insulted and Obliged TO seek
FEfiV Nrnf nF
matters worse. NOW the Finnish papers are agaIn
running mad for no less dreadful offence. one OF
our great arInor manufacturers, wno has Jus. re.
ceived large order for changing many thousands
OF rnes according 10 the newest system has had The
audacity to invite from Helsingiors certain mum.
Der OF workmen-smths and locksmiths-who. on
their part, have been 80 deporaDly bind not to
see snare IN the agreement offered them and to mi.
grave, not TO siberia or the Amoor, but simply TO
Petersburg and the SisterDeck manufactured sun
nearer home. This was sufficient for lhe
patriotic press to raise the hue and cry
and TO denounce the designing wIckedness
Oh the Russian agents, who do not scrupla
to entice poor Ignorant men from their homes and
lanllles on oppressive terms ana by false promises
thus depriyng tue Finnish 81 the ne
cessary hands, These are rdculously small symptoms
alarming that scarcely any remedies can be ex.
pected " put stop 10 II.
You are probably aware OF the increased virucnce
with which the Occidental press has Thought nt 10
renew us habitua attacks against Russia since the
close Oh the famous conference. The French papers,
especially, have opened all their batteries on US. 40
the usual list or ACCUSATIONS or barbarian retro.
gradism, tyranny &c, &C. Is added now an important
head-our real and suspected way OF acting and even
thinking In the Eastern question. The Petersburg
Cabinet says .the Coyresp0ndaace Butler Is strongly
suspected OF the wish to work underhand with view
TO entangie the question, while giving herself on
the other hand the air OF acting In concert with the
western Powers for the paci0cation OF the East.-
IL seems, then, Russia s forbidden even 70 sympa-
thize with Greece--to q word Of comfort 10 her
after the cruel blow which has just been dellbe-
rately and successfully aimed At her national dignity
almost at her very existence Russia has done all,
more than she could. she has taken part In the
conference which In itself was insult to Greece.
She has signed the iniqutous declaration, which,
however polite In form. Is In substance neither more
Greece to submit, endangering thereby her own
popularity and her influence IN the East. But this
ana much more IL not enough yet IL Is required OF
ner ,hat sue enter into contradiction with herself;
tnat she renounce all her traditions, oil
ner historical sympathes with the Christian
were she 70 do even this, It should not be enough