The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1890-04-09
The Scheme 10 Convert Fin
land from a Free State
Excites Attention.
The Chinese strengthening Them
selves Against an Apprehended
Attack by Russia
Emln Pasha Intimates a Desire 10
Cancel His German Engagement
and Return to Europe.
T@SnoS. April s.

ihe Aeheme TO convert Finland from A
free state, with the ezar as constitutional
sovereign, INTO q Russian province. with
tue czar as autocrst, exeit considerable
attention IN Earope. People generally
have had their eyes fixed upon Russian
operations la the Danahian provinces and
ON the Dardennelles TO the negle I OF the
eneroaehments of that vast aud restless
power in other directions. Russia il
feared by Sweden not less than by Turkey,
and Sweden looks to England. ins, as the
sultan does. for proteetion from the grasp
OF the hnscoyite despot. The Scandina-
vians are not united In feeling for reasons
apparent to the student OF their history
Between Russia and Denmark there has for
ages existed strong sympathy, while Rus
Eta and Denmark regard Sweden both with
unfriendly aud the former with eovetons
eyes.
The Russidcation of the Firms, there
fore, means one more step in Russias adj
vance toward an attack upon Sweden and
Norway. Finland was part OF sweden
for centuries. Russia first annexed one.
half aud In 1908 seized the other half. but
not until after q heroic struggle, which
is commemornted In the grandest scandi-
naSian epic of this age The eyes of
Europe we're bent at the time upon Ma.
poleon, otherwise the Russian conquest of
Finland would Lave held a place in history
with the throttling OF freedom in Poland.
Some of the incidents, as when
one finnish soldier held u narrow bridge
for many minutes against a large force OF
Russians, falling Just as the Swedish army
came up TO the post which his valor had
saved Tor them, compare with the noblest
achievements on record. A people of this
kind will not yield their liberties without
struggle. The western shore of Finland
is chiefly settled by the Swedish race, an a
most Of these would either fight or emi.
CRATE, and as stated in previous dispatch,
many thousands have already onfffsated.
Chinese strengthening themselves.
swFpm, Shanghai comes the statement
appfsRnthe norfharn s.o....-- -----s.s sasval.
several years has becsh ikdheislaer- -saainat an
itary soree Ina the provinces adjoining
Amoor, and stout forts have been erected
at points most likely 10 be threatened by
Russian invasion. China could throw
about 300, ,OOo Of Ter best troops OF the en-
pire into immediate action in the event of
a war with Russia, while the population to
be drawn upon for reinforcementa Is prac
sically unlimited. No word comes
from st. Petersburg as TO whether
there il ground for Chinese fears;
but this silence indicates nothing.
Russia lis not 10 the habit of publishing
to the world either her foreign or domestic
policy. Besides, .the ezars have usually
allowed, rather than permitted, their gen.
erals to undertake movements that meant,
or led to war, aud especially has this been
the case In Asia, where vast tracts have
been absorbed and extensive hostilitiea ear
ried on at various times within this GEN.
tury. without any declaration of war
against anybody. The enemies. however,
have been half savage tribes and khans
with little authority beyond the view from
their mud. .built towers. Deaiing with China
would be a different matter; for the Chinese
army In vastly improved In discipline and
equipment since the affair with France q
few years ago. But even in making war
with China, Il would be entirely IN accord
with the dnplicity that charaeterizes the
methods of the car. TO begin hossillties
through some commander whose comp, II
successful, might be repudiated. On the
other hand, there il ihs fact that the
dispatch announcing Chinese military
movements in the direction of the north
ern frontier relates nothing new, but sim
ply confirmation OF the report that
China ID keeping vigilant guardianship
over her provinces in which, more than Q
wear ago, she had already stationed the
flower of her army.