Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-03-03
LETTER IRON STOCKHOLM.


Especial Correspondence Of the pEsERrr
Nnwsl
II Is q matter OF fact that the polite
nj air Of Scandinavia has been very
clear during the last two decades or
since tho last German. Danish war,
when Sweden, ruled by Charles Nv,
was not very far from becoming an ally
OF her attacked sister kingdom. Well
for her that she did mott
some dGy, aud, perhaps, one not
very remote, she may need all the
strength which she has been able TO
gather since her last war In 1914.
Tho blessings Of peace have been OF
the greatest benefit 10 the commercial
aud intellectual development OF the
country, and the Sweden Of today Is
In n more prosperous state Of Affairs
IN every way than the Sweden Of tho
past.
There IL only one cause for anxiety,
and TINT come. from the appearance Of
n cloud In the eastern political fifms-
mcnt. 'chi- cloud, although not yet Of
very large dimensions. ", however,
black and heavy, aud l. regarded by
many people NJ the forc-rinner Of n
political tornado, now directing IT. mad
course westward towards the scandi-
navian peninsula.
But figurativc language will not ex-
plain the situation; | must state the
facts.
The tyrannical acts OF the Russian
depot In his cndeavor 10 Russlanlls
poor Finland are something that may
s.t every true swedc thinking. The
peace Of Ffedrikshamn In 1909 gave
10 Russia Finland, which had been
connected with Sweden for six hum
drcd years. Tho terms OF the treaty
Of peace stipulated, however, that Fin-
land wns not 10 become Russian
province, but to retain lts autonomy,
though the nominal head was 10 bc the
Car OF Russia under the title u Grand
Duke Of Finland. The firt Alexander
ignored mnny OF tile agreements. but
Alexander III was n good ruler, aud
asserted that the Finlandcrs were the
most loyal OF his many subjects. IL
was during his reign that the Finnish
1.andtdag was assembled for the first
time.
But what does the present Czar care
for tho most loyal OF his subjects? To
Russianlze them, 10 make Finland n
part Of his great empire IA his aim.
VIII he succeed. without doubt.
Already the Russian language has
been made obligatory In the schools,
native Russians have been appointed
To- the more paying government offices,
the refractory newspapers are being
conilscated On mhsse, and the Finnish
postage stamps will soon be "stamped"
out, - Russian ones Of corresponding
worth going 20 take their place. The
good financial reputation OF Finland
Il also 10 be crushed, the marks being
compelled 10 make way for the Inflated
ribels. Indeed, every encroachment
OF the Car IA fearful blow at the
Finnish civilization aud nationality.
But II signifies more than that. II II
q thundcr.bolt aimed Mt the vital power
Of the Protestant people around the
Baltic sea, and u may canso political
dissenslons within the carbon, dis.
sensions, which, perhaps, will be
obstacles 10 tho aim " tbs assimila-
ton.
The assimilation being more Of an
interior. than foreign character will
probably not call forth even simple
protest from the great powers.
The people Of Sweden and Norway,
however, do not look at the acts OF
Russia In the same light, but regard
| them ns mn indirect demonstration, "a
prelude 10 q war for the purpose OF
obtaining one or several harliors ON
the coast Of Norway. The geogrnph.
zeal situation Of Scandinavia cuts OIL
Russia from any direct connection
with the North Sea, and II Is "A well.
known fact that the Mosc0vltc power
desires TO get possession, In some way
or another, OF the Norwegian harbOrs
washed by the Gulf stream. Finland
thoroughly Rus-iani,cd, this aim will
10 the next Of the Car.
II IL true that Russia can reach the
North Sea by the Sound (thc water
between the Danish scotland and the
Swedish province OF Schonenl but a
coufehefntcd German Swedish or Ger
man-Engllsh fleet could, In case OF
war, easily prevent this. The German
navy IA fully nble 10 compete with
that Of the Gar, and M 10 king
Oscar, he asks every Riksdag for ap-
preparations for new mrn-of-war. To
I've shut out from the North Sea IL what
Russia fears, especially NJ the great
powers will not allow her 10 reach the
Mediterranean or the Indian Sea,
The immense realm Of the Car lacks
admittance 10 the oceans, which would
make Russia even stronger and more
powerful than she IN at present. a
harhor AT lloloten or any other place on
the Norwegian coast would help this
need In some degree, Russia thereby
being able, perhaps 10 keep her mari
time connections, even " the nnvies
ofother powers should block aud lock
the rate of the Baltic--the Sound.
Butt Russia get her heavy foot on
some sniall spot Ia northern Norway,
then, sooner or later, she viii probably
imagine that she IL In need Of the
whole peninsula.
The Independence OF Sweden aud
Norway Is threatened accordingly at
he present by no other power than
their great eastern nelghbor, and thu
movement now going ON all over 5oan'