The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1898-01-22

that of Norway, does not lack the
charm Of picturesque wildnesss and
beauty. Three nights and two days are
spent on a small but fairly comfort
able boat, and the long stops at inter-
mediate points are not tedious.
Glimpses Of towns like Abo, Hango
and Helsingfors are interesting be-
cause they reveal at once the genuine
strain of Scandinavian character and
the intelligence and fexibility dis
played by Russia in governing sub
-ject race swayed by progressive i'm
pulses and an alien religion. Not only
is the coast scenery of Finland like
that of Sweden and Norway, but the
i people also have the sturdy virtues
and progressive tendencies which char
-acterize the Scandinavian race. The
Finlanders are sincere and devoted
-Protestants, who have little in COM
mon with holy Russia; but they have
been allowed a large measure of local
Independence and religious federation.
Finland is not Russian Ireland, but is
well governed, prosperous and con-
tented.
The approach to Helsingfors is
guarded by the historic fortress of
Sveaborg, with batteries on seven
islands, 900 mounted guns and a gar
-rison of 5000 men. This was the
northern Gibraltar built by a Swedish
admiral toward the end OF the eigh-
teenth century. For centuries Finland
had been under Swedish rule, but the
Russians had set their hearts upon
-conquering it, although it was poor
and barren country, often decimated
by famine. Sveaborg was designed to
be an impregnable barrier against in
vaders from the Neva, and the high
admiral who fortified the seven islands
was so confident that it could never
be captured that he proudly directed
= his body to be buried there. His mon
ument still stands, with an inscription
in the spirit of the Wren epitaph in St.
Paul's Cathedral; but the fortress was
mysteriously surrendered by a Swedish
admiral in 1908, and the Russian flag is
now over it. Il. r.. TT, e
Whoever passes the grim fortress,
with it's memories of naval lombard
ments and generations of warfare, has
an object lesson in Russian persist
ence and patience. The same conquer
ing race which coveted Finland, per-
severing in it's purpose generation af-
ter generation until the last rampant
was taken by intrigue and treachery,
has it's aspirations south as we'll as
north, and awaits with equal confidence
and tenacity Of mind the fulfillment of
it's ambitions. Constantinople is an
other Sveaborg fortified by European
diplomacy against Russian assault. For
generations it has been coveted, and
every pious Russian knows in his heart
that the flag will some day be there,
and also over Jerusalem. It is a race
that can wait for centuries for what it
ardently desires.
The Russians, having conquered Fin
land early in the present century, have
completely reconGiled the Protestant
population to the'~ rule They have
succeeded in this solicy by adroitly
making concessions to local pride.
The emperor of all the Russians is the
Grand Duke of Finland, and governs
the country with the consent of the
Estates of the Diet, which assemble
periodically at Helsingfors. New taxes
cannot be imposed. without the con-
~currence of the four estates, and the
fundamental code of laws is Scandi-
navian in origin. Recent changes in
administration have tended to Rus
sianize Finland, but the country con-
tinues to enjoy the privileges of repre-
sentative institutions. There is a sep
,arate Finnish customs line, which has