The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-05
Tho Finland Question.

It Is not surprising that the Gar has
refused to receive deputation. represent
ing many European countries, which de-
sired to present an address upon the Finland
question. 1t is certain that the British
Government. II It purposed to abrdge the
liberties OF Scotland, which, like Finland,
has its own system Of laws and its own
established religion, would decline to re-
ceive foreign memorials on the subject
That the question. however, Ia one Of wide
interest is obvious from the fact that the
signatures to the address included those OF
HERBERT SPENCER, EMILE lola, the ex-
plorer HANSEN. Prof. MoMMsEN. and Prof.
VIRCHow. What we are now witnessing in
Finland Is an attempt on the part Of certain
Ministers OF the Car, as yet apparently
supported by their master, to subvert Il
Constitution under which the inhabitants
or that Grand Duchy have enjoyed virtual
independence for over a century.
Let us recall the principal features Of the
rule which has hitherto prevailed in Fin
land, the better to appreciate the gravity
OF the innovations proposed. For the nu-
cleus OF the present Constitution, which
dates from 1872, the Finlanders are in
"
whom it was amended in 1889, after he had
failed to recover tho province OF Wiborg,
which had been coded to Russia in 1921.
The war which broke out between Sweden
and Russia in 1903 ended in the following
year with the surrender OF the whole
Of Finland and the Aland Islands to
Russia, which has ever since retained
them. In the year 1909, however, the
Gar, ALEXANDER l., convoked the Fin
nish Diet at Borga, and issued n mani
festo In which he promised to preserve the
religion, laws and liberties OF the country.
This pledge has been regularly taken by
his successors, but. In one respect, it was
left unfulfllled, for the Dict had not
met for fifty-six years when it was con-
voked by ALEXANDER H. at Helsing-
fors in 1868. We add that, since $50,
Finland has been permitted to use acoinage
OF its own. The use OF the Finnish tongue
has been everywhere encouraged since the
Russian conquest though the upper classes,
the mobiles and the burghers, still, for the
most part, use Swedish, and the study Of
the Russian language was made compul-
sorry in all the State schools in 1872.
In what sense may the Finlanders be de-
scribed as selt-governing We answer
that, while the Gar decides as to war and
peace and as to treaties, and has, more
over, the right Of pardon, tho officials ap-
pointed by him must all he natives OF Fin
land. The government Of the country and
the administration Of justice are carried
on by Senate, consisting OF eighteen Fin
landcrs, named as We have said, by the
Gar, under the Presidency OF n Governor
General. The DEGREES which tho Car il
requested To issue, in his capacity Of
Grand Duke, are laid before him by the
state Secretary for Finland. The legis-
lntive function is exercised by the Gar
and tho Diet, acting in conjunction with
out IT." consent Of the Dict no law can be
ordained OF repealed, no new taxes imposed
or soldiers levied. The Diet consists of
representatives 81 the four orders. to wit,
IN" mobiles, clergy. townsm"n and peasants.
The nobility are represented by the heads
Of the families recognized as belonging to
the House of Mobiles. The other Deputies
are elected, except that the Bishops enter
the House OF the Clergy ex-ofirio. For adj
ministrativc purposes Finland Is divided
into eight ans or provinces: these are,
in turn, divided into harads, corresponding
TO the old English hundreds, and these
again into parishes, of which there are $50.
The provinces, the hundreds and the par
ishes possess regularly graduated and
autonomous system of administ ration, of
taxation aud Of Justice With the excep-
ton of III" Governor-icneral, no Russian
official has any legal power in Finland. and
no administrative or judicial functionary
,.nn Ina InDrynI n his bffInn e.. ,,;,
conduct legally proved. No Finlander can