The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-20
RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.
Finland's New Army-Russian Opposition to
Suppression of Other tionalities-Ar-
menians Arc Being Russifed.

Finland's New Army-Russian Opposition to
Suppression OF Other Nationalities-Ar-
menians Arc Being Russifed.
The new military arrangements for Finland
fix the number OF men to be furnished for the
imperial service at 10000, and an annual con-
trlbution OF S350O.O00 Is to be made to the
Imperial Treasury In addition the Finnish
Diet no longer exercises any control over the
disposition Of the funds. and will in future only
meet once in every four years The agitation
which these measures Of the Russian Govern
ment have caused In Finland is stated to be
spreading into Russia itself. and Russian
society is said to be very much divided on
tho expediency OF the proceedings OF Gen. Bob
rikof, the Governor General OF Finland. The
Noroe IrenJid Of st. Petersburg regrets the
backwardness and unsteadiness OF Russian
opinion on the subject Of the alien races within
the empire whose assimilation. by any and
every method. 1t regards as necessary to the
preservation OF the empire. In reply to this
the Norosti. another st. Petersburg paper. says
thatth very things for which the Noroe I'renUia
blames enlightened Russians speak only in
their favor. Educated Russians. 1t declares
are not jealous Of the non Russian races incor-
porated in the empire. but that Russian en-
iGhtened society looks with consideration and
sympathy on the successes OF other peoples in
culture and civilization. and with pain on those
sides OF Russian actually which manifest the
backwardness OF our fatherland compared
with other countries" 1t goes on to combat
the insinuaton OF the NOrOe Trenjid that the
Finlanders were contemplating secession from
the empire. and concludes q strong article by
stating that no progress in the midst OF Rus
sian society itself can be effected with the ap-
plication OF exceptional measures to any nom
Russians within the empire, and Russian So
cety understands this perfectly we'll"
This last refers more especially to tho dis
abilities Of the Jews. but also includes the Ar
menians. whose classification has been deter
mined on and has, already begun. The case
OF the Armenans Is a peculiar one and illus
pg the ons Mia sqe
ship OF the Grand Duke Michael granduncie
OF the present Gar. the assimilation Of the
Armenians and Georeians Of the Transcauca
hardly aware Of it themselves Among the edu-
Gated classes the Russian language had become
the ordinary vehicle OF eommun ication. and
the process ALMOST completed. when it was
completely, arrested by the conduct OF the
Grand Duke's successor Prince Dondukoff-
termittent struggle on the part Of the Arme-
mans to preserve their nationality and Ian
Guage. with the prospect that both will be OBJ
Unlike the Finlanders. whose neighbors are
kindred and sympathetic. the Russian Armen-
ans have none to fall back upon. Turkey Is
lives and his policy, prevails and Persia Is. at
best. very uncertain refuge now that russian
influence Ia becom Ing paramount in that coun-
try. What hope the non Russian races in the
change in the methods OF their assimilation
must apparently, come from the influence ofthe
educated and snIshtened element IN Russian
are signs that it will not DO wanting