The record-union., 1899-04-01
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CALIFOR-
MA.

1t is we'll understood that there is a
general movement among the people of
Finland to colon.ze in various sections
of the world to better their condition.
Politically and socially the Finlanders
are living under conditions repressive
of and deadly to the natural ambition
to- rise, acquire, to attain to higher
standards Of intelligence and to enjoy
a larger share of the common comforts
of life Politically the Firms are very
far from being a free people. On the
contrary, they are the creatures of
despotism; such NEED of freedom as
they enjoy is little more than grudged
dole. Recently movements have been
set on foot that have much stirred the
Firms and led them to believe that their
liberties are to be more circumscribed,
and that free-will action on their part
is to become matter of tradition only.
Not a warlike people, they are less
disposed to rise in revolt than to seek
new homes. They would be practically
powerless to resist a great military
into submission 1t is not surprising,
therefore, that the recent CONSUMPTION
edicts and other laws intolerable to the
Firms have stirred in them a resolution
to seek new homes in new lands.
They are a sober, Industrious, frugal,
sturdy and desirable people. Peaceably
inclined, disliking strife and loving the
arts of peace, the Finnish people
ardently. desire to live as free men and
women, harming none and by none
trespassed upon.
It is understood therefore, that there
will soon be large output of Finnish
emigrants, and hence California is pro-
foundly interested in giving attention
to the fact, with a view to securing
from among them large colonies for
this State, where our greatest need is
desirable population London papers
assert that the Finnish drift will large
ly set toward the Argentine Republic.
But this must be taken with much al
lowance.. With an enormous and grow
ing trade with Argentina, it is natural
that English influence should be ex-
erted to strengthen that country by
influx of new peoples, and especially
from such sturdy stock as backs the
! .1Finlanders.
History proves that the Norsemen
have always been partial to the United
States Swedes, Danes and Norwegians
especially have come to US in large
numbers, and have found among US
congenial homes, and as a rule they
have much f1ourished. There are al
ready with US many Swedish Firms,
and they have as a rule proved desir-
able people, have become good citizens,
and served us as we'll as themselves
excellently by locating in our land.
Doubtless the influence of these can
be united to induce a new immigration
from Finland to this country A con-
certed movement to that end would
result benefcially If made immediate
and persistent These people are of
our race; they assimilate with US rap
idly; they admire our institutions; they
are lovers of freedom; they are sober,
provident and intensely industrious;
they can take lands the native-born
American will reject and from them
wrest support and lay up gains.
Our country is better adapted for the
Firms than any other on the globe. 1t
is not too warm. and it has sufficient
of the climatic peculiarities of their
native land to make it pleasing to them.
But, as the San Francisco Post" we'll
says on this subject:
No country in the world is better
adapted for the reception Of colonies
from Finland than is California, and
throughout the Pacific Coast there are
regions that would yield a thousand
fold in return for the industry of this
people, Injured as they are to the rigors
of an almost Arctic climate and COM
PEELED as they have been to wrest their
substance from a grudging SOIL Cali
fornia would be, indeed. a promised
landau Eden spot-for these exiles.
The Finlanders, or Soumi, as they
call themselves, include the Firms prop
er. Lapps, Esthonians, Livonians.
1chuds, Permians, Ugrians. Ostiaks and
Magyars The Esthonians and Livon
provinces of Russia, and the Magyar,
the best known, perhaps. Of this race.
beyond the Russian borders. is the
dominant racial element of Northern
Hungary and Western Russia. Com
merce, agriculture and the mechanical
trades are the leading industries OF
the people.
If any considerable number of these
people can be induced to colonize in
this State, the result will assuredly re-
dound to the benefit of the common
wealth. California needs this class of
Immigrants, and every effort should be
put forward to secure as large con-
tingent as possible. Inducements should
be offered and these inducements should
be. formulated in an organized effort
to present them to the Finnish Polltlcal
and Emigration Society of London.
AS the Firms are about to leave their
native land in large groups, the inter-
est of California lies in an effort to
induce them to come to this State. The
large land holdings here invite a people
who are capable of working small plats
successfully, as the Firms are. In Sac
gramento County there are not less than
10000 acres of lands now practically
unoccupied that would make ideal
homes for these Firms. The owners Of
these lands are probably not averse to
sdisposing of them in small tracts, if
there can be secured for them such
desirable population as that indicated.