The sun., 1899-04-23
AMERICAN FINNS OBJECT.
Grievances for Which the Russian Govern.
ment Is Responsible, They Say.

mont Is Responsible, They Say.
The total population OF Finland by the las,
oflcial census. that OF 1896. was 2.520,OOO. OF
whom 2. 10000 were native Firms. 100000
were Swedes resident in Finland. 1000 were
Russians tchiehy Of the Official class or mem.
bers OF Russian garrsons). and 1.2OO were
Lapanders residing in the northern part o,
that province. which. though politically part
OF Russia. moro properly belongs. by geo.
graphical position. to Norway and Sweden.
The population OF Finland has been
steadily increasing In late years. for the
reason that there is practically no emil.
grafton from It. and in this particular 10
differs from most European countries 1t has.
moreover. the advantage arising from q
small immigration to It from various Russian
provinces. and then. also. Finland is one OF the
European countries in which the birth rate 10
decidedly higher than the death rate. The
normal increase OF population now averages
about 10000 year.
Just now the policy OF tho Russian Govern
ment appears to be inclined to a curtaiment Of
the former political rights OF the Finns who
are Scandinavians by race and Lutherans In
religion. This attitude has had the effect o,
stimulating the organization OF the Firms o,
the United States. most numerous at present
In the city OF Brooklyn. but largely represented
In the population Of those Western and North.
western cities in which other Scandinayians
are to be found in considerable number
There has recently been established IN
Brooklyn what is known as the Finnish Amerl-
can Central Committee. the members OF which
expect to take an active part in the agitation
In this country directed against the Cars de-
cree against Finnish autonomy. There has
also been formed a committee OF Finlanders
throughout the middle western part OF the
country. the members Of which have been dis
cussing the propriety OF sending delega-
tion to Washington to invoke the good
offices OF the State Department in support
at the fnternational Peace p Congress- s; called called
6y the Russian Government e meet at
ceded to Russia by Sweden in September.
1902. retaining its separate government and
Constitution which dates back for a, number Of
tional Parliament, to be called at intervals Of
hiu four or Aye years BY the Gar Of Russia unis.
a veto power upon any. laws proposed BY
this Parlamsnt Ii and the concurren. as:
any radca chanses G Il ReesGS
the former constitutional rights OF tho
Enns have practically been suspended
Of the Parliament. to substitute, imperial g,
the circulation Of Russian money MOI eyDn in Finland
eompnIsHrpy to sH6situte the use OF Russian
the country. with England and Germany.
the chief Finnish exports. timber, but
ter, and wood pulp. being 70 England.
coffee and tobacco. being from Germany.
About, ,one-tenth Of the area OF Finland is made
up OF lakes. and the. internal communication
railroad mileage being less than 800. The
Firms Of the United States have taken little part
heretofore In public affairs. but the recent
toward their compatriots has had the effect OF
inducing them to organize. and may lead later
to their entrance into American politics.