The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-04-20
Russia ard Finland

hNNAAN liat'iA Ahit| ''''''
gets for his proposal Of disarmament
Since its severance from Sweden. ninety
years ago, Finland has enjoyed govern
ment under "A constitution confirmed by
the oath Of every Gar on his accession
to the throne This constitution pre-
scribes that no law touching life, lib
erty. property. taxes. religion, educa-
tion. military service, or any form OF
| local government can be enacted with
out the hearing Of the Diet ot Finland
and the sanction Of all the four cham
bers Of which this legislative body Is
composed Nor can this constitution
be altered except in the like manner
Under this comparatively liberal char
and has been the best governed portion
Of the Russian Empire Its people
have been loyal. contented and progress
i've, felicitating themselves on their tx
emption from the baneful and bhghting
influence Of autocratic Muscovite rule
Finland's position has been compare
BILE, as respects self-goyernment. with
that Of Canada
But recently. for reasons Of state,
the Car has by decree Cancelled the
Finnish constitution, to the great dis
may, grief and indignation Of the peo-
pie. This is in pursuance Of the gov
ernment's settled policy Of Russianiz-
ing everything within the Empire by
suppressing all differences of law and
religion especially such differences a.
afford a spectacle Of freedom under con-
native Of the country In a letter to the
London Times. is today threatened
with the fate Of Poland Russia has
violated our constitution and made
every preparation 10 Rnsslanize the
country, which means the suppression
of civil and religions liberty. the moral
aud political corruption f all depart
ments Of the State, the degradation OF
Justice TO a merchandise, the impoyer-
ishing Of the people, the blight Of
knowledge and education and the ush-
ering in of gross ignorance. imprison-
ment, exile and curses. ~ In July, lS95,
an imperial decree summoned the Diet
t. enact an army bill and intimated
that the Gar wonld sanction it whether
the Diet did so or not The bill in
creased the term Of service in the army
from three to five years, required the
Firms 10 serve in Russian regiments.
augmented the levy four-fold and ex
acted an annual contribution 10 the
Russian treasury Of 3, 800, 600. besides
the pay Of the Finnish brigade Every
provision-exacted by force-is regard
ed by the Firms as an outrage upon the
law Of the land In February last the
Gar arbitrarily changed the sonstitu-
tion, depriving the Diet Of all effective
control Of affairs. The Council of State
at St. Petersburg is hereafter to legis-
late for Finland and the Diet at Hels-
inQfors is 90 have only consultative
voice. This means. says the Times
correspondent 1.-The wreckage OF West
ern civilization. Protestant faith and
humanity and the material devastation
of Finland. Protests are unheeded
When the members Of the Finnish gov
ernment, the justices of the Supreme
Court and the Speakers OF the Diet Wis
tied st Petersburg to ask a reconsider
alton Of the coup detat, they were re-
fused admission 10 the Gar After
ward when 527 900 persons joined in a
petition and deputed 800 prominent
citizens to convey it to the monarch,
the deputies were summarily ordered
to leave st. Petersburg There is no
need of words Finland is to cease to
have self government and is to be Rus
sianized. Russia, says the Finnish
patriot, 'is like the child and the saw
age, utbITOy l'k cfol thlhs DuV u"""4O
to build up or construct anything of
value. The ruler whom the nations of
Europe adoringly lift to the skies by
reason of his proposal Of disarmament
-" brutally tramples under feet an un-
offending. prosperous and happy peo
pie " His conduct, it is suggested, is
in contrast with the fine sentiments he
puts forward in his famous peace note
of August 2S last, when he referred to
principles of justice and righteousness
on which the security OF States" de-
pends. I'm Finland" says the corre-
spondent, I'VE look upon the Russian
peace proclamation as huge impos-
ture. " II remains to be seen whether
the United States will emulate the Car
by taking his course toward Finland as
a precedent for its treatment Of the lib.
critics Of the Filipinos. Baltimore Sun.