The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-27
THE DOOM
OF A NATION

Editor The Call-Inclosed please ma
Ginning from a Scandinavian newspa-
ner which. if you see fit to publish
will be greatly appreciated by your
Finnish readers. Also find a transla-
ton of the sacred promise given by the
nrasent Car of all the Russias at the
daathbed of his own father to the peo-
nile of Finland. dated Livadia, NoVeTn-
Der 6, 1884,
Since we have through the Will OF
heaven become heir to the uraho
Dukedom of Finland we herewith
wish to further sanction and approve
the religion, laws, rights and Priv
1eoes of each rank within said Grand
Dukedom in particular and all its IN
habitants in common, high as low, as
hitherto enjoyed by them, promising
to maintain the same unchanged IN
their full strength. N1koLA4'
The above is to show that the Finnish
people have some right TO protesI
against the Russianization of their
c9nntrv which. together with the pro-
posed Increased time of service IN the
army (Which service is compulsory,
from three to five years, would most
certainly tend to depopulate the coun5
try, as all the male population WouIn
rather emigrate than waste five years
of the hest part of their lives TO, serve
The car AK. NEWMAN.
Following is the article referred 10 ny
Mr.. Newman:
DESTRUCTION OF FINLAND.
FINLAND has been robbed of her consti-
tuition The Gar of all Russ1as, VINO put
recently thrilled the world with MS IheS-
sage of peace, mas IA E shUGsGo Iberfv Ad
dresses of thanks in many tongues were
pouring in upon the autocrat ana gredl
throngs were about to gather rounq ms
throne to pay him homage; Then came came
the ukase about Finland and great husn
fell upon the multitude of admirers. InelI
hopes for a new era were rudely snatteredd
at the sight of Finland shackled ana
weeping in despair at the foot OF their
brazen idol of peace. s
thousand lakes deserved a better fate.
Few nations are more interesting, none
have made nObler sacrifices for their I'D
erty. Romance and herotsm lllumlne
every page of Finnish history; and no
country was ever better loved by its chill
dren that Finland, poor in treasure but
rich in romantic traditions, in natural
In some branches of literature Finland
stands unexcelled. Her remarkable ma
tional epic, the kalevala, is regarded as
one of the greatest literary treasures OF
the Worlo; ana IN no couutiy H9SE tAe
sacred sentiments of patriotism found a
higher or purer expression. Johan Iud-
Wig Runeberg is the greatest poet or
patriotism the world has produced. His
patriotic hymn to the fatherland, the
most touching of all national songs, will
live forever in every Finnish heart; his
pictures of "a people who fought amid
hunger and cold" will never be blotted
out; his ''TaIes of Ensign StaaF' will live
as an indestructible monument to the he
roism of the Finnish people in 1909.
The brutal destruction of Finland'S con-
stitution is a crime against liberty, as the
Standardization of her people will be
loss to humanity. Finland has the SYnl-
pathy of every free and liberty-loving
people; but 1T will avail nothing; her fate
is sealed. She must follow the path of
Poland. AS Russia's destruction of Po-
land was the great crime of the last cen
fury, so the rape of Finland by the ogre
of Russian despotism is the crying out
rage of the present
Autocrats ruled Europe a hundred wears
ago, when the spoliation of Poland was
perpetrated Now the people rule in
Western Europe and America. The Polish
people invited national destruction by
their dissensionS; the Finnish people have
defended their rights and liberties not
only with courage, but also, with rare
wisdom unanimity, firmness and skill.
sorption of Poland from fear; the great
powers of to-day could easily compel Rus
STA to restore the liberties of Finland but
they will not even whisper timid pro-
test. The present century will close. as
did the last-with the hideous altar of
Muscovite despotism reeking with the life
blood of a free people.
And the free nations of to-day, witness
the abominable spectacle and then go
about their business, as did the tyrants
hundred years agO.-SkandinaVen