New-York tribune., 1899-05-07
FINLAND'S WOES.
A FINN's ACCOUNT OF RUssIAs FAITH
LESS DISREGARD OF TREATIES.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: II was hard blow for the Finlanders to be
detached from >their beloved mother-country; but
loyal to their traditions TO their inherent charac-
ter OF being conquered, they made up their
minds TO make the best OF the situation
Czar Alexander | took the oath 10 the then ex-
isting constitution Of the country. which was the
one promulgated I'm 1772 by Gustaf III. In taking
the oath 10 this constitution Car Alexander bound
| himself and his successors forever TO uphold the
| same.
Let US now see the status OF Finland at this
| time The Russian autocrat became hereditary
| Crand-duk OF the Grand-duchy OF Finland The
| country had n parliament consisting or the -FOUR
estates as follows the mobiles clergy citizens and
| the farmers. The official languages were Swedish
| and Finnish. The religion was the Lutheran Prot
estant II being the State Church, though fun re-
llgious liberty granted TO all.
| The country had an army commanded by It's own
| officers. This army could not without its own free
will and without the full consent Of the parliament
| be sent out OF the country In any part OF
| the Russian Empire Life Guards excepted
| No Russian could hold Office in Finland except
! by becoming a citizen OF the country.
The country had complete control Of It's mercan-
tile feet its own railroads. the postal service and
| the mint coming its money.
| The government consisted OF a general governor
appointed by the Czar-Grand-duke. parliament
and a council Of Senators. the latter being the
up 20 within the last few days. and has brought
prosperity to the country. the result OF complete
autonomy; but now witness the change!
TWO CzARs PROMISES.
| Car Alexander approved the constitution in
1909 and took the oath the Finlanders to govern
them according their then existing laws, which
| he did.
In this constitution the governing and safety acts
read like this:
At he oh
to create any new law or laws or revoke any
listing law or laws. without the unanimous consent
| OF the parliament assembled
on April Is. 1869 Car Alexander II signed and
approved an amendment to the countrys constitu-
tion as presented by the parliament, Paragraph II
| reading thus
The constitution can be amended. changed and
revoked only upon proposition made by, the
Grand-duke, and with the full consent OF all the
| estates in parliament assembled
Further the amendment ends with the following
words:
Though reservlng for us the power, stated in
| the governing act Of the 2lst Of August, l172 TO-
Of FebrHary and the Sd Of April l78s providing in
the former mentioned acts is nothing to the con,
trary, we do and declare this amendment 70 be
constitutional and part OF the constitution existing
hand m and ses Signed in our city @ Of St PetersbErg
| the 18th OF April 1853. ALEXANDER
Following is the oath Of the present ruler. Mich
olas H.
AS we. through the power OF Almighty God: have
duke it is our desire herewith to sanction and
respect the religion constitution. rights and privi-
and We promise to respect @ and to keep them in
Liyadia. the 9th Of November. 1896
And this is the way that our Grand-duke and
Emperor Of all the Russias has kept his oath. his
pledges lnyioate. to the loyal and enlightened
Of his subjects:
PLEDGES BROKEN BY NICHOLAS.
Car Nicholas appointed the last OF January a
secret conference. in which the following members
took part; Grand-duke Michael, president Pobe-
donostsefT Soilsky, Ostrofski Frish (all Russians
and Imperialists). General Bobrkon. Finland's
Governor General. Plelye Secretary Of State; Mu-
raven Minister OF Justice, and Procope the tenn
porary Minister Secretary Of Finland.
This conference met January 30 and February
10 and 10 this year. New laws for the Grand
duchy OF Finland proposed Pleve. the
Minister Secretary dissentng). and Immediately
sanctioned and promulgated as laws OF the coun-
try by the Car This PRONUNCIATION took place
February II last
BY this act the sacred rights OF free people to
govern themselves and 10 make laws are taken
away; from now on the Emperor-Grand-duke Will
ciIZehs or me g rgnI OF dPP,d dPPINd b tb FREE and
lberty-loving people of America. this blow at our
constitutional liberties puts every one Of US Fin
Here. then is the sorrowful ending to centuries
| OF work for freedom and liberty BY this uncon-
| stitutiona decree are our rights and privileges
| trampled upon A trusting and loyal people is
| spurned and insulted without the right OF protest
| or means OF redress Armies and ammunition
| massed on the border. ready 10 annlhilate with
| sword and cannon, 70 shed the blood OF an op-
pressed people II they but dare 10 murmur against
Recent bile dispatches to this country have told
OF the seizure Of the postal service, and how the
Russian Government has substituted Russians for
tb Rssans al conro Of The mall service and as
| consequence private mail is opened; and woe to
the unfortunate II he dares cricise the present
conditions existing!
RUSSIAN TYRANNICAL MEASURES.
The writer's friends living in this country have
had their mail opened in Finland before being de-
livered the addresses for the last two months.
Hereafter only the Russian postage-stamp will be
used in Finland. The mint has also been seized
! Finnish coins are called in to be confscated and
| substituted by the Russian coins. The press OF
Finland is thoroughly muzzed 80, .......,,,. o.,,
themselves this question. What have the Fin
landers done against the imperial authority? What
overt acts To merit this severe policy? The answer
is nothing absolutely nothing We defy any Rus
Sian TO prove single overt act or breach OF me
| the Finanders. on the contrary during the last
/ Gratis the Finlanders have always been compli-
mented for their loyalty to their successive rulers.
The Anarchist and Nihilist do not thrive in Fin
| land and the Grand duke Emperor has always n
joyed perfect freedom in the midst OF his loyal sub
been quite often). No police or military guard has
OF tba oT,e lives os fha duke and hts
family. Another proof of the former Emperors be.
lief in Finnish fidelity Is shown in their choice OF
| the Finnish Life Guards for bodyguard St.
| Petersburg.
| No the OF all misfortune 10 Finland seems
10 be the Insane jealousy Of the Holy Synod-head
OF the Greek orthodox Church-of Finnish auton-
omy and home rule. The influence OF this metro
poitan the present ruler is only too apparent.
| This bigOted head OF the Church bears undying
| hatred 10 the Finnish State Church which is the
| Protestant Lutheran Church.
| FINNISH REMONsTRANTS REBUFFED.
The cable dispatches to the American press have
told OF how unsuccessful the unhappy Finlanders
who went St Petersburg with petition
from practically the whole male population OF the
duchy and how they have been ordered back 10
their homes without being permitted 10 see the
| Gar any OF his Ministers.