New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-09

came more popular when the f1rst evidences
Of Russia's bad faith were discovered. on one
question all the national parties in Finland were
unitcd-in resistance to Russian experiments OF
amalgamation They would listen to no plans
or schemes which had the destruction OF thelr
nationality in view, and resented all EFFORTS OH
the part of the Russian Government when III
anv way threatened their national existence.
FINLAND's RENAISSANCE.
The renaissance Of Finland came about thirty
years ago. Art, literature, commerce ana III
dustry suddenly revived. and a wrltcr OH INC
subject compared the country at that une WIN
"a man who has slept long and suddenly wakes
m refreshed, with renewed Vigor 10 worn
That is why il has come so much for"aru III
tho last quarter of a century, ana is no" pre-
naring for gigantic strides Learned artis'c'
commercial and athletic societies were OF
ganized each imhued with fresh ana sii'ceIc
national enthusiasm. Tournaments were heiu
for ski rine-shooting. yachting ana o'he'
snorts: attention was called TO the ancient songs
and national music, and the great muschi les
tivals were rcinstated
Notwithstanding the patriotic movements anu
the efforts of the Finlanders TO es'ap'l"h Ohe'i
nationality firmly and on a sure iouhda'on'
dorosre have always lurked within the borders.
while Russia has always stood rea'y 10 OVER
whelm and absorb the country
IN $500 Russia began to show her hand. In
that wear Alexander III took measures tending
20 unite the country more closely with Russia
and for spreading the Russian language among
the Firms. The opposition which was nat
urally aroused vigorously put down;
The Finnish press was gagged as effectu-
no
State of Russia and of the Finnish Senate were
called to St Petersburg for the purpose OF
removing the characteristic features Of the coin
age customs and the railway and postal sys-
TENS Of Finland The opposing Senators were
removed from office: the Finnish postal system
was turned over to Russian management; the
new criminal code of Finland suspended;
the Russian language was ordered to be taught
in the intermediate schools Of Finland and
many other measures were adopted to hasten
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the nation.
The acts of Russia toward the Films since that
time have been aimed al the same object. and
the aggressive Russian policy went so far as to
threaten the establishment Of the Orthodox
Greek Church as the national religion, and the
Lutherans were TO receive the high privilege to
worship in their own churches"
a writer in The London Globe says:
With the accession OF the rcigning Car in
1891 Finland left in peace for time. The
imperial message" to Che Grand -duchy Of Janu-
airy % 1891 seemed to augur well, and 5000 600
rublos were allotted from the imperial treas
ury to Finland for relieving the burdens en-
tailed by the military and educational systems.
However. pressure has quite recently been
brought to bear in another direction. and this
time from the military point Of view. The edct
has gone forth that Finland Is to lose the dis
tinguishing character Of its military service for
f,,fst IT, III
regiments OF the Cossacks and Bashkires. and
the Russian authorities fOndy hope that there
by the exiled Firms will gradually cease to re-
gard themselves as Firms. The imperial ad
vlsers have evidently lost sight of the old Latin
prOverb. "Cnlum non animum mutant. qui trans
marc currunt" The Finn is patient and obsti-
nate, hard working and honest; but he is not
adaptable. He will tell you that his sole desire
is to be left in peace in his beloved "Suomen-
maa" the Land Of Fens.
The Chauvinist and Slavophile press Of Mos
COW and St Petersburg has carried on a virulent