The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-25
FILMS N GRASP Of RUSSIA.
ARE BEING DEPRIVED OF RIGHT
OF sELF-GovERNNENr
Agreement With Them Broken by
the Russian Governmens-csar
Takes Away Privileges Solemn
~ Guaranteed by Alexander 4.

LONDON, Nov. s4-If one may trust
the impression Of English correspondents.
Europe has not heard the last word In
the Finish question To the outside OBJ
server the conditions OF the contest which
has been forced on Finland are toe one
sided 20 admit Of any hut \ single re-
suit. II the emperor and his advisers have
definitely made up their minds 10 deprive
the Ffnianders Of the constitution which
was guaranteed 10 them by Alexander l..
and which has been confirmed by every
subsequent occupant OF the Russian
throne. including the present emperor.
any attempt on the part of the Ftnian-
ders to resist their fate would appear
TO be fcredoou1ed TO failure. That the
Finianders should not take their pun
ishmcnt lying down Is indeed only what
might be expected from men OF their
race and creed. For centuries, both be-
fore and after their union with Russia.
they have been bred In the habits Of
self-government; they have paid no taxes
which they have not themselves imposed.
and they have learner that In obedience
10 law the community and the Individual
alike find the best guarantee of personal
liberty and OF ordered progress. The FIN
lander differs from the Russian In all
those essential features which difysren-
tiate men into large classes. In race,
In language. IN religion. in political In
situations and tn social customs there Is
an essential difference between the two
peoples. They have lived together. n not
in sympathy NJ least In harmony. under
the terms OF an agreement which has
often been put to the strain. but which
has been on the whole honorahiy ohserv-
ed by the principal parties concerned, I'M
I'll such time as the larger OF the two
peoples has made clear it's intention TO
swallow the lesser and to transform tho
grand duchy into a Russian province.
offered Up as sacrifice.
There can be little doubt that Finland
is being offered NJ az a sacrifice on the
altar of Pansiavism when the disparity
between the strength OF Russia and Fin
land is remembered, II IL obvious that
the emperor. acting on the principle that
what an emperor has given. an en-
peror can take away" might have abol-
isAed the constitution by a stroke OF tho
pen and constituted the grand duehy a
province OF the empire. This would have
involved a breach OF faith so fragrant
that Nicholas H. would never have con-
scented to stain his honor BY sxncssoning
u The alternative course was 10 attack
the. constitution of Finland In detail.
stage for n further advance. The admit
| ted inRdequacy OF Ftuinnd's contribution
20 the military resources of the ernpire
offered an obvious vantage ground, and
| II was followed In February OF last year
| by the famous manifesto In which the
emperor grand duke openly asserted his
| right TO alter the constitution without this
assent ~ the esfazes. Since that time
| succession ~ imperial ordinances ha.
dealt blow on blow against the citadel OF
| Finnish liberties The protests OF the sem
| ate and OF the diet have been dsregardsd
| Populations have been refused an audi.
ence when they sougfr 20 lay their views
| before the emperor grand duke. and N
| reply TO all their remonssrances the Fin.
| landers have been told: The emperor
| Wills "" They have refused 20 believe
4 the assurance that the emperor was hs
unconscious tool Of his ministers
May Defeat uatty.
| How far this belief win survive the rude
1 shock Of the Imperial reply TO the petition
/ Of the diet against false tendencies Ii
| she administration OF the grand duehy
| raror expressly states that tho acts com
/ planned Of were done hy Gen. Hobrikof
| In accordance with the imperial inetruc.
| tions. and hts majesty must, therefore. h
taken both 20 know OF and TO approve thu
| or ,ctl0nahls measures.
II IL Impossible to forecast what III.
| result OF the struggle on which the Fsn
| ianaers are now entering may he. le
snould Russia persist IA her present de-
sign, the task " turning Finland into I
Russian. province ana Of converting Fin
| ianders into Russians ia no easy one
Russia must be weakened In the process
| Finland Is one Of IN. mattresses az IN,
| Russian empire toward Europe Ths pop
| uiafton Was loyal and contsnted. Ii Il
| rapidly becoming neither the one ror tn
| other. and the emperor may End, whel
| PERHAPS she fntscattf IL beyond remedy
| that he has aileDatef the affection uf Nj
| Finnish subjects without prumotlnk tina
unity OF The empire which Is bis syowe'
s.A.t esse