Daily camera., 1900-02-07
THE RULE IN FINLAND
The Russian Government Il Keep
ing a Close Watch.
A System of Espionage Which NAY
Lead to Revolt-The Governor
General Greatly Dis
satisfied.

Whatever may be the opinion as to
whether the classification of Finland
is necessary part of the consolidation
of the Russian empire or not, it is GER
tain that the methods employed in car
rying out this policy merit universal
condemnation. The first step of the
government which opened the eyes OF
Finlanders to the fate in store for them
was the appointment of new governor
general-9en. Bobrikotf, whose course
of action in the suppression of the Bal
tic provinces was marked by acts which
in England would be considered, speak
ing plainly, as inhuman.
Now, if there be one system which
appears to an Englishman more de-
spicable than any other, it is that of
system that Gen. Bobrikotf is relying to
stir up revolt in Finland, which would
at once become the excuse for COM
plete wiping out of the nation. For the
furtherance and desired carrying out of
the plan, the governor general has over
run the country with large number of
"gendarmes" or secret police agents,
whose work is of purely political ma
ture, and who are, in fact. nothing but
spies. The gendarmie is body which
is much employed in Russia, where it is
all-powerful, but until recently such
an institution was unknown in Finland.
Let me give an idea of the way in which
this force is employed to aggravate the
people by its espionage.
The governor general has quite late
ly commanded the senate to forward to
the bishops chapter denunciation OF
several clerics of the Lutheran faith
because that lin certain Lutheran
churches unsuitable reflections, not ap-
pertaining 10 Christian sermon, and
having reference to the present politi-
cal state of Finland, have been made"
One minister to whom the indictment
referred had the temerity to reply that
he was not answerable to the governor
general for the contents of his sermons,
and that when charge was made
against him he possessed the right 10
know in specific terms in what man
ner he had offended and to be furnished
with the name of his accuser. Every
body in Finland of any social standing
or importance is to-day subjected to
strict surveillance, and all that he or
she may say or do is duly reported to
Gen. Bobrikoff by his faithful gen
darmerie. and it is in this way that they
try 10 the utmost the tempers of peo-
pie hitherto accustomed to an untram.
meled freedom OF speech and action.
/ quote yet another instance of those
acts of petty tyranny and annoyance
which are now of almost daily occur
renee.
A bank manager in Helsingfors was
surprised not long ago by visit from
one of Bobrikoff's agents. 1T IS my
duty to ask you whether ii is true that
the flag over your bank was flying al
the half-mast Yesterday" began the
bankers unwelcome guest. Il believe
So" was the reply. ''and as sign of re-
spect to the memory of the dead presi-
dent of the house of burghers." The
agent then came to business. I'VE have
information that the flag was not at
half-mast on the occasion of the death
of the grand duke" The banker could
only reply that he was not aware wheth-
er this was the case or not, as he was
away from Helsngfors at the time. 1t
is by such methods-by continuous
system of nagging and spying-that
their life is made burden to the Fin
nish people, and it is by these means
that the governor general hopes to pro-
woke a resistance which could have but
one ending.-London Chronicle.