The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-28
Films Coming OVER
Driven From Their Land by
Russian Tyranny
NOTED FOR THEIR THRIFT
Intelligence High. and Educa-
ton Universal.
NOTED FOR THEIR THRIFT

those of decade aga Present inGica
lions, however, point II the contrary di.
rection, the number nG4 coming in being
much below the numb er arriving in the
early months of 1891 This is true OF
nearly every n61ionaLt y, but there is one
noteworthy exception owing to Russia :
recent policy toward them, more Firms
are coming than ever before, and unless
all signs fail they vi i arrive almost by
the ship-load throu ghout the warm
weather.
There are now aboui 100000 Firms in.the
United States. The eaviest Finnish i'm
migration was in the early eighties, when
the demand for lab! in mines and on
new railroads was most pressing The
last two years only are covered by the
existing records OF phe immigration bu-
reau, previous record having been burn
ed up in the fire whHeh wiped out the Ell
lis Island buildings In 1898, I,945 came in.
and this is known to have been aboaIt
normal In 1899 uD1er' the stimulus of
the threatened Eussi ian oppression, the
number was more than rebled, the total
being 6.420
With this increase for a basis some ex-
travagant prophets have predicted the
rims
this year. Others have predicted the
bodily transfer Of whole Finnish commu-
mites to Canada, as the Dhort6oborski
were removed th1ther from Russia last
year. But neither of these predictions
is likely to come true. Finland is about
as large as Minnesota, and dts population
is not much in excess OF 25gj, 900. 1t is
incredible that one in every fifty of the
whole people should leave the country in
a single year. and it is almost equally in
credible that so intelligent a pt ople as the
Finlanders should be induced to pack ND
"in block" and seek new homes in a
strange land. Besides. while ne new con-
ditions are bad enough in Finland, as yet
they affect only the young rlen liable to
service in the Russian imperial army
through the threatened COM cription.
Even if all classes We're affected and
the Fins were Of the sort that could be
handled in the mass, like cattle, they
would hesitate about accepting any offer
Canada might make them. since the news
that the transpIanted DRloukoborsM have
been having a hard time to escape star
walton has been well circulated through
out Finland. Under all the circumstances
on Canada by the Finnish committee of
investigation. it is the view of prominent
Films in New York that the vast major
ity of emigrants from their country will
come to the United States, where they can
settle among friends and relatives. But
the extent of this years emigration from
Finland is still very uncertain.
Should the proposed Consumption meas
ure become a law, it is conserva lively es-
timated that form %, 900 to $4,000. mostly |
young men, will probably come over. |
This number, even, viii be a heavy drain |
upon the population, since it will amount |
to about one in every hundred, and can
not fail to cripple the industries of the !
country to a certain extent. This is per-
ceived clearly by the Russians, who have |
already begun an imperial investigation
of the facts. Should it result in the kill
ing or even postponing the plan for Finn
ish service in the Russian army, the
present outward movement will be some>
what checked. At the least. however no
fewer than 5000 or 10000 Firms are likely
TO leave their country for America This
year.
Had the Russian attitude toward Fin
land remained unchanged there is little
probability that there would have been
any increase Of Finnish immigration to
this country at all, for labor has already
become so scarce through emigration
that wages are almost as high there as
here-quite as high, when the cost of Iiv-
ing is considered. But should Russia go
ahead with her threatened policy Finland
VIII undoubtedly send as Slany of her
sons and daughters to America as Ire
land has, and their influx will not be in
now that the supply Of buxom
Irish girls for domestic service and Of
sturdy Irish lads as Iaborers is begin
ming to run short
The average American knows little Of
Finland or its people. BY the well read,
even, the country is generally regarded
as backward to a degree; its inhabitants
are suspected of being only half civilized
and of low standards with respect to cul-
lure and the amenities of life. They are
supposed TO much the same as the Laps
But nothing could well be further form
the truth
The Grand Duchy of Finland IS the
most northerly European area in the Rus
sian Empire. 1t is still largely covered
with forests. Beasts of prey-the bear
and the wolf-stiu persist. ard in the far
north the reindeer IS stl an important
factor in human life The winter is long
and the summer is short The sun viii
net ripen wheat maize or any cereal save
rye. barley and oats. or any fruit save
apples. Much of the territory is wet and
swampy, but despite all these things. the
FinlanderS Of today are entitled to a high
place among the nations Of the earth
They have transformed their damp
marshes into dairy lands that viii com
pare favorably with any in the whole
world. They are better supplied with
railroads and canals than any other part
OF Russia proper. All through Europe.
except in the far south Finnish butter
and cheese are wei known. and the in
oustries Of the dairy fairly divide the
honors with numbering and fishing.
Literature and the arts. moreover. are
held IN high esteem. and there Is very
h-us iuiNracy in the Grand Duchv Of
Finland. those under fifty who can not
rcad and write being less than one-tenth
OF l per cent of the whole population.
There IS an elementary school N every
nelghooThood. and al the children rrt.st
attend it. not because Of a compulsory
law, but because Of a universal sentiment
which Is stronger than law. This seuti-
ment is complemeuted by The universal
custom of beginning ths children's e5u-
cation az home and not allowing them %
attend school until they can pass rigid
examinations in reading and writing
The country Is Lutheran to the core,
and the pastor is the leading parsonage
IN many Weys in every community. re
il IS who examines tAe children Tor a6-