Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-08-01
GCANDIA.
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Matters of Moment From the
Far-off Northland.
WOES OF FlNDLAND.

Findland is being remorselessly
Russianized. Even the most conserV-
alive of the better class of Finlanders
have been imposed upon in their pri-
vate homes by the Russian officers
and are being compelled to "step
around" according to the cars die
tum, very much against their Will.
The latest is the establishment of the
Russian language in the Finnish gov
eminent schools and the making of
knowledge of Russian an essential to
appointment in even strictly local Of
fees. The Russians are at the same
time pushing compulsory military SER
vice measures designed to rob Finland
or the protection of its own citizens
in time of war or civil disorder.
A new army measure which has
been approved by the Russian council
of state provides that the grand duchy
shall furnish an army under the
colors," or ready for active service, or
$4,000 men, as against $500 under the
old law, and that the term of service
shall be three years with the colors
and fifteen years in the army reserve.
To these provisions no serious objec-
ton would be raised were 1t not for
two additional conditions, which, 1t is
claimed are in direct conflict with the
fundamental law of Findland. The
first of these is that not only may the
Finnish contingent be called out Of
4 ahrr in IF
may whenever the service requires
It. at the decision of his majesty be
schools and in the boys schools the
that Russian officers be eligible for
commission in Finnish regiments,
and as a sop to Finnish pride and
concession to the Finnish law, it Is
provided that upon assignment to
command in a Finnish regiment,
Russian officer shall become, or shall,
in the eyes of the law, acquire the
status of Finnish citizen
The question of languauge is being
vigorously agitated. In the secondary
schools and in the boys schools the
study of Russian forrns an obligatory
part OF the curriculum. In private
.sCaools affairs arc no better. The
other day the governor general re-
fused to grant permission for the
opening of school because the Rus
sian language was not part of the cur
riculum. This, it is now boldly stated,
is the first step in compulsory educa-
ton in Russian throughout Findland.
Another phase of the language ques-
ton Is the attempt Of General Kaigor-
odoff to introduce In the provincial
governors office at Helsingfors the
use of the Russian language to an ex-
tent not authorized by the written law
of the land. In these posts knowledge
of Russian is not a necessary qualifi-
cation for the transaction of the du-
ties, and the law does not contemplate
that 1t shall be used, but the governor
general has acted arbitrarily. A num-
Der of young Russians have recently
been assigned to positions that they
may become familiar with the routine
of Finnish department work. 1t is
expected that this will be followed by
manifesto declaring that Russians
shall enjoy equal rights with Finland
ers in the Finnish civil service.
A late telegram from Berlin has ii
that the hated governor general, Bob
rikoff. is to be removed, the czar hay
ing repented. and that several royal
concessions are to be instituted in Fin.
land The recipients of this piece OF
news are not placing too much stock
In it.