The National tribune., 1901-10-10

| The official totals for the two years OF
1894 and 1895 are 1000 and 5000.
In 1896 changes more radical than eyel
began to be made in the, administration
Greater influence was exerted to compe
| the study of the Russian language. The
| st. Petersburg police system was applied
with greater rigor than before. The poll
taxes were increased, and collected with
! greater severity. They reached the sum
of two marks-which is about 40 cents
year per man, and one and half marks,
or 30 ceutS, year for woman. Prep
arations were made toward increasing the
| Finnish army. New activity was dis
| played by emissaries of both the state
and church, and a general feeling of I'M
rest and apprehension spread throughout
| the provinces. 1t expressed itself in an
increased exodus of people for other
lands-an exodus which has kept aug
| menting ever since. The official figures
are unreliable. The best estimates are
those made by the Finnish Committee in
| London, which are: 1897. 5000; 1898.
| % 600: 1899. 10000: 1900, SO 1000; and
thus far in 1901, $4,000.
RUSSIAN OPPRESSION.
In July, 1895, the st. Petersburg Gov
eminent gave notice that a new army bill
intended to enlarge the service had been
framed by the Imperial Council and was
to be passed upon by an Extraordinary
Diet to be held in January, 1899. TO be
passed upon" is diplomatic language for
ito be passed" The Finnish Diet had
very little choice or discretion in the mat
ter. There was 4 grim element of humor
in the announcement, because in almost
the same breath the Gar issued his ia
nous Peace edict looking for the abolition
of all war. The summons for the Diet
provoked excitement. The military sys-
TEN which the Gar sought TO extend was
already quite onerOus. The existing SyS-
TEN at that time had been in operation
since 1881, and was based upon a rigid
CONSUMPTION. The standing army was linn
tied to $500 soldiers. Each year, of an
annual contingent of 5000 young men LA
bic to military duty, 1000 were placed
under the colors, where they served for
three years. At the end of that time
they passed two years in the reserve, and
were then transferred to the land guard
where they remained until they were 40
The other 6,1O0 were placed in the reserve
for five years and then transferred to the
land guard. This, up to the year 1898,
had produced an available military force
Of 10000 men. including all who were
soldiers before 1881, some 10000 in num-
her. It does not include Finnish sailors
in the Russian navy or liable to service
in the navy. This, it will be admitted.
was an exceedingly large force for a pop
ulation of 100000 1t would be paral-
leled in this country if New York State
had a standing army of 100000 and the
United States one of 100000.
The new army bill more than doubled
the terrible load. 1t raised the annual
contingent in active service from 1.9O0
to 1900. 1t increased the term of service
under the colors from three to five years.
and in the reserve from two to 13 years.
1t provided for the transfer of Finnish
troops to any part of the Empire; the
right to incorporate Russians into the
Finnish army, to enlist Firms in Russian
regiments. and to officer Finnish COM
mands with Russians.
What cut more than anything else was
the clause which granted immunities on
the ground of higher education only to
those who spoke. read and wrote the Rus
sian language. The severity of this clause
will be realized when it is remembered
that the Finnish student had to learn both
Finnish and Swedish, and was supposed
after that TO obtain good knowledge of
two or more of the Latin. French. Ger
man and English languages. 1t may be
questioned if one-tenth of one per cent of
the educated Firms were Russian schol-
ars Under the constitution and the laws
of the land all official documents were in
Finnish and Swedish. and Russia has no
literature which would tempt students TO
master the tongue for the treasures it
contains.
The Diet assembled. and while the bill
was still under consideration the Gar is
sued n new edict on Feb. Is. 1899. This
was adroitly phraSed and full of glitter
ing generaIities. but reduced to simple
terms it decreed that all questions in Fin
land bearing uDon the interests of the
Muscovite Empire should be decided by
the Russian Council OF State, and that
the Finnish Diet should thereafter have
advisory and no legislative power.
Mary conservatives in Finland depre
Gated any protest. claiming that the
Duchy had no right to pass upon mat
tiers affecting the Empire. and that the
new edict was practically Il matter Of
surplusage. But their arguments were
confuted disastrously in April. The War
Minister of the Gar ruled that the Fin
nish Diet had no right to reject or mod
ify the new army bill, as it was a meas
ure concerning the interests of the En-
pire. Since April, 1899, numerous other
actions have occurred which show that
the ancient constitution is practically
abolished and that Finland is to be Rus
sifed.
The people of Finland have protested
unanimously to the Gar. but to no avail.
In March. 1899. deputation of 500 prom
trent citizens went to st. Petersburg to
present a petition against the changes. but
the Autocrat of All the RusSias refused
TO receive them. At the present moment
there appears to be but little hope for
the people of the Duchy.
The process of classification is proceed
ing inexorably and the people realize the
hopelessness of opposition. The more
fiery-spirited are taking refuge in flight,
and their example is eXerting n deep in
huence upon the less energetic. The move
ment, however, is opposed by the more
conservative burgheFs. who seem to prefer
the ills they have rather than fly TO 9th
ers Of which they know nothing. There is
also a strong opposition to any wholesale
departure from the country by the landed
proprietors in the country and the real
owners in the cities. The thousands who
have already gone have caused an appre-
cable diminution in rents and values,
while a larger exodus will cause a down
fall similar TO that which has taken place
in Great Britain.
These emgrants see beyond their Dor
derS bnt three countries where they can
enjoy the liberty which they had before
the ukase of 1898. These are Sweden,
Canada and the United States To all Of
them the United States is the most invit-
| ing. because il contains nearly 100000
of their own people many of whom have
attained high social. political and even
| financial positions. Finland. it must be
remembered, is a poor country. measured
I by American standards, and the expense
| of getting here is very large. especially
when besides the men are the loved help
meet and little ones. Unless. however,
/ in the present Muscovite policy. we may
expect n large exodus of Firms to Amer
/ lea. There is still hope that the public
I opiuion of tho world may ba arnuSad and