The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-07-05
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FACTS ABOUT F1NNs.
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HeMfy NORMAN, M. p, Writes; OF
Them In Scribners. &
Henry Norman, M. r. the noted trav-3
eler and writer, has an article on "Fin-
land in the June number OF Scrlbner's
magazine. It gives one an accurate
Idea Of that unfortunate country. The
writer states that Finland, with a pops
ulation OF 2,3S0U00 inhab itants, has a
smaller percentage Of illiteracy than
any country In the whole world, and
that the percentage Of those who have.
acquired scientific training is the high
est In the world. Spirituous liquors are
not used except on unusual occasions,
though the government permits q land
lord to treat" his guests.
MI. Norman declares that there Is abb
solutely no doubt but that the car has
broken his oath to defend the Finnish
constitution, and that the Russian gov
ernment is proceeding, by Illegal means.
to change the constitution, and he has
no hope that Russia will alter her plans
to complete the classification OF Fin
land.
The government debt is 112,O0o,ooo
marks, every cent of which was spent
On the construction of railways, which.
are prospering ION Finland's histo-
ry," says Mr.. Norman, there is no.
stain. The government is absolutely
modern; vet in its largest cities there
are no poor or criminal quarters.
Attention has repeatedly been called
to the conduct of the Russian officials
placed over unhappy Finland. So per-
sistent and heartless are the methods
adopted that one is led to; believe that
the government lis engaged in a sys-.
tematic attempt to anger the peaceful
Firms to an open revolt. so that the
bloodthirsty 'Cossacks may be turned.
loose upon the country. The London
Daily News recites a recent bit of tyr
rany such as is Of almost daily occur
renee in Finland:
Countess Charles Mannerheim, the
wife Of q member of one of the oldest
titled families in Finland; and lady
well known in London society, is an adj
mirable singer, and has been In the
habit, for. some years past, of giving
concerts for charitable purposes Re-
Gently she obtained permission from the
authorities of Helsingfors to announce
one Of these concerts in aid Of an edu-
cational fund. The only Finnish news
paper which has survived the invasion
of the new Russian regime published
an advertisement accordingly. For this
offense the number of the paper con-
tanning the announcement was at once
suppressed by the authorities.
The arrangements for the concert,
however, proceeded up to the time adj
vertised for the performance, when a
detachment of the police closed the
doors, and the audience, not being able
to obtain admission, adjourned to the
Societets Hus, or club. Among them
were the notabilities Of the capital. The
concert was then begun at the club.
The Countess Mannerheim sang. and
Just as she was i'm the middle Of her
song, the governor, attended by his
staff and the project of police, strobe
In, and, without single word by way
of preface, ordered the assembly to
leave. No one stirred, the building be-
ing private one. Thereupon the gov
ernor issued orders to the police outside
to enter and clear the place. AS, how
ever, the gathering was principally
composed of well known residents OF
Helsingfors, including considerable
proportion Of ladies, the police refused
to do their duty. The governor then
commanded the sub-prefect Of police.
who was a Finn, under pain OF instant
dismissal, to turn every one out Of the
building, and. further. he threatened.
If this was not done, he would let loose
his Cossacks on the ladies. The audi
ence at length withdrew. It is difficult
to imagine more serious outrage on a
private gathering by high officer,
more especially as permission had been
asked and obtained beforehand for 1t
to be held.