New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-11

II must not be forgotten that n aosoiute mon
archy. and much more 50 IN despo'isn. 'n1 So
prsme head OF the state whether he De SO norIinay
or de facto is always held responsible BY imparua
history for the acts and policy OF MS government
II anything particularly Incompetent or snanisAa.
marks that government. the guilt - properly so
At his door for with him that. after 81. 'he
ultimate power rests II he does not use tns eyes
with which nature has endowed MN Ms
responsibility for their incomplete use Is his nnaiy'
and his alone No sophistry cloud this issue
and Europe at least. has placed the final RESPONSE
bility and cupabilty where they belong
DO the leaders % Finnish thought. then recoS-
mixing that next year likely see an even worse
degree OF oppression than now. and no diminuuOh
in the determination Of the Finnish people TO con
tinue the silent struggle. entertain any nope TOT '
triumph Of the cause Of freedom. after all;
After my interviews with chose n London and IN
Paris in closest touch with affairs IN Finland At
the present time. 7 may say definitely that there
exists very distinct feeling OF hopsfuinees-4 HAY
almost say quiet certaInty-that Finland will come
by own. and that. too. before the present gen
Grafton has gone under the sod This VIII not
however. be accomplished through the horrors or
revolution in Finland itself where many things
render such step out OF the question The Rus
sian body DCItic must be rent from head 20 heel
before salvation can come. This is recognized oy
abby those within. well as those without
it Is just because the recognition OF this truth
is now well established within the empire that the
doom the bureaucracy IS sealed. and the persecu
ton Of Finland designed partly. ss that OF the
sian public from the subject OF their own lesiti-
mate grievances by the contemplation Of uaginary
dangers elsewhere has had the effect of qIickeuing
the feelings OF apprehension and hatred against a
system which deliberately creates such evil works
repeat the bureaucracy II Russia Is doomed; but
It IS certain, in the opinion Of many close OBJ
servers that a violent and bloody revolution viii
be needed overturn It. TIE forces 81 discomfort
are general. not only among the poor classes in
town and country but also among the MOBILES. the
wealthy the educated classes. the mercantile COM
munity. and lastly and most significant % all. In
the military arm, hitherto the ultimate reliance Of
the government that when the hOu- at last strikes
the unwieldy and corrupt Colossus or Bureaucracy
will be toppled over into the yea OF public wrath.
and sink 10 rise 10 more
CONTRAST WITH FORMER CONDITIONS.
The piteous spectacle presented by Finland under
Dictator BobrikoH has naturally accumulated the
picture OF its former prosperity and content. and
by the very force OF has directed the at
tention OF the Intelligent classes in Russia 70 the
constitution under which II throvs. While. IN the
opinion even OF such prominent Finlanders as those
with whom have spoken on the subject It does
not seem likely that the Finnish constitution viii
serve as a model for the future government OF
Russia owing TO the fact OF its close adaptation 70
peculiarly Finnish needs. the growth Of certain
historical conditions. IT is indsputahle that that
constitution is being held UP before the Rus
sian people es a brilliant proof OF what blessings
free form OF government can bring even under a
monarchy. and the example Will certainly not BE
lost. such an impression has the study % the
Finland that was made upon receptive minds that
all revolutionary parties IN Russia fully agreed
upon the political wisdom OF recognizing the right
OF the different constituent parts OF the vast en-
pire 70 a large measure OF self-govsrnment- They
recognize that the dominions OF the Car are Tar
too for Capitalization, and their IDEAL q the
government OF the future IS one based on the
theory Of a federation OF more less autonomous
States having ore central representative govern
Ing body for the direction Of foreign affairs and Of
all such matters as concern the various States IN
common-in fact. United States Of Russia This
conception was first brought forward by a Russian
turist named Charapon as the most practical solu-
ton % the increasingly difficult problem OF main
tanning order. cohesion and content IN the hste-
rogene Gus bodies composing the Muscov1te empire,
but as vas 10 be expected. met at with the
strenuous opposition % Won Plehwe. who not only
refused 20 consider the plan but forbade its pub
LEGATION IN Russia under any form.
II can readily be understood BY ny readers, how
ever that the time has gone by when such re-
pressivs measures are o. much avail IN preventing
the spread q views q reform plans FOR It's sc-
coruplishnent The workings of the various uzde--
ground committees throughout the empire 20 On
unceasing1y and The eject os such blind restrictive
methods as are pursued BY the Bureaucratic au-
thorities is simply 10 give largely increased value
70 the documents that obtain secret admittance.
ard SUI further 20 enbittsr public opinion and
make the final cataclysm even more sweeping. n
Finland itself the gaggt-g OF the press ard TIE
prohibition OF books and pamphlets have served
merely 20 intensity the l0ahrg fslt BY the nation
for It's bfSctsd oppressors and all the zeal q B0brt
kof and his horde ot r1i-iors has utterly failed %
stop the wide Introduction ard dissemination q
progressive literature, even into the furthest IN
terror.
And r may Re sai1 that even here II France.
the loudly proclaimed ally Of the Muscovite. signs
are becoming increasingly manifest not only C
disgust with Russia over her outrageous treatment
q a country that formed the only part q her do
rui7iors where enlightened Western culture four
ished but q a growing impotence with the gov
erruental policy that has sti1ed the humanitarian
voice which has so often IN the history Of France
-o- hssitated 20 make Itself heard n behalf o.
oppressed natiOnslities and liberal causes And Il
all civilized nations. the story % Russtas pe--
fdv and oppression II Finland comes 70 &c more
Intimately known and rs real meaning ard ti-eful
consequences more thoroughly perceived there IS
steadily growing force OF indignation that viii
count for much when that lors awaited krel OF
bureaucratic tyranny shall sound. not 50 many
years hence the sxpscta1r empire % tEe tre1-
bling Gar. II. MONTAGUE BONNER
Paris. Aug n. 1915.