New-York tribune., 1903-07-27

wears proDosed this summer to revisit his old
home When he announced his plans to his
relatives and friends in Finland they wrote
him follows:
We must strongly advise you not to attempt com
volve danger to yourself and others. - The
Russian Government hac declared that 1t Will not
have left Finland without performing their mill
tary service. As there is no time limitation men,
toned ii might be supposed that declaration would
refer only to the years since 1901 We are informed
be made to apply to earlier departures from the the
country 50 that it would be PeTs2ha&y ~ unsafe @ For
ing an American citizen would protect you from
anything more than prohibition TO hnd, but you
see this is not the case
So this gentleman. whose character and at
tanments should make him welcome in any
country in the world, is debarred from
reviSitng his ole home and from seeing
again his mother and other relatives. 1t was
nearly score of years ago when he left
Finland for America. and he was then too
young for military service. No matter. II he
returned to Finland now he would PROBABLY
be seized as a deserter from the cOnscrption;
and even should American intervention rescue
him from personal harm, as it certainly should,
his relatives in Finland would thenceforth be
marked people, ut best regarded with sus-
piciOn and kept under police surveillance, and
possibly ordered into immediate exile.
Representative Finlanders have recently
made the following we'll considered statement
of their case, which is worthy of credence and
careful consideration:
As is well known in 1909, when Finland was ceded
to Russia. the constitution OF the Grand Ducny
was confirmed by Alexander l. BY solemn vow
forefathers promised to maintain this constitution ION
intact Nevertheless four years ago ne T e 1 e
lghtened opinion all over the world s theh oS saoSS
Provoked
Finlanders, loyal the laws of their country nave
measures sanctioned by the Gar at the nsngation
o. the G0yerp9r ba GENERA" nroduced in the Grand
Duchy a hateful misrule incomprehenslole 10 any
Finland hRherto happy in the shelter of its liberal
institutions and imbued with the notions OF equIty
come the victims of fragrant INJUSTICE and tyranny
wholesale dismissal of able and conscientious
Judges appointment Of incompetent and servile
nas' Violation of the right Of individual freedom by
Illegal arrestment not followed by trial haVe 10, 1of
the Russian satrap to whose dictatorship the Gar
I'm Obtaining the power to imprison and expel from
the country, or still worse, to deport to any place
and judgment. Nor has he been slow in avallIng
nmt Citizens % 3 of finland have in these days been
deprived of right particularly sacred to the m
habitants every civilized country; and according
to Finnish law, not forfeitabie under any clrcum-
the right OF nylng m of te the oence laid to-
their charge. 1t seems that the selection OF VctlnS
the part of Russian officials. based upon uncon-
hrmed accusations made by irresponsible spies. Ii
has even occurred that the space reserved for the
name of the exiled in the order of expulsion had
not been filled up when the document was pre-
sented to him. The receivers of these orders have
moreover been subject to domiciliary visits, con
nected with brutal violence and destruction of prop
erty the police in the absence of the owner, fore
ing their way into offices, warehouses and indus
trial establishments.
We are no such optimsts to believe that this
tide of evil deeds from which Finland is suffering
az present could be stemmed by any expression OF
opinion in the press But we feel a desire TO 'ay
our case before all those who have hitherto taken
a sympathetic interest in our country ana 10 ac-
quaint them with the latest and most glarlng ds-
play of a regime which aims at the complete pe-
struction of existence as a nation IN the name
OF civilization protest against this barbarous at
tempt to devastate field of Western culture, ana
to demolish structure of law ana JuStlce bulIt up
by the exertions of centuries
Whether or not such tide of evil can be
stemmed by public opinion it is well that
public opinion shall be heard upon the subject
and that the world shall know what deeds are
done in Finland in the twentieth century.