The Indianapolis journal., 1903-08-17
1T is THE REAL ARTICLE
RUSSIAN IMPERIALISM NOT A MAT
TER TO BE LAUGHED AT.
The Life of Finland Is Being Crushed
Out and Its People Are Being
Reduced to Bondage.
Boston Herald.

and advocating the disarmament of the
nations, are disposed to think that he is
pretty good sort of ruler, who would do
no wilful harm to any people. Others are
especially impressed by the way in which
he has punished the authorities of Kishinef
for committing, or permitting, the horrible
massacre of Jews there. He does seem 10
have been affected to some extent by the
universal condemnation of the affair; but
at its worst it was only one instance Of the
inhumanity of the Russian government to
the Jews, of which there are scores on
record. 1t is but few years since all the
world was shuddering over the treatment
of that race the border of the empire
next to Germany.
There is no room for any general apology
for Russian tyranny. 1t is the most sell
fish, drastic and bloody of anything in
Europe unless it be that of the Sultan,
whom Gen. Lew Wallace thinks to be one
of the sweetest gentlemen in the world.
He treated General Wallace with great
consideration, and did not show to him the
side of his character of which the Armenian
Christians, for example, have had sad ex-
perience. When the Car makes a visit of
ceremony to France or Germany he shows
himself polite and agreeable person and
makes no exhibition of the darker elements
of his character, as oppressor. He is not a
swashbuckler and a tyrant all the time
and in every relation of life. The late
Cassius NJ. Clay, whose murderous propen-
stiles have been recalled by his death, did
not spend all his time fighting He was
as courteous and sweet-tempered a person
as one could meet in courts. and drawing
rooms. 1t is a foible of all tyrants to cul-
tivate an amiable manner, and to do now
and then good works that induce praise.
But nothing is more certain than that no
ruler not an imperialst Of the worst class
would do another people what the Czar is
doing to the people of Finland. This ia
an action which demonstrates his character
beyond any power of praise or fiattery to
make 1t seem white and noble.
THE CASE OF FINLAND.
The Herald has already told the story of
the arrogant proceeding of Russia, in vio-
lation of sworn compacts, in depriving Fin
land of its ancient constitution and of long
cherished rights and liberties. Finland had
made no war on Russia, but it was an ex-
ample Of a substantially free state that In
its contentment it's privileges and its en-
lightened liberal progress, was an injurious
reflection upon the cruel Imperialism of
Russia. Finland must be crushed, because
the intelligence and nobility of its popula-
tion was obnoxious to the Car and his Off
GERS of administration. It's existence was
protest, and the protest became intolerable
For several years the wicked and mournful
work has been in progress. The purpose is
to destroy the nation, as separate people,
to RuSsianiZe the territory completely to
maze an end of all its institutions, of self
government, OF education, of social custom
and to enforce conformity with the Russian
imperfalists in every manner. The Finnish
youth are not only forced into the Russian
army, but they are separated as completely
| as possible from home and from each other.
Every eminent man who is suspected Of
disliking the conditions is hurried into exile
The Russian ruler or Finland is General
Bobrikof. He has extraordinary powers,
| Is emperor in little over the territory, from
| whose will there Is no appeal. He knows
what his master wants, and he is willing to
do the Cars will TO the uttermost. Judges.
| clergymen, teachers, are imprisoned and ex-
| lied without mercy. A recent instance is
| that of DR.. Magnus Rosendal, teacher of
religion in the Academy of Uleaborg. No
reason is known for his exile. except that
he did not teach the superiority of the Rus
| sian church over the national church of
| Finland, or what was the national church
Russia permits no freedom of religion. We
| have lately read some statement that de-
gree of freedom of religion was to be grant
| ed in some part of the empire The answer
| to any such report, from whatever source
1t comes, is to point to what is doing in
/ Finland
Representative Finlanders have lately
made brief, well-considered statement OF
the conditions prevalent When Nicholas III
| ascended the throne he registered SOL
| emn vow TO maintain the constitution Of
Finland intact. He has violated that cath
| in the face Of the nations. Four years ago
| he inaugurated, over the constitution and
in spite of it, the Russian rule of autocra-
| cy. Ever since the conditions have been
| made more and more severe for the Fin
| landers, who loved their country and It's
| institutions, which partake of the nature
| of western civilization and liberty. rather
than of the Oriental absolutism that OBJ
| tains in Russia.
| THINGS RUSSIA HAS DONE
The Russian government has now intro
| duced hateful misrule. incomprehensible
| to any nation accustomed to order and
| law Encroachment upon the au-
thority Of the law courts. wholesale dis
| missal of able and conscientious judges,
appointment of incompetent and servile sue
cessors protection of spies and notorious
criminals, violation of the right of indi-
vidual freedom by illegal arrest not followed
by trial, have for some time been events
of daily occurrence" Lately, the satrap to
whom the Car has abandoned his Finnish
subjects 'has succeeded in obtaining the
power to imprison and expei from the
| country, or, still worse, to deport to any
| place in Russia, whomsoever he pleases
| without trial and judgment" 1t Is under
| this authority that some of the most promi-
| nent citizens have been denied the right to
| live in their native land. How recklessly
| the policy of wrong is carried out appears
| from the circumstance that sometimes the
space reserved in the order of expulsion fol-
| the name OF the person accused is not
filled out when il is handed to him. The
| conclusion of this statement is pathetic in
| its hopelessness of any remedy for the
evils suffered 1t is simply a protest ad.
| dressed to the Christian world showins
| their suffering and the responsibility for IL
| I'VE are no such optimists as TO believe
that this tide of evil deeds from which Fin.
land is suffering at present could be
stemmed by any expression OF opinion in the
press But we feel desire to lay our cass
before all those who have hitherto taken
acuuaint them with the latest and mos
glaring display of a regime which aims al
the complete destruction of our existence
! as a nation In the name of civilization W.
| protest against this barbarous attempt Il
| deyastate field OF Western culture and {,
demolish a structure of law and justic,
| built up by the exertions of centuries
Firms in this country are prevented from
visiting their friends at home having jus
reason to fear that, they cam,
within the power of the Russian imperial
ism. they would be arrested and sent 4
Siberia. or else forced into the Russian
interference Of the United States govern
ment probably the thwarted wrath of Rus
STA would be visited upon their relatives
A distinguished scholar and writer who hai
been an honored citizen of this country fo