New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-11
/, UNHAPPY LOT OF FINLAND
Things Viii Probably Gro5c Worse
Before They Gro1C Better.


part Of the Russian usurpers Of authority. OF the
autonomous institutions OF the country and the
deliberate determination OF these self-constituted
rulers to crush ell opposition. however legal and
well ordered. to the tyrannous mandates OF the
new despotism. They viii likewise have formed a
pretty clear conception how fatal TO the interests
Of continued constitutional government has been
and is TIE factonal division existing within the
ranks Of the Finnish patriots themselves and they
will doubtless have noted with satisfaction the
opinion Of Dr. J. " Reuter- quoted in my letter. to
the effect that the Old Fennoman party will eventu-
ally awaken TO the faulty OF its policy OF BIND
submission and recognize the necessity o. once
more uniting with the Constitutional party II any
thing is to be saved from the wreck OF the flhlsi
ship OF state
Before this happy contamination Is reached how
ever. IL IS probable. in the opinion OF prominent
Ffnlanders now in Paris. but IN close touch with
affairs in the home country. that things viii grow
even worse before they grow better. The men
have talked with do their antagonists. the Ola
Fennomans 1T least the justice TO believe IN the
sincerity OF their intentions In adopting Pro
Russian policy: they claim that the mass OF the
adherents OF this policy are mised by few shrewd'
designing politicians with Irjo-koskinen AZ 'iie1
head. VINO for years past have oent an .ne-'
ergies 20 the final exclusion OF the S"eo-Sl ere
ment from Finnish life, and who now see IN an
alliance with the Russanizing party the most I'M
, mediate means OF bringing this about entrely'
wiIfully blind TO all other considerations
The position these calculating leaders take has'
since last October. been one not mercy u
ment with the stand adopted by the constitutional
party but of actual aggression, IN the belief that
an aggressive policy would be more hkeIy 70 M
press the uncertain and waveTing, and hence WIN
adherents-a belief unfortunately Justihea IN 'le
/ event They claim then. boldly. that the iasI
/ IandtdsS or Diet should have acquiesced IN 1ne
Russian programme. there would then nave
been no strict Simplicitas simylissine however
as this had not been done the only thing iet' "aS
10 abandon further opposition now while there was
VET time TO conciiate Russian opinion and unite IN
one grand party with this object in view MS
partv OF course. TO be that Of the Old Fenho-
mans the one that had best prospects OF gathering
together q mighty majority around the flag under
which one may face the future calmly and It's
object "as 1t has always been. the maintenance O.
the Finnish peoples national existence. NO
party Of course. could exist without a declaration
Of this sort) And whereas the severest conlict
had arisen over the question OF corscripuon, ana
since there was now no hope OF repeal OF the
obnoxious ukase this pitful confession the ola
Fennornan party had finally TO come notwi'hsta
fnC its reiterated doctrine OF Russian Inagaa4llE
in return for dutiful submission). II was now the
duty Of the conscrpts 70 yield in order TO facilitate
the work OF the next Diet il seeking a peaceful
and legal solution OF the difficulty. unexposed 10
further pressurei In such terms had HrJo- hoski-
nen Neurraan and their ik come 20 refer 70 the
almost universal expression OF free public opinion
without a word Of repro5ation FOR the pressure
brought 10 bear By Russia in the shape OF ponce
esoionage domicliary visits. threats OF excoIr1o-
nication gagging OF the press suppression OF Ihe
right OF public ard private meeting. employment
OF Cossack whips dismissal OF public functiona-
res even Of members OF the judiciary, and hnaly'
summary Punishment Of prominent men noted for
efficiency honesty and eminent service 10 the state
DIET TO REAssENBLE.
These arguments are based the superstition
that the Finnish Estates VIII meet. as usual IN
January Of next year. in accordance not only Win
the constitution but with the promise % Nicholas
-4-1 n9ar
AGAIN IN regular session 1874 Persistent rlrnors
have however. been in circulation Of late 10 me
effect that Won Plshwe the Cunning had been as
sailing his imperial majesty with urgent pleas LOT
3 ukase convokins the Finnish Estates Tor the
month Of Ssuteu1bsr This would not be breaking
the imperial word. which was pledged to nothing
more definite than 1904" ard II would have the
immense advantage OF postponing the activity o.
the OPPOSITION or Constitutional party IN the
Diet until the problem Of the years conscriPt en-
rolr7ent had been settled through the practical
measures and unwearylng zeal OF BooElhoI ana
the Russian Governors 81 provinces What the
outcome is 10 - OF this brilliant suggestion or the
part Of the Minister Of the Interior $50 eminent for
his Foresight AND for his anxious soEcirude for the
welfare OF al TIE peoples united under the Ausco-
wife sceprre as recent events al hishlneH ana else
where have shown is not yet ulaHl-est out- llls-
t-r Nv former occasions. the Car VIII pFooaolE
allow himself 70 be persuaded; more disgrace
u! lapse from the path Of rectitude VIII oe added
10 the many that have already stained the snort
annals OF the reign OF Nicholas II and the Finnish
vecrla viii pe-forCe u Ike another sup q ' c-esS
OF humiliation and pain
And FOR this suffering and humiliation q for-
merry loyal and contented people. what desree CT
respc1sibuity must be shoulGered ~ this same
Nicholas II supposedly, his accession the most
s,rf~b-s,s5 and humane Of all the Cars. next 10
Alexander II. his lamented grandfather: MS Is
TIE question that is put 10 ne constantly BY Ing
,tshu7en. Americans and Frerchuen- Is not the
Car ignorant OF the real truth Of afars N FIN
la-d7 IS II not Won PIshwe who, together witE
pobissonostsen and Bob-tkoE arnuses himself with
-p-ozri-g dust N the eyes of his MASTER There
Vas time some three years ago. when l. in com
non with most FInlanders. was inclined 70 answer
this Question II the Affirmative. None of US who
know the facts are now however. prepared 70 al
salvs Nicholas from any share OF responsibility ior
III. dssta-5Iy behavior cf the Russian Government
That he : lauertsbly weak Is notorious. as many
authenticated stories attest. one Of which stories
rnav be permitted 20 repeat though some OF my
readers nay Re familiar with q already. II Is TO
IN. eject that one day ~ de Wltte. The Minister %
r-r-s-.a had submitted a project O: financial re-
form OF considerable importance % his sovereign.
7-s after thorough exposition ard discussion q
his mans had succeeded fl tr1Pressi1g Nicholas
10 only with its excellence, but It's practcabllt.
a,5 obtained his uatsstys formal approval % his
project E1ated he went 20 prepare the formal
5Ac-ae @o- the imperial signature HaE az hour
later Voc Plehwe. who was utterly a1taSoE-stlc %
the plans q De Witte. with whom, By the way, he
Is rarely net az variance any question. obtained
audience @. THE Gar. and ere long brought him
r----s % his lPIehwss) point OF view. 50 that
Nicholas declined 70 sanction De Whites project.
which he had favored 50 short a time before his
mother ire empress dowaser. reProached him for
I TIE facility with which he changed his mind &C.
r1s-t-r with some heat 1T IS not worthy g you.
a, e--,x-o- should have mind % lis own
.Yo. are quite right madame: fully agree with
You" was the answer
CRIMINAL WEAKNESS