The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-10
OPPRESSION OF Firms
This War viii Teach Russia
to Be Tolerant.
THERE MAY BE REVOLTS
Firms and Poles May Seek to
Better Themselves

Washington, March 9.-'It may not be
that the domestic disturbances in Russia
during the Eastern war Will amount TO
an armed revolution; but L believe that
Russia. viii not be allowed to come out of
this war without a harness laid on her
autocracy. The people, who have suffer
ed oppression so long. viii take advantage
of the situation to demand some guaran-
tees which cannot be ruthlessly violated
at the whim of the despotic minister Of
state
Thus spoke Count Carl Mannerheim, for
merly a banker in Helsingfors. Finland,
but now an exile under the ban of the
Russian government. lie is making the
most of his enforced absence from home
10 study the banking system OF the Unit
ed States. During his stay in Washing
ton he was presented to the President
whom he was surprised to find thorough
" conversant with the history Of Finland
and the character and institutions of her
people.
we Firms were happy and contentcd
up to the time that the Russian tyrany
began" he went on. Although we had
suffered some entrenchment upon our
Constitutional rights prior TO 1899, we may
hy that year as the date Of the distinc-
tive changes. 1t was then that Russia
began TO show her hand, by sweeping IN
side the Constitutional guarantee given
Gar Alexander l.. and respected by his
successors. that three Of the four orders
composing the estates of the realm-the
ha ola 10 hnrphpVS and the
peasants-should always agree upon the
adoption of any fundamental measure Of
law discussed in the Diet before it could
receive the sanction of the sovereign
There was only one meaning TO this: that
the last defense Of Finland from arbi-
trary and violent classification had been
broken down. How the Firms regarded 1t
is shown by Their ecord Of emigration
which between 1892 and 1898 had averaged
about 1900 souls yearly. but sprAng in
1899 to 1900, and by 1902 had reached
s22.o00.
Are your people homogeneous or
mixed?"
I'VE are a mixed people. the upper and
more highly educated classes being of
Swedish origin, while the peasantry are
literally Of the soil, though they can read
and write There is a strong national
feeling among us, however. and a sympa-
thetic bond uniting all classes. Ours was
an excellent type of popular government
in which the humblest participant under
stood his rights and cherished them
do you look for an uprising among the
Firms while Russia has her hands fun in
the East your correspondent inquired
Il should not wish TO say that" answer
ed Count -Mannerheim. You must I'M
dertsand that our people always used to
regard Russia as their friend. as well as
their colleague under the crown. The
Cars at their accession, have regularly
subscribed afresh to the Act of Assor-
ance' pledging the involability Of the Fin
nish Constitution. and have assembled the
throne as grand dukes of Finland as wei
a Emperors Of Russia; and not until the
renewal of the guaranty have the Finish
officials taken their oath of allegiance
Tie radical change in Russia's attitude
came to the Firms with a distinct shock.
They were hurt by it. They are peace
loving people The greatest efforts have
been made by the Russians to goad them
into riotous conduct, but in vain. 4 pas
sive resistance is all they have offered,
but that has been very pronounced.
why. YOU would be astonished at the
lengths to which the Russians have gone
in this eoading. ! have seen, with my
own eyes. unoffending citizens of Hell
sirgfors whipped in the streets by Cos
sacks \ new conscrlption law. utterly
te variance with our Constitution. had
been promulgated. our courts refused to
recognize it, and agai Mn defiance OF
the Constitution the honorable judges
were dismissed. Pastors Of churches who
refused to read the law TO their people
wered riven from their ministry. Then
came the CONSUMPTION. II Was a beauti-
full, bright day in April. 1892, and crowd
Of people had assembled in a public
square to witness the function. There was
not even a show Of violence or disorder
and the crowd was dispensing, when. by
order OF the governor. Troop of Cos
sacks swept down upon the scene The
people. ont Of curiosity to sre what the
Cossacks had come for, TUNED around
and came hack. This was the signal for
a charge upon them and tha cruel Cos
sack whips descended upon every one
within roach-the aged and crippled. little
children. helpless women. all were Grip
pied alike-tiu every one who saw the
affair was sickened at heart
To what do YOU attribute the Russian
determination to crush FINLAND -
To two causes Primarily. the bureau
crazy of the empire needed more offices
more salaries. more authority 10 distribute
among its supporters. As long rs Finland
was governed by the Firms this expan-
sion was out Of the question; but the
Car was able. by the mere exercise Of his
despotic power. to sweep aside our Con
stitutlonaI reservations anc put Rus
SLAMS into our high places. TIL six out OF
the nine provincial governors in Finland
were Russians. and the three Firms left
were minions Of the autocracy.
The s3cond cause is. / susp, desire
or Russia part 10 use Finlani rs base
OF operations against Sweden. She doubt
less thinks that the Swedish affiliations
Of our higher classes. who number per
haps cne-eighth Of our population. would
initiate against her ambition. and Is de-
termined to strange our authority"
What sort of ontice were you given Of
your own exile?"
L was visited on the 23rd day Of April
1eaS at seven O'Clock in the morning. hY
the chief OF police. who brought as hi:
warrant letter from the governor. say
ing the Car had conferred upon the lat
ter the right TO order out Of the country
any person whose presence there wa'
deemed by him perilous 10 good order: ant
that under this edict I was commanded Z
depart within five days. never 10 return
under pain Of deportation 10 some place
T. r,,,-s;s ,,-tara xS-.,illS ha cota1rflled Il