New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-26

ton about eq al 10 Norway It's 100000 people are
Scandinavians. OF the same stock as the Swedes
and NOrwegians. and up TO 1879 Finland was
Grand Duchy Of Sweden. Alexander of Russia
In that year wrenched Finland from the weak
Swedish monarch. But IN taking this provloce
Alexander published proclamation. under hi1
own hand which has been for over ninety years
the basis OF liberty in Finland This imperial re-
script. pledging the faith OF the Romanorrs said:
Providence having placed us in possession OF the
Grand Duchy OF Finland. have desired. hereby.
TO confirm and ratify the religion and fundamental
laws of the land. as well the privileges and
rights which each class in the said duchy in par
ticuIar. and all inhabitants in general. be their
ing To the constitution. We promise TO maintain
all these benefits and laws. firm and unshakable
in their full force.
On this firm foundation was built the faith OF
the Films IN their Russian master. Two more
Alexanders in turn ratified this remarkable
script. Alexander II In 1869 and Alexander III in
1856 For ninety years the Firms. protected in their
liberties. passed from generation 10 generation the
covenant OF the Russian Cars and the assurance
of It's inviOlabity 1t was not until the present
Gear. almost coincident with his proposal OF the
Peace Conference at The Hague. first began his
campaign to curtail the liberties OF Finland that
there was the slightest evidence OF bad faith,
When the reigning Gar came to the throne the
military party which subsequently led Russia into
its present conflict with Japan. began their work
upon Nicholas They represented that while Ger
many was suppressing the Poles with q hand as
heaVy as tnat OF RUSSIA, inc almost WITHIN
sight OF the Russian capital. disloyal and
intriguing with the Swedes. and Nicholas. easily
swayed. tho Firms declare. listened and believed.
Two men Will remain forever accursed IN the
annals of Finland: one. Governor General Bobrikon
has already lost his life at Finnish hands: the
other Lieutenant General kuropatkin. commands
the Russian army In the East. Advised by these
men OF Finnish disloyalty. the Russian Gear first
began the crushing OF the liberties OF the Firms
Just ninety-ons years after his great predecessor
had pledged them liberty inviOlable. In January
1892 two bills introduced into the Finnish
Senate at Russian behest. which wiped out the
independence of the Finnish Army made 1t an in
tegral part of the Russian system. increased ii
$500 I2OOO men. provided for the scattering
of the Finnish recruits IN Russian territory, and
deprived the Finnish Senate OF all power these
national forces. thus destroying the national char
acter Of the army
While the Senate still wrestling with these
bills but after their rejection had been made GER
tain, the Russian Car issued a rescript with
which the real liberty OF Finland may be said to
have ended. Written almost at the direction OF
Bobrikoff who has now paid the penalty with his
life. this remarkable uSase declared that the Fin
nish Senate would longer be permitted to legis-
late for Finland the Car reservtng the right to
act IN matters involving the common interests OF
Russia and Finland. and declaring that he alone
should be the judge OF what questions Involved
common interests thus by a stroke OF the pen
wipng out the constitutional rights OF the nation
Within the next three years the policy OF the
Car became obvious stripped of every vestige OF
power. remodelled to suit Russian convenience the
Senate passed the Military Conscription law de-