Evening star., 1905-09-24
FINNS ARE DEFIANT.
Claim the Right to Hold Public
Meetings

ST. PETERSBURG, September 3d.
Though investigation shows that appar-
emily there Is no ground for the conjec-
tures that the Finnish people are contem-
plating general armed uprising, despite
the recently discovered importation of
arms, or indeed that the vast majority of
the Firms look with favor on the separatist
movement. it is evident that the divergent
attitudes in regard to right of meeting are
leading to a stubborn conflict and further
embittering the relations between the gov
ernment and the people.
Following the dispersal of the big con-
gress of constitutionalists at Helsingfore,
September 13. the Russian authorities an
nounced that. pending imperial approval
of the :senate's new project for the right
of assembly, the regulations Of 1860 remain
strictly in force, and that effective meas
ures would be taken to disperse all un-
authorized meetings.
In reply the bureau of constitutionalists,
who now embrace practically all the Fin
n1sh factions except the small terrorist
party Of active resistance, announces the
program OF meetings throughout the
country for the discussion of the resolu-
tions submitted to the Helsingfors con-
gress, and practically defies the authorities
to interfere, saying that the meetings will
be held in spite of the police measures.
Among the questions to be discussed are
the necessity for the immediate convocation
of the Finnish diet the removal from Fin
land of all members of the corps of
gendearmerie. the intrusting of all secret
and public police work to the existing legal
police organization, and the participation
of Finnish Representatives in the Russian
national assembly. The conSttutionalists
also demand the dismissal from the state
service of Finland of all Office holders who
have palpably compromised the interests of
their country and the execution of its laws,
this being directed against the Firms who
have been assisting In the work of Russi-
fication.
There is reason to believe that the recent
importation of rifles was arranged by those
fayoring active resistance and who are
working in cooperation with terroristic
and revolutionary organizations in other
parts of Russia, and especially with the So
cialist revolutionaries in the Baltic prov
inces, to precipitate revolution. The con-
stitutionalists however do not look with
favor upon attempts to bring about an un-
rising in Finland, which undoubtedly would
only result, like the Polish revolution of
1868, in useless bloodshed and suffering and
measures for sterner repression. They pre-
fer to work along the same lines as the
Russian reformers, and are exerting steady
and stubborn pressure against all measures
for classification.
An article in the Vremya-whieh bears
the marks of nspiration-intimating that
all parties in Finland are preparing for an
uprising and that the country is on the
verge of revolt, is attracting much atten-
ton. Finlanders fear that the article is
put forth in behalf Of the Russian admins
tratfon In Finland in order to justify more
vigorous military measures, or even dec
laration of martial law. has been threat
ened by the emperor.
A report is in circulation here this even
ing that Prince John Oboiensky, governor
general of Finland, has resigned, but no
confirmation of it is obtainable