Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-07
THE NEWS RECEIVED
In Russia Of the Death OF So'sa'on
Soininen-RevoIt Predicted.

e. Petersburg. Feb 7-0..O A. M
The news of the assassination OF SolSaloh
Soninen, proc orator general OF flhidid'
was not generally known in ST. Petersburg
last night, hut may he expected to produce
an immense sensation whtl! IL becomes
public, as il will he regarded as the pre-
cursor of an era of terrorism for which
lhe events of January in ST fetersDurS
and throughout Russia gave the signal.
Until the identity of the assassin Is known
il will be impossible to establish with per
iect poSitiyeneSS the motive or the at
tempt; but the present circumstances IN
Finland render il almost certain that the
crime is Of a purely political charactef
and of the same nature as the aSSaSSlna'
ton OF Count Bobrikoff. the governor gen
The classification of Finland has been
meeting with great opposition anc Great
ing much bitterness, especially the party
of active resistance. which WAS recruited
from the holder spirits of the original
party of passive political resistance and to
which the perpetrator of its latest crime
probably belongs.
Al the conference of revolutionary par
ties of Russia. comprising representatives
of the Finnish active resistance party, the
Polish National League. the Russian
emanCipationiStS and other revolutionary
organiza lions in Berlin, last November. Il
program for general concerted action was
drawn up: and tn assassin OF SoInlneil
undoubtedly was in touch with the dissat
islied element throughout Russia. As
matter of fact, never before in the histo-
ry of the empire have events OF an anti
nectiOn. as has been shown by the uni
versal spread of the strike movement; and
the assassin of Soinnen, though princi-
paIly inspired by the grievances OF the
Finnish nationalists. undoubtedly vas
spurred on by the use of troops against
the strikers in st. Petersburg and else
where.
Little is known regarding the murdered
official; but as prOcurator general he was
the advisor of the Finnish Senate. which
incurred the enmity OF the anti-RuSSiair
Darties on account of its alleged SubSer
viency to the cess of Russificat ton; and
Soininen undoubtedly was selected as the
representative and responsible person for
the movement.
Laws in Finland have no validity with
out the assent of the Senate: and that
body when II was ratified by the manifes-
to of the Emperor of Feb. IL. lStl. and nv
took the position on legal grounds il was
bound to assent to whatever was pro
mulgated by the Emperor. uttering a the
same time protests against the measure.
This was felt by Finnish Nationalsts Ia
be a Stibterfuge, and the subsequent rigor
OF the Senate making II even more pro-
Russian. incr, ased its unpopulaIity. The
present Finnins Diet. which was sum-
moned by Emperor Nicholas after the
death OF Gov. Gen. Bobrikoff and upon
the position of the Senate. Its first step
was to adopt by the unanimous voice ~
all the four estates a petition asking the
Emperor to restore the liberties and con-
stitution of Finland.
" here the next terrorism will he at
tempted Ii is impossible to predict hut i;
Will be expected in any one of the several
quarters of the vast Russian empire
thinking men of all parties have expect
ed manifestation of this nature even
ism being the obvious measure for the
revengeful to adopt.