Willmar tribune., 1908-01-29
FINLAND.

the statement that the Russian de-
partment of war has occupied the en-
tire Finnish frontier, and that this
can be crossed only at two points.
Another paper states that the troops
are divided into squads of twenty
men, who are securing the surround
ing country. The inhabitants of the
villages are fastening to the capitol
or to Helsingfors.
Berlin, Jan. 1S.-The inundatiOn of
Finland with Russian troops and the
gradual reduction of Finland to a
settled policy of the czar. Finland re-
gained her liberties during the height
of the Russian revolution, when the
continuation of the Bobrikoff policy
became impossible. Now that the rev.
olution at home is crushed, the crush
evitable. The old Finnish garrisons
are to be withdrawn St. Petersburg
has known for nearly two years that
the troops at Helsingfors and Vyborg
are affected by the Finnish propa-
ganda. AS long as Finland was peace
able it was garrisoned with the worst
disciplined regiments, the best regi-
ments being kept at home. Among
these ill-disciplined troops the Fin
nish Socialists kept up an active prop
tiny of Sveaborg fortress. Since the
crushing of the Russian movement
things have got worse. Russian revo.
lutionists, driven from their own coun-
try, inundated Finland and seconded
the Finnish movement for the seduc-
tion Of the czar's troops. All these
unreliable regiments soon will be
withdrawn and replaced by soldiers
from Poland, Little Russia and the
Jewish Pale, where most regiments
are actively loyal, owing to the pro-
motion, praise and plunder they have
gained in their campaigns against the
Jews and Poles. The czar is appar-
emily convinced that they will be no
less eager to carry out the work of
repressing Finland. Nicholas II is the
most active of the anti-Finns. He
never has forgiven the humiliations of
October, 1905, when his governor,
Prince Obolensky, surrendered to the
Finnish Red Guard. Moreover, the
Finnish Socialist movement is develop
ing rapidly. There are eight Social
lists in the new"landtag, and, this spec.
tacle is a sore in the eyes of the Rus
sian cabinet. NJ. Stolypin and Gen.
Kuropatkin are strongly anti-Finnish.
Three months ago Kuropatkin was
summoned and intrusted with the
drawing of a scheme for regarrison-
ing Finland. Kuropatkin advised that
no garrison In Finland would remain
loyal as long as Finland remained a
nest of free thought and revolution.
The change in the garrisons was
therefore decided on in concert with
scheme for taking away bodily the
Finnish constitution. Stolypin ap.
proved this scheme, but insisted that
the change should come gradually, and
this amendment was adopted. Fin
land is to have 10000 more soldiers
than formerly. When these soldiers
have been placed in garrison the Rus
sian government will open series Of
demands upon the Finnish senate,
among which will be the delivery Of
Russian political refugees, the suppress.
sion of Socialism and a change in the
fiscal system. The Russian calcula-
tion is that according to her consti-
tutional right Finland will refuse to
comply, and this refusal will serve
as a pretext to begin encroachments
upon the constitution, the Finnish
language and the personal freedom Of
~Finland's people.