Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13

The Finnish question. like the ghost of
Banquo, will not down, but rises per-
petually to plague the
Troublesome peace of Russia. For
n.. merly Finnish questions
SueStivA' were treated in the seim
or diet by resolutions which, passed by
the latter, were presented directly to the
emperor by the Finnish minister residing
at st. Petersburg. When the emperor had
passed upon the subject matter his de-
cision was communicated to his ministers.
The octoberists and nationalists found
that state Of affairs abnormal and have
demanded a change. According to these
parties 1t was the duty Of the council of
ministers to study questions relating to
Finland. and that the ministers should
study the case first and submit 1t to the
emperor, and not to the minister for Fin
land The Films found the action of the
two Russian parties little in accord with
their views, and much agitation and dis
content resulted within and without the
seim, which was dissolved, and a mixed
commission was named charged with
celebrating new laws concerning Finland
Rumor asserts that the mixed commission
will withdraw all authority from the
se1m to legislate concerning any interests
affecting Russia: that the duma alone will
pc SO empowered, but in compensation the
rims WIN be given the privilege Of send
ing TO the duma one or more representa-
tives to defend their cause It is recalled
IN this connection that NJ. Stolypin, as far
back as May Is. 1903, declared from the
tribune OF the duma that he considered
flnland as an integral part of the Rus
sian empire.
On the other hand, as we have seen on
the opening Of the new seim. the 5th OF
August. 1908, M. Svinhufved, president in
his ADDRESS boldly opposed the assumption
1 OF RUSSIAN power and maintained that
Finland should enjoy direct relations with
the Grand Duke Of Finland and not
Through the Intermediary OF Russian
ministers.
Lieut.. Gen. Seyn. former adjutant gen.
eral OF Finland, was recently appoiI1ted
governor general Of Finland as Successor
to Cen Bockmann, resigned. Gen Seyn
was the second to Gen. Bobrikoff, whose
unpopularity he naturally inherits.
1t was unfortunate and unnecessary
that there should have been a change
In the military law of
Military 1898. It was a direct
Sarv;cA violation Of the treaty
and challenge to Fin
lands liberties. Hitherto the army had
not been liable in time Of peace to serve
outside OF Finland. Suddenly the car
announced his intention Of making a
large increase in the army. its length OF
service. and adding its liability to serve
anywhere within Russia. A bill was sub
mitted to the seim. not for it's consent,
but simply for information as to the best
means of applying 1t. An imperial mani.
festo in February. 1889, declared that
henceforth all questions interesting the
whole empire should be enacted by the
car with the advice Of the imperial
council In st. Petersburg.
The manifesto created the profoundest
CONSERVATION from Helsingfors to the po-
lar circle. The ladies Of the capital as
sembled and resolved to wear mourning
as manifestation of their displeasure.
Within fortnight a loyal petition was
on It's way to the emperor entreating him
to maintain the fundamental laws and
signed by more than $4,000 adult citi-
zens. deputatfon consisting of 500. one
from every parish in the grand duchy,
carried the petition to st. Petersburg.
but they were refused an audience with
the emperor.
From this moment the Firms adopted a
policy OF passive resistance. In this mo-
ment Gen. Bobrfkoff. chief. Of staff OF
the guards In st. Petersburg, q man of
drastic methods and harsh manners. who
had successfully dragooned the Baltic
provinces, was appointed governor gen.
eral Of Finland in order to carry out the
new military law. regime OF espionage,
prosecutions and summary banishments
ensued. 1t was considered an act Of dis
loyalty to praise the memory of Alex
ander II. A rigid press censorship was
enforced Many Of the most respected
citizens fled In order to escape the hate
full CONSUMPTION for the Russian army.
The annual average OF emigration in
the ten years that succeeded was 5000.
The severity Of Gen. Bob
B0brikof rikoffs regime earned for
a.J him the hatred Of the
0ssdSSAnoseu entire Finnish people.
The situation had become intolerable
when, on June 16, 1904. Gen. Bobrikoff
was shot in the vestibule of the senate
by q young Finn Of noble family, who
thereupon turned his weapon against
himself and shot himself twice in the
heart.
Since 1905 other counsels prevailed and
the new military law has been aban-
doned, and instead thereof fixed money
payment has been voted to the imperial
government for national defense. The
diet has been reconstructed on the basis
of franchise which amounts practically
to adult suffrage, including women. In
1907 the diet contained nineteen woman
representatives., and it is noted as one
Of the most democratic representative
chambers in the world.
Since her union with Russia and her
period Of peace Finland has prospered
exceedingly. The great resources of the
country have been or are being exploited
and developed, trade and industry estab-
lished and wealth increased. The nation
atty of the Finn has become more indi-
vidualized. Like their mythical hero
kullervo. represented as tearing off his
sWaddling clothes, the Firms have thrown
aside the Swedish language, which had
hitherto been the only medium OF liter
allure. learning and culture. The de-
spised Finnish language has been revived
and adopted as the vernacular, and has
won a place of honor in the diet and
press, and a great poet has revealed to
tho world the unsupported treasures 1t
concealed. The Finn must now be ac-
cepted as one of the national types Of
Europe.
The Firms. who are related to the
MOngols and their variations, including
Tartars, Turks, Chinese
Finnish and Magyars, are also
People. Thsv seI nn ~ .ne NI " 1ao.
1900. 900, being doubled since 1850 and
quadrupled since 1900. The Firms, like
the Basques in France, the Moors in
Spain, the Magyars in Hungary, the
Turks in the Balkans and the Tartars
in Russia, are aliens in Europe. Their
almond-shaped eyes and high cheekbones
Indicate clearly their Asiatic origin.
In hn int ich