The Washington herald., 1913-08-02
d n,:sht. lals. ), 4. b. I.eoasoa.l

u .ai:sht. 1915. By 4. D. Jacoosoa-)
The Russian government lately hal
! made inroads upon the Finnish consti
tuition and the traditional liberties Of thu
Firms. In violation Of the coronation
| oath Of the present Gear and OF hi
predecessors. But OF the outrageous
form that this aggression has assumed
little is known outside Of Russia The
worst example of 1t was the trial and
Imprisonment Of the judges Of the court
Of appeal at viborg. hope that the re-
cital Of them may have some effect vpor
public opinion.
Three years ago an act con the pro
ceedure Of issuing new laws and ordi.
nances concerning Finland Of general I'M
Rerial interest," was introduced by MT
Stolypin. accepted by the Duma and tht
Council Of the Empire. and sanctioned
by the Car. This law destroyed the
legislative autonomy in its definition OF
legislation. ''of general imperial inter
est" 1t included laws relating to taxa
ton and finance. penal and civil law. the
press. public schools. railways, and othei
local affairs, all OF which now became
matters for Russian imperial legisla'
tion."
The Finnish Diet protested against
this virtual suppression Of the Finnish
OF imperial legislation came last year,
when a law conferring on Russian sub
jects In Finland equal rights with Fin.
nish citizens was passed and sanctioned
by the Car. This law provided that
any person who should oppose its ap-
plication was to be tried by the dis
trict court at ST. Petersburg and pun
ished under specified articles Of the Rus
sian Penal Code. The Finnish Diet
pointed out that no Finnish official or
citizen could lawfully comply with any
law that had not been passed according
to the constitution of Finland. After
this 1t only remained to be seen whether
the Firms would submit to the Russian
law. or resist; and the question was not
long In being brought to the test.
A Russian subject. probably q Russian
agent provocateur" put up for the pur-
pose made a declaration before the city
magistrates of Viborg that he proposed
to open a shop in that town. Under
Finnish law such a declaration by non
Finnish subject should be made to the
Governor Of the pro nee. and the magis-
tracy referred the man TO the Gov
ernor accordingly. He made a COM
plant against them at ST. Petersburg.
and criminal proceedings were instituted
against tho Burgomaster at Noborg. and
the two municipal councillors who acted
with him. A Russian investigator ar
rived from st. Petersburg to make .
pI -nminary inquiry.
The ma gistrates refused to acknowledge
his authority and claimed their rights to
be lied by the pre- er Finnish tribunal.
Two Of them subsequently gave bail on
the order of the Russian Judge. but a
third refused to do SO and was sent to
II he
Court Of Appeal at Vilborg for his re-
tribunal ordered his release. but the Gov
ernor of Viborg refused 20 execute the
order of tbs court.
Thsreupon criminal proceedings were
instituted by the Russian Government
against the judres forming the court
which had dealt with the case. An ex-
amining judge again was despatched from
st. Petersburg and as the Finnish judges.
with the exception OF the President Of
the court. refused to appear before him.
{ were all arrested and conveyed TO
st. Petersburg. where two. who refused
10 give bail. were put in prison.
Ihey were all tried before the District
Court of ST. Getersburg. The President
OF the Finnish court. evidently a weak
kneed pat pleaded that he had no
intention of opposing the Russian law.
and was aquitted His colleagues. to the
numter OF twenty-three. were found
guilty and sentenced TO sixteen months
1 nprisonment. tthe maximum punishment
] divided by the codel deprived of their
icial. office, and disqualified for hold
ing any public office for ten years.
On the occasion Of the celebration Of
the Romanon Tercentenary. when an
was proclaimed to most prison
ers not in penal servitude. the sentences
of the Finnish judges were reduced by
one-third. As they shared this favor with