Semi-weekly herald., 1917-09-13
RIGA.
,ristian Science Monitor.

soCltiiCC AlOhiboA'
The great Russian seaport which
lies on the Baltic at the head of the
Gulf. of Riga, has one significant fea-
ture. In the days before the war,
at any rate, the population of Riga
was AZ per cent German. Indeed, the
Germans were by far the largest sin
gle section of the community, the Rus
SLAMS coming next with 25 per cent,
and the Let's next with % per cent.
For the rest, there was small ad-
mixture of Esthonians and Jews. 1t
is the same to a greater or less per
cent thruout the whole of what is
known as the Baltic provinces, and the
explanation is not far to seek, for
quite apart from the definite attempt
which has been made, during the past
| few decades, but the Deutschtum in
Russia to colonize the Baltic provinces
with Germans, the district has always
possessed a great attraction for the
German.
Riga itself owes its foundation to
the merchants of Bremen, of some
800 years ago. 1t was in the year
1158 that a few Bremen traders, de-
string to secure storehouse on the
eastern Baltic for the produce and
merchandise Of Russia which offered
itself for purchase to the merchants
of the west, decided upon the place
where Riga now stands as affording
the best facilities for their purpose
SO a city was founded there, and,
from the first, it seems to have pros
pered greatly. 1t early came under
the control of the church. About the
year 1190, the Augustine Monk Mein-
hard, erected monastery there. The
next important event in the history of
the town was when Prince Bishop
Alber / of Livonia obtained from
Pope Innocence III permission for
German merchants to land at the new
settlement, and chose it for his seat,
exercising his power over the neigh
boring district in connection with the
Teutonic knights.
For time all went well between
the people of Riga and their bishop.
But both prospered greatly, and the
more the people prospered the more
they looked askance at the bishop,
and the greater were the efforts of
the bishop to retain his hold and in
fluence. The people, however, stead
lily gained ground. AS early as the
first half of the Thirteenth century,
Riga had so greatly grown in strength
and size that it obtained the right of
electing its own magistracy. Later
on it joined the Hansaetic League,
and finally, after much murmuring it
rose in revolt against the bishop and
the Teutonic knights, and refused to
recognize the rights of either. Riga
succeeded in achieving its purpose,
and, for more than ITO years, the city
maintained its freedom. In 1920,
however, it fell once more under the
control of the bishop, who managed to
maintain his authority until it was
finally abolished to the Reformation
in 1866.
AT about this time, the history OF
the town was particularly troubled
In 1547 Sigismund II king of Poland
took the city; whilst some 10 years
later, the Russians came against it.
laid waste its suburbs, and burned
many ships in the river. Then, in
the year 1861 Riga and the whole OF
Livonia became Polish possession
The troubles, however, were by nc
means over, for, in the Seventeenth
Century. Sweden joined in the strug-
gle and in 1921 Gustavus Adolphus
wrested the city from Poland, and held
it successfully against both Poles and
Russians. Riga, indeed, did not final
ly settle down as Russian province
until 1710, and its last great adven.
ture was in 1872, when the approach
Of Napoleon's forces being apprehend.
ed, the Russians resorted to the
means which proved so successful a,
Moscow, and burnt the suburbs Of
the city.
n - - -
KANSAS HOGS AND