The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-03-30

following paper was read and adopted
by unanimous vote Of those present:
Recently the news dispatches in the
daily papers have related how q civil
war is raging in Finland. The news
dispatches have also related how the
so-called red guards had practiced
horrible cruelties.
1t Is true that an open struggle is
going on in Finland between the pro-
German bourgeoisie and the indus
trial workers and small farmers, who
defend democracy. but it is absolute
ly untrue that the red guards. organ
lied by labor government, is practic-
ing cruelties. These news dispatches
are sent from Stockholm. Sweden, and
they are all purposely made up; they
are all Infamous falsehoods. AS Swe-
den has always had yearning for the
Aland Island and for a portion of
Finland. reports were sent out to the
world that anarchy was reigning in
Finland so that Sweden could get
pretext for Selling the Aland Islands.
The Finnish bourgeoisie have always
been pro-German. When the pre-
sent war broke out, they sent
large number of the members Of their
class into the German army to fight
against Russia, although Finland
formed part of Russia. They went
gainst the democratic elements of
to fight for German junkerism, mill
tarism and imperialism, and against
democracy. These Firms were cereful
ly trained in the German army so
that they would be able to fight a
Finland for German junkerism.
Then came the revolution in Rus
STA; the government of the car was
overthrown. The Finnish people, who
have always hoped for the independ-
ence of their country. saw that the
time had come when they could real
ize their fondest desire to be allowed
to sway their own destinies. They
took courage to demand independence
and more so for the reason that the
allies and President Wilson had as
sured the world that the allies were
fighting for democracy and for the
rights of the small nations.
But the Finnish bourgeoisie even
went as far as to oppose this by
scheming with Germany and Sweden
against the independence of Finland.
But due to the resolute action OF the
people they did not succeed in this.
The working class of Finland and the
larger portion Of the farmers, the
small farmers, demanded that the
power shall be centralized in the
Diet, the representative body elect
ed by the people. The bourgeoisie
demanded that power shall be vested
Outside the Diet. to council of three
not selected by the people. Their
final intention was to form q kingdom |
Of Finland and to set up some Ger
man prince as king. (The latest news !,
dispatches report that the Finnish
bourgeoisie desire the German kai-
ser's fifth son, Oscar, to be king Of
TinlanG) In this attempt they did
not succeed, however, for the people
vigorously demanded q democratic
form of government.
When the reactionary and pro-Ger-
man bourgeoisie saw that the will OF
the people could not be opposed, un-
less especially radical methods be en-
ployed. they commenced openly to
organize tn so-called white Guards"
(which in Finland are called the
Butcher Guards"). At the same time
they commenced to offer the Aland
Islands to Germany and to Sweden
and mastery in Finland in exchange
for aid in crushing down the demo-
cratic elements. The Finlanders in
the German army were called home,
and ammunition. regiments Of soldiers
etc. were sent from Germany into.
Finland. The proletariat of Finland
have long suffered terrible hunger
which is entirely unknown to the peo-
pie Of this country. The land does
not produce enough grain to feed its
people, and on account of the war
grain could not be imported from else
where. Regardless of this the bour-
geoisie transported grain to Sweden
and through there to Germany. The
desire was to starve the democratic
tic elements to death.
All these facts led to the democra-
tic elements being compelled to rise
against the bourgeoisie in resolute
manner. There was no other possi-
bility. The suffering and the patience
of the people have their limits. Here
is the reason why civil war is rag
ing in Finland.
The very latest news dispatches
state that German troops have invad-
al EipIopd NJ tho haheat NJ the Fin