Middletown transcript., 1918-04-20
~ he recently created republic
of Finland, where bloody. civil
warfare has ragged, lies in the

warfare has ragged, lies in the
same latitude as Greenland
and Alaska. 1t is not small in size,
for Finland is about as large as the
; whole of France. The Finlanders
themselves speak of their land as
SuOmen-maa, or SOumi. 1t is 4 region
of lakes and granite rocks, much Of it
| deSolate and water-lOgged, where
winter reigns supreme for from seven
to nine months in the year. At least
Dne-ninth Of the surface is covered
with lakes and the greater part of the
thirty is arabic, but somewhat larger
amount is suited for grazing.
We think of Greenland as a frozen
and desolate land, fit only for the
abode Of the hardy Eskimos writes
Nevin o. Winter in the Christian Her
aid. And yet in Finland, in a severe
northern climate, has grown up a
hardy and virile race. Perhaps it was
because only. the sturdiest could sur
vive under such conditions for isola-
ton bred self-reliance and indus
try was necessary to existence. At
any rate the fact remains that
the Films have developed civil
lization that is unique and OF
interest. 1t is not surprising. to
one familiar with the Firms and
their history, to know that a republic
has been proclaimed. No people are
more truly democratic. Under the
autOcratic rule of the cars, Finland
maintained her democratic institu-
tons, and it was the only part of Rus
STA where the traveller was free to
move about without having demand
made almost daily for his passport.
The Russian calendar, which is thir-
teen days behind our own, was ig-
nored, and in every way the public and
social customs differed from those Of
the Russians.
The Films have always objected to
being classed as Russians. OF Mon
golian descent, they were among the
earliest of the Oriental races to cross
the Urals and descend upon the fertile
plains of Russia. They were gradu-
ally driven to the inhospitable North
by successive waves Of immigration.
They are first cousins to the Magyars
of Hungary and distant cousins of the
Turk, Like the Celts of Ireland. the
Films were never able to establish an
independent state capable Of resisting
the external pressure of Teuton. Slav
and Turk. In the twelfth century
they were brought under the sway OF
the rowing Vikings, who organized
crusade to convert the heather Films.
Annexed by Russia.
Since then the country has been buff
feted about between Sweden and Rus
STA. Peter the Great conquered a part
of it, but the entire country was not
annexed until one hundred and ten
years ago. Then it was really union
and not an unconditional surrender.
The Car took the title of Grand Duke
of Finland, and as such he continued to
rule until the abdicatiOn Of Nicholas II.
The fundamental laws Of the country
were officially recognized and con-
firmed by each succeeding autocrat,
although in recent years there had
been much encroachment on the rights
of the Independent Films in the at
tempt at classification. For this rea-
son there has been great unrest for
more than two decades.
Until 1898 Finland had not been re-
quired to furnish soldiers for the Inn
perial Russian army. In that year the
car Informed the Diet (Congress)
that the military service must be made
to conform to that of the rest of the
empire. Finnish susceptibilities were
aroused, as this seemed but the open
Ing wedge for the destruction Of all
their liberties. The people entered up
on a campaign of passive resistance.
Every man, woman and child dressed
In mourning on the Sunday succeeding