Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-12-26

VN so that they may not feel them
selves conquered by Russia, but
united to her for their own clear
advantage; therefore not only
their civil hut their political laws must be
maintained" Today. II century after those
words were written. there seems Mt Inst
good hope fhnt Alexander rs intention may
be permanently fulfilled. writes Rosalind
1ravers Hyndman in New York Sun.
A rnce OF Mongolnn origin and language. the
"Suomllaiset" people Of the fens-were Chris
danlzed very early in the thirteenth century
by the Swedes, who treated them on the
whole with equality and justice, and intermarred
with them freely, not, however. allowing the Fin
nish language to be written spoken to any ex-
tent. The result that in 1903 Russia con-
quered people who spoke Swedish and regarded
themselves rs Independent Swedes; and although
the Films have passed through enormous national
changes In the course of the century, Russians OF
the ruling classes could never get 1t of their
heads that Finland desired to belong to Sweden
ngnin.
The governors of Russia, having much vaster
affairs In hand. did not realize that the remurk-
able development of Finnish nntionnlism was d.
fected first and last, against the Swedish lnn-
Guage and Finno-Sw Swedish domination. The Finnish
Language was spoken only by the remote peas
antry aud Finnish names not legally
recognized Yet, meanwhile, II great movement
was steadily growing up for the revival of Fin.
lands own singulnrly rich and beautiful tongue
The Finnish people began to think of their
country MS Suomi" something utterly distinct
from Sweden Russia, having language and
literature of it's own. From 1910 onward when
Lonnro published the second edition of the "Nnle
vAia. Finland's national epic. educated Films
beginning to give up Swedish rs a means Of
municaton and learning to use the strange, diff
cult. sonOrous language which their birth.
right.
Naturally this development cleft the
try in two. Many Firms urged. not unrensonay.
that 1t was hardly practicable for small pco.
Dle to cut themselves Off from Scandinavia, from
Russia from the of Europe in fact "by
climbing on to language islnnf"' in this way. But
nationnlsm triumphed. In 1853 the mice little
constitution" granted by Alexander II left the
Films free to govern themselves in all internal
matters in fairly representative manner and
from this tim. the study of Finnish became an
INTEGRAL part Of the general education.
: The use of the revived language of Finland
grew fast that Swedis-spenking Firms began
to find themselves in minority. and in 1894 after
q very hot debate the Finnish language placed
equality with Swedish in the Finland sen.
ate. "Svekomnn" (Swede-Fnn) aud "Fennoman"
(FInnsh-Finn) became cries of warfare. and the
language conflict fell roughly into line with the
divisions of class. The progressive and prole
tarnn elements In the country were Fennomnn.
Will the middle class, conservative and uristo
cratic forces were for long while by speech and
traditions Sv EIDE.
All this time the Firms as n people and as
nation kept strictly TO that policy of detachment
and Independence which has always marked them.
They took part ut al In Russian affairs and
showed little interest In those Of Scandinavia :;
they appeared to Europe generally as sclf-cen-
tered Chinese colony in the West might be-
Finland meant to work out her salvation alone.
In literature and art indeed the country was open
to European influences. for the Films have always
been great travellers, wandering about the CONT
nent with cold nppraisng eyes, selecting and TAX
ing back with them such ideas as they considered
likely TO be Of USE They took political ideas also
from Scandinavia and from Germany, but they
had no desire to make propaganda for their own
ideas their own race.
Yet inevitably they were bound to be a growing
trouble to the Russian government and Stun.
bling block to Pan-Slav policy. Obviously demo.
cratic and almost sclf-goyernlng province was out
of place among the folds Of the vast autocratic
rule which covered all the Russias then.
But far more important objection was this
The duchy OF Finland alien In language, character
and administration, was complete break in that
scheme Of one vast homogeneous Russia stretch
ing from the Norwegian coast to the Pacific one
in language. laws. religion and government-that
dream of giant unity and monotony which seems
to have filled the minds Of the directors of Russia
for 80 yenrs and more. There seems little doub
that the deposed dynasty cherished this deslgr
as the Hohenzollerns did that of "Aiittel.Europa
It was similar huge, dull. magnificent, mischiey
Gus idea. trnmpling more widely over III,
rights of other nations and intended to produc,
an even more dismal uniformity of rule.
So. dspasslonately viewed-and the Finn, eve,
when considering his own misfortunes is emil
nently dispassionnte- Russias first attack upo
the liberties OF Finland in 1899 was inevitable.
catastrophe Of nature. There is little need Il
recall athe had years from 1899 to 1906 when III
Finnish constitution was suspended and the couu
my WINS niaced under the rule of a military diets
tor. General Bobnko6. They form monctonou
8 sssost g srss. ssasersa,ip, 1Atis!
y IN - sssf ~ ~ IS ri y
r - r.