The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1918-12-27

their CIVIL DuI their p0Itlcai laws InuSt DE
maintained. Today, a century after those
words were written, there seems at last
good hope that Alexander rs intention may
be permanently fulfilled, writes Rosalind
Travers Hyndman in New York Sum-
race of Monaghan origin and language, the
"Suomilaiset' or people of the fens-were CHRIS
tanned very early in the thirteenth century
by the Swedes, who treated them on the
whole with equality and justice and intermarried
with them freely, not, however, allowing the Fin
nish language to be written or spoken to any eX-
tent The result was that In 1905 Russia con-
Quered a people who spoke Swedish and regarded
themselves as independent Swedes; and although
the Firms have passed through enormous nauonal
changes in the course Of the century, russians OF
the ruling classes could get it our OF their
heads that Finland desired to belong to Sweden
again.
The governors of Russia, having much vaster
affairs In hand, did not realize that the remark
able development of Finnish nationalsm was di-
rected first and last, against the Swedish Ian
guage and Finno-Swedfsh domination. The Finnish
language was spoken only by the remote peas
antry and Finnish names even were not legally
recognized Yet, meanwhile, great movement
was steadily growing up for the revival OF Fin
lands own singularly rich and beautiful tongue.
The Finnish people began to think of their
country as Suomi" something utterly distinct
from Sweden or Russia, having language anu
literature of its own. From 1S49 onward when
Lonnrot published the second edition of the "kae-
vala" Finland's national epic educated Firms were
beginning to give up Swedish as means OF COM
munication and learning to use the strange, onl-
cult sonorous language which was their birth-
right.
Naturally This development soon cleft the coun-
try in two Many Firms urged, not unreasonabiy,
that it was hardly practicable for SO small peo-
Die to cut themselves off from Scandinavia, from
Russia, from the rest of Europe In fact, by
climbing on to language island" in this way But
nationaIism triumphed. In 1868 the mice little
constitution" granted by Alexander II left the
Films free to govern themselves in all internal
matters in a fairly representative manner, and
from this time the study of Finnish became an
integral part of the general education,
The use of the revived language of Finland
grew so fast that Swedish-speaking Firms began
TO find themselves in minority and in 1894 after
q very hot debate the Finnish language was placed
ON an equality with Swedish in the Finland SEN
ate. "Svekoman' tSwede FINN and "Fennoman
fFinnish-Ffnn) became cries Of warfare. and the
Language conflict fell roughly into line with the
! divisions of class. The progressive and prole-
tartan elements in the country were Fennoman,
while the middle class, conservative and artsto-
cratic forces were for long while by speech and
traditions Swede.
All this time the Firms as people and as
nation kept strictly to that policy OF detachment
and independence which has always marked tnenL
They took no part at all in Russian affairs ana
showed little interest In those OF Scandinavia !;
thew appeared to Europe generally as self-cen-
tered as a Chinese colony In the West might De. 4
81 F;pland 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 coh.r
nent with cold appraisng eyes, selecting ana TAX
ing back with them such ideas as they consiuereu
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 or their own race.
Yet inevitably they were bound to be growing
trouble to the Russian government and Stun
hing block to Pan-Slav policy. Obviously demo-
crafic and almost self-governing province was ONT
AZ place among the folds Of the vast anfoeranc
ME which covered all the Russas fhen
R,,t far more important objection was tnas-
rho duchy of Finland allen In language character
and administration, was a complete break ~ thaA
scheme of one vast homogeneous Russia. streten-
I've from the Norwegian coast to the racine one
- language laws, religion and government-tnat
a-esYn of giant unity and monotony which seems
- sava f1led the minds of the directors OF Russia
-. % wars and more. There seems little doubt
shst ,ha deposed dynasty cherished TINS design
80 a. HohenzolIerns did that Of "MittetEuropa.
~. 80 ] similar huge dull magnificent. mischiey-
are idea. trampling even more widely over Tue
800 ~ other nations and intended 10 produce
Iier.- . .ara dismal uniformity of rule
= e. disnassonately viewed--and the Finn even
when considering his own misfortunes' = emf.
s.tI,,. aisna ssionate Russia's first attack upon
nel''.s e. FINLAND In 1899 inevitable
~ AZ nature. There Is little need TO
cassn sbe bad years. from 1899 to 1905 when the
recala ~ S,stsrs,,r was suspended and the coua-
rIln u.s. raeed under the rule Of military dicta-
.or General Bobrkor They form moso. aas'r
record Of press censorship, e,sm'ss''s = a'''s
,f,csals illegal arrests ana eAsl o. $3.50,
ans II IN H. main objects achieved two things