The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-12-27

maintained" Today a century after those
words we're written, there at last
good hope that Alexander rs intention may
be permanently fulfilled. writes Rosalind
Iravers Hyndman In New York Sun.
race Of Mongolian origin and language, the
'Suomaiset or people of the fens-were Chris
uanized 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 spoken to any ex-
tent The result that In 1908 Russia con-
Quered a people who spoke Swedish and regarded
themselves as Independent Swedes: and although
the flnns have passed through enormous national
changes In the course OF the century. Russians Of
the ruling classes could never get 1t 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 nationalism was d.
rected. first and last. against the Swedish Ian
guage and FnnO- Swedish domination. The Finnish
language was spoken only by the remote peas
antry and Finnish names even were not legally
recognized Yet, meanwhile great movemeot
steadily growing up for the revival of Fin
lands own sngularly rich and beautiful tongue.
The Finnish people began to think of their
country "Suorni," something utterly distinct
from Sweden or Russia, having language and
literature of Its own. From 1S49 onward, when
Lonnrot published the second edition of the "Kale
vala Finland's national epic. educated Firms were
beginning to give up Swedish as q means of com
munication and learning to the strange diff
cult. sonorous language which was their birth
right.
Naturally this development soon cleft the coun-
try In two. Many Firms urged not unreasonably,
that 1t was hardly practicable for small peo-
pie to cut themselves OF from Scandinavia. from
Russia from the rest of Europe In fact, "by
climbing on to a language island" in this way. But
nationalism triumphed In 1858 the mice little
constitution" granted by Alexander II left the
Firms free to govern themselves in all internal
matters in fairly representative manner, and
from this time the study Of Finnish became an
integral part of the general education.
The of the revived language of Finland
grew fast that Swedish speaking Firms began
to find themselves in minority, and In 1894 after
very hot debate the Finnish language placed
on an equality with Swedish in the Finland
ate. "Svekoman" (Swede FINN and "Fennoman"
Tinnish-Finn) 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 Fennoman.
while the middle class, conservative and aristo
cratic forces for long while by speech and
traditions Swede.
All this time the Firms people and
nation kept strictly to that policy Of detachment
and independence which has always marked them.
They took part at all in Russian affairs and
showed little interest in those of Scexdinava
they appeared to Europe generally sef-cen-
tered Chinese colony in the West might be.
Finland meant to work out her salvation alone.
In literature and art indeed the country open
to European influences, for the Films have always
been great travellers, wandering about the CONT
nent with cold appraising eyes. selecting and TAX
ing back with them such ideas 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 race.
Yet inevitably they bound to be a growing
trouble to the Russian government and a STUN.
bling block to Pan-Slav policy. Obviously demo-
cratic and almost self-governing province was ont
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 filed the minds of the directors of Russia
for 30 years and more. There seems little doubt
that the deposed dynasty cherished this design
as the Hohenzoerns did that Of "Mittel-Europe."
1t a similar huge, dull. magnificent mischiev.
Gus idea, trampling even more widely over the
rights Of other nations and intended to produce
an even more dismal uniformity Of rule.
&c. dispassionately viewed-and the Finn even
when considering his misfortunes IL emf
nently dispassionate-Russia's first attack upon
the liberties of Finland In 1899 was Inevitable q
catastrophe Of nature There Is little need TO
recall "the bad years" from 1899 to 1905 when the
Finnish constitution was suspended and the coun-
try was placed under the rule OF a military dicta-
tor. General Bobrikof They form a monotonous
record Of press censorship, dismissals of native
oficials. Illegal arrests and exile
The great strike Of 10O5-19O6 however unsuc-
eessful 10 Its main Objects achieved two things: