The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-01-02


De permanently fulfilled, writes Rosalfnd
IraVers Hyndman in New York Sun.
A race of MOngolian origin and language, the
Suomilaiset' people of the fens-were Chris
canlzed very early in the thirteenth century
by the sTedes, who treated them 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
tent The result that in 1903 Russia
quered people who spoke Swedish and regarded
themselves as Independent Swedes; and although
the rims have passed through enormous national
changes in the course of the century, Russians of
the ruling classes could get it 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 di-
rected first and last, against the Swedish lam
guage and Finno- Swedish domination. The Finnish
language was spoken only by the remote peas
antry and Finnish names not legally
recognized. Yet, meanwhile, a 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 Suomi" something utterly distinct
from Sweden or Russia having language and
literature of its own. From 1S49 onward, when
IOnnrot published the second edition the 'Kale-
vala" Finand's national epic, educated Firms
beginning to give up Swedish a means OF COM
munication and learning to the strange diff
cult. sOnOrOus language which their birth
right
Naturally this development cleft the coun-
try in two. Many Firms urged not unreasonably,
that it was hardly practicable for so small a peO-
pie to cut themselves off from Scandinavia, from
Russia, from the rest OF Europe in fact "by
climbing to language island" in this way. But
natfOnasm trumphed. In 1868 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 so fast that SwediSh-Speaking Firms began
to find themselves in a minority and in 1894 after
very hot debate the Finnish language was placed
on an equality with Swedish in the Finland SEN
ate. ''Svekoman' (Swede-Ffnn) and "Fennoman"
(Finnish-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 aristo
cratic forces were for long while by speech and
traditions Swede
All this time the Firms a people and as a
nation kept strictly to that policy of detachment
and independence which has always marked them
They took no part at all in Russian affairs and
showed little interest in those of Scandinavia
they appeared to Europe generally as self-cen-
tered a 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 Firms 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 They took political ideas also
from Scandinavia and from Germany, but they
had desire to make propaganda for their own
ideas or their own 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 Sef-gOvernng province was ont
OF place among the folds of the vast autOcratic
rule which covered all the Russias then
But q far important objection was this:
The t1uchy of Finland, alien in language character
and administration, complete break in that
scheme Of vast homogeneous Russia, stretch
ing from the Norwegian coast to the Pacific one
an 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 years and more. There seems little doubt
that the deposed dynasty cherished this design
1t was similar huge. dull. magnificent. mischiev-
Gus idea, trampling widely over the
rights of other nations and intended to produce
an even more dismal uniformity Of rule.
So dispassionately viewed-and the Finn, even
when considering his own misfortunes is emf
nently Observation-Disclosures first attack upon
the liberties of Finland in 1899 was inevitable
catastrophe of nature. There is little need to
recall -the bad years. from 1899 TO 1906 when the
Finnish constitution suspended and the coun-
try was placed under the rule Of a military dicta-
for General BobrikOff. They form nonotonous
record of press censorship, dismissals of native
officials Illegal arrests and exile.
The great strike of 1905-1906, however unsuc-
cessfuI in its main objects, achieved two things:
~~o~~-~~~~O~
Temperature at the North Pole.
of The fir