Evening star., 1940-02-16
For Liberty

For Liberty
The righteousness of Finland's
cause is acknowledged by the world.
But the ideals for which the Finnish
people are fighting perhaps are
only imperfectly comprehended in
America. They are not merely those
Of resistance to Russian aggression.
Copies of the Finnish Trade Review
for December, received in Washing
ton yesterday, contain an exposition
of Finnish philosophy which merits
quotation.
Under the title Sources of Strength
and Self Confidence" an unsigned
editorial explains: 1T has been said
of the war which the Soviet Union
forced on Finland that it constitutes
the second and final phase of our
War of Independence. This inter-
probation of the present struggle is
certainly true so far as the first part
Of it goes, and no Finn can wish any
thing more fervently than that the
second part should prove to be true
as well; In other words, that the
fighting now proceeding on our from
tier will set the final seal on our right
to live in freedom. We do not only
hope, but we believe that this will
be so. Our belief is based in the
first instance on our own selves. It
is based on the character of our
people, on their firmness and tenac-
ity; it is based on the creative power
which in two decades of perfect
liberty has raised the nation from
poverty and privation to a relative
prosperity; and finally, it is based on
Finnish democracy and on what this
democracy has achieved in the brief
period mentioned in the way OF con-
solidating the social structure and
strengthening the national sense of
solidarity"
Finland, the same pronouncement
continues, twas in many respects a
backward country" at the beginning
of her national career. "Now mat
ters are different" The arabic area
of the country has been increased by
a third since 1919, the harvest by
two-thirds. Industry has expanded
at rate unparalleled, barring a few
exceptions, anywhere in the world.
The value of industrial output has
multiplied three and a half times
over. New opportunities for work
and new wealth have been created
on a corresponding scale Every
one of us knows that Finland can
offer an honorable and constantly
improving livelihood both to her
present population and to coming
generations"
Politically, 1t is affirmed, the people
of Finland are mo longer divided,
rs during the first phase of our War
Of Independence twenty-five years
ago into opposing camps of citizens,
sundered by class warfare, but a
nation united by living and strong
bond of solidarity. In two decades
the Finnish community has been
reborn. The classes which, still in
our first war of liberation and be-
fore that had reason to cry for
social justice, have obtained it. Hun
dreds of thousands of families for
merly subsisting on leased land or
casual work on the land have been
helped to become farmers Of their
own soil, or have found a steady in
come and every opportunity for a
healthy life in the service Of the
expanding industries or Of the new
enterprises in our cities and indus
trial centers. Poverty and distress
as widespread social phenomena
have vanished"
It follows that "the liberty Finnish
labor is fighting to protect is real
liberty for the worker; the democracy
Finnish labor defends is a real
democracy These are the
sources from which our self-confl-'
dence springs. In addition there is
the belief, unquenchable in the
hearts of our people in all circun-
stances, that right will prevail"
Democracy everywhere must in
dorse faith so humane, 80 rational,
so amply justified. Unless the con-
science of mankind be utterly mori-
bund, there will be universal
acknowledgment of the truth ex-
pressed by the President of Finland
when he said to representatives Of
the world press assembled lat Hell
sinki: "You know that we are de-
tending our common western civil
ization, thus also your liberty and
the future OF your homes"
TIL 1aA c:S,,~I:~~