THE RUSSIFICATION OF FINLAND.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—In your thoughtful article of March 25th on "The Russification of Finland," you say :—" Russia is connected in many directions with Slav States, and with at least one Norse State, which she is anxious to acquire, or at all events to ' protect.' " And later on :—" Above all, the dis- contented in Norway now know that if they accept Russian protection they will surrender everything,—that in at most a generation or two theywill be forced to become Russian.." Now, that such things can even be hinted at in the best informed of the foreign papers is to every true Norwegian patriot a matter of bitter regret and shame,—the more so, as we may, for a part at least, lay the blame to our own door for this frequent con- necting in the foreign Press of the name of our country with that of Russia. But as far as your words should imply any serious thought or wish on the part of the Norwegian people, or the -party now in power, for any future connec- tion, in any shape whatever, with Russia, I ask leave hereby to enter the most emphatic protest. During the deplorable and trivial strife, which has been going on for years between the two Scandinavian nations—or more correctly, perhaps, two political parties within them—many an inconsiderate thing has been done, many an unwise and evil word has been spoken and written, on each side, mostly by rash and irresponsible persons, echoed by the fanatical part of the Press in both countries, and we now reap the bitter fruits of it, standing, as we do, in the pillory before all the world, with our internal quarrelling, our partly at least, imaginary grievances our petty mutual recriminations. But I will say this much, and,. I believe, in the name of all my countrymen :—There is not the Norseman living—however blinded, for the present, with founded or artificially fostered animosity against our Swedish neighbours—who, with the fate of Finland before his eyes, would not contemplate with horror the possibility you have intimated !—I am, Sir, &c.,
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