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have been laboring to deserve it。 There are chancelleries in the
world which； when they give promises； are believed and trusted。
Who； in the light of the last fifty years； would claim that the
Russian Foreign Office is among these？ Its main reputation is for
astuteness finally brought to naught； it has constantly been 〃too
clever by half。〃
Take the loudly trumpeted peace proposals to the world made by
Nicholas II。 When the nations got together at The Hague to carry
out the Czar's supposed purpose； it was found that all was
haphazard； that no adequate studies had been made； no project
prepared； in fact； that the Emperor's government had virtually
done nothing showing any real intention to set a proper example。
Nothing but the high character and abilities of M。 de Martens and
one or two of his associates saved the prestige of the Russian
Foreign Office at that time。 Had there been a man of real power
in the chancellorship or in the ministry of foreign affairs； he
would certainly have advised the Emperor to dismiss to useful
employments； say； two hundred to two hundred and fifty thousand
troops； which he could have done without the slightest
dangerthus showing that he was in earnest； crippling the war
clique； and making the beginning of a great reform which all
Europe would certainly have been glad to follow。 But there was
neither the wisdom nor the strength required to advise and carry
through such a measure。 Deference to the 〃military party〃 and
petty fear of a loss of military prestige were all…controlling。
Take the army and the navy departments。 In these； if anywhere；
Russia has been thought strong。 The main occupation of leading
Russians for a hundred years has been； not the steady uplifting
of the people in intellect and morals； not the vigorous
development of natural resources； but preparations for war on
land and sea。 This has been virtually the one business of the
main men of light and leading from the emperors and grand dukes
down。 Drill and parade have been apparently everything： the
strengthening of the empire by the education of the people； and
the building of industrial prosperity as a basis for a great army
and navy； seem to have been virtually nothing。 The results are
now before the world for the third time since 1815。
An objector may remind me of the emancipation of the serfs。 I do
not deny the greatness and nobleness of Alexander II and the
services of the men he then called to his aid； but I lived in
Russia both before and since that reform； and feel obliged to
testify that； thus far； its main purpose has been so thwarted by
reactionaries that there is； as yet； little； if any； practical
difference between the condition of the Russian peasant before
and since obtaining his freedom。
Take the dealings with Finland。 The whole thing is monstrous。 It
is both comedy and tragedy。 Finland is by far the best…developed
part of the empire； it stands on a higher plane than do the other
provinces as regards every element of civilization； it has
steadily been the most loyal of all the realms of the Czar。
Nihilism and anarchism have never gained the slightest foothold；
yet to…day there is nobody in the whole empire strong enough to
prevent sundry bigotsmilitary and ecclesiasticalleading the
Emperor to violate his coronation oath； to make the simple
presentation of a petition to him treasonable； to trample Finland
under his feet； to wrong grievously and insult grossly its whole
people； to banish and confiscate the property of its best men； to
muzzle its press； to gag its legislators； and thus to lower the
whole country to the level of the remainder of Russia。
During my stay in Russia at the time of the Crimean War； I had
been interested in the Finnish peasants whom I saw serving on the
gunboats。 There was a sturdiness； heartiness； and loyalty about
them which could not fail to elicit good…will； but during this
second stay in Russia my sympathies with them were more
especially enlisted。 During the hot weather of the first summer
my family were at the Finnish capital； Helsingfors； at the point
where the Gulf of Finland opens into the Baltic。 The whole people
deeply interested me。 Here was one of the most important
universities of Europe； a noble public library； beautiful
buildings； and throughout the whole town an atmosphere of
cleanliness and civilization far superior to that which one finds
in any Russian city。 Having been added to Russia by Alexander I
under his most solemn pledges that it should retain its own
constitutional government； it had done so up to the time of my
stay； and the results were evident throughout the entire grand
duchy。 While in Russia there had been from time immemorial a
debased currency； the currency of Finland was as good as gold；
while in Russia all public matters bore the marks of arbitrary
repression； in Finland one could see the results of enlightened
discussion； while in Russia the peasant is but little； if any；
above Asiatic barbarism； the Finnish peasantsimple； genuineis
clearly far better developed both morally and religiously。 It is
a grief to me in these latter days to see that the measures which
were then feared have since been taken。 There seems a
determination to grind down Finland to a level with Russia in
general。 We heard； not long since； much sympathy expressed for
the Boers in South Africa in their struggle against England； but
infinitely more pathetic is the case of Finland。 The little grand
duchy has done what it could to save itself； but it recognizes
the fact that its two millions of people are utterly powerless
against the brute force of the one hundred and twenty millions of
the Russian Empire。 The struggle in South Africa meant； after
all； that if worst came to worst； the Boers would； within a
generation or two； enjoy a higher type of constitutional liberty
than they ever could have developed under any republic they could
have established； but Finland is now forced to give up her
constitutional government and to come under the rule of brutal
Russian satraps。 These have already begun their work。 All is to
be 〃Russified〃： the constitutional bodies are to be virtually
abolished； the university is to be brought down to the level of
Dorpatonce so noted as a German university； now so worthless as
a Russian university； for the simple Protestantism of the people
is to be substituted the fetishism of the Russo…Greek Church。 It
is the saddest spectacle of our time。 Previous emperors； however
much they wished to do so； did not dare break their oaths to
Finland； but the present weakling sovereign； in his indifference；
carelessness； and absolute unfitness to rule； has allowed the
dominant reactionary clique about him to accomplish its own good
pleasure。 I put on record here the prophecy that his dynasty； if
not himself； will be punished for it。 All history shows that no
such crime has gone unpunished。 It is a far greater crime than
the partition of Poland； for Poland had brought her fate on
herself； while Finland has been the most loyal part of the
empire。 Not even Moscow herself has been more thoroughly devoted
to Russia and the reigning dynasty。 The young monarch whose
weakness has led to this fearful result will bring retribution
upon himself and those who follow him。 The Romanoffs will yet
find that 〃there is a Power in the universe； not ourselves； which
makes for righteousness。〃 The house of Hapsburg and its
satellites found this in the humiliating end of their reign in
Italy； the house of Valois found it； after the massacre of St。
Bartholomew； in their own destruction； the Bourbons found it；
after the driving out of the Huguenots and the useless wars of
Louis XIV and XV； in the French Revolution which ended their
dynasty。 Both the Napoleons met their punishment after violating
the rights of human nature。 The people of the United States；
after the Fugitive Slave Law； found their punishment in the Civil
War； which cost nearly a million of lives and； when all is
reckoned； ten thousand millions of treasure。
When I talked with this youth before he came to the throne； and
saw how little he knew of his own empire；how absolutely unaware
he was that the famine was continuing for a second year in
various important districts； there resounded in my ears； as so
often at other times； the famous words of Oxenstiern to his son；
〃Go forth；