The propositions of the government are thirty-four in number, and relate
to changes in the modes of judicial procedure, and in the city
governments, to the sale of the state railways, and to various public
works, and minor topics, but propose no radical reforms of any kind.
[Inclosure No. 1.—Translation.]
Speech of the Emperor at the opening of the diet of the Grand
Duchy of Finland, the 25 January, [6 February,] 1872.
Representatives of the Grand Duchy of
Finland: I am happy to salute your re-union in the present
circumstances, so consoling in comparison with the privations that
afflicted the country shortly after the close of your preceding
session, when, tried by a general bad harvest, Finland, by the
inscrutable will of Providence, suffered a famine, the like of which
has never been remembered.
In a time of such cruel trials, public charity, with the warm
devotion of Christianity, made touching and praiseworthy efforts to
help these great misfortunes; but, notwithstanding the gifts
received from abroad as well as those collected in the country
itself, notwithstanding the aid in money and in kind allotted on the
State funds of extraordinary assistance, the general exhaustion of
all resources obliged the government to
[Page 479]
conclude abroad a loan of 5,500,000 marks,
destined for the purchase of grain for the subsistence of thousands
of men, and for the spring seed. Unfortunately neither these
measures nor the vast organization of public works could turn aside
the sad consequences of the famine; cruel contagious diseases spread
throughout the whole grand duchy, and the population, tried by such
terrible sufferings, has been, to my great grief, perceptibly
diminished in numbers.
In recalling these painful recollections, I give to God, with a
lively gratitude for His goodness, and with the feeling of affection
for my faithful Finnish people, ardent thanks, that He has willed to
accord to this country, of late, sufficient harvests, which have
appeased the sufferings of the population. Agriculture, commerce,
industry, and private labor have revived; at the same time the
economical situation of the treasury is so much ameliorated that not
only have the revenues been sufficient for the expenses and for the
needs of this loan, but have allowed the execution of enterprises
and works useful to the country. The first rank among these works
belongs to the railway which unites the capital of the empire to the
chief city of the grand duchy, to the advantage of the mutual
interests of commerce and industry, the operations of which bring
the populations. This rapprochement, which
contributes to the general progress, will certainly have the effect
of gradually dissipating local prejudices, and consequently of
strengthening the feelings of affection and union that I so
sincerely desire to see spontaneously exist among the peoples united
under my scepter.
As to the reform that I propose in the high bodies of state, I have
ordered a modification, as a trial, of the mode of session of the
senate, in order to accelerate the transaction of the affairs,
always increasing in number, which are submitted to the
deliberations of this body.
Considering the lack of success in the teaching of the Russian
language in the schools, while the necessity for the knowledge of
this language makes itself felt, not only in public careers, but
also in the labors of private life, I have felt it my duty to order,
simultaneously with the re-organization of the schools, the new
introduction of the Russian language into the programme of
obligatory subjects in the educational establishments.
The question of the application to the grand duchy of the general
obligation of military service, the scheme of which I announced last
year in a rescript to the governor-general, cannot be submitted to
your deliberations, since this measure is not yet applied in the
empire.
The new regulations on the diet and on the assemblies of the nobility
determine in detail your sphere of action. The experience that you
have acquired gives me reason to hope that you will successfully end
your labors by the term indicated.
May your conscientious and zealous labors serve to the real good of
the country, and contribute to strengthen the mutual confidence of
the government and the people, and may the Almighty bless you in the
accomplishment of this task.
I declare the session of the diet open.
(Signed by the hand of the Emperor:)
