Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1939, Page 368
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LE NORD
offices. At the same time the Finnish Senate was constrained to
enforce this edict by 1883 at the latest.
In addition to these achievements, Snellman, as a member of
the Senate and head of the State’s financial administration,
brought about two particularly important political and social re-
forms, namely: The introduction of a standard Finnish currency,
and various measures towards alleviating the economic losses
caused by the famine of 1867—68, the worst Finland had ex-
perienced since the earliest centuries of her existence. During this
period of famine Snellman proved himself a capable administra-
tor; although realizing the misery of the people, he nevertheless
retained his calmness and energy amidst the great distress, per-
forming all his duties even the most trifling, with extreme con-
scientiousness and perseverance. Snellman was a man of indo-
mitable will, with rare organizing ability; at all times he managed
to inspire others to do their utmost to save what could be saved
with human power and limited economic means. The country was
poor, the State coffers were empty, and it was extremely difficult
to get any help from the outer world under the undeveloped
financial conditions then prevailing.
Certain small incidents in Snellman’s life clearly demonstrate
the responsibility he felt as head of the economic affairs of the
country and the state. His biographer, Professor Rein, relates that
during the summer of 1866, when the merciless rains predicted
inevitable crop failure, Snellman observed the variations in the
weather with great restlessness. At night he often left his bed in
order to examine the thermometer and the barometer, “for a dif-
ference of a few degrees might show the fate of the country”-
There was nothing to prevent the people from starving or falling
victim to the many diseases brought by famine. This period had
an ineffaceable effect on Snellman’s mind, for even after several
years he was unable to describe these experiences without an obvi-
ous hint of the pain they had brought him.
In 1868, after the appointement of Finland’s new Governor-
General, Snellman was compelled to send in his resignation from
the senatorship. After this event Snellman who several years ear-
lier had been raised to the nobility, took active part in political
life as a member of the Diet of 1867, 1872 and 1877. Moreover,
he worked in the social and economic field for more than ten
years (until 1881) as chairman of the Finnish Mortgate Asso-
ciation.