Having enjoyed prosperity and control over their own affairs, and having remained loyal subjects for nearly a century, the manifesto which Nicholas II issued on 15 February 1899 was cause for Finnish despair.
Efter at have nydt velstand og kontrol over deres egne forhold, og været loyale undersåtter i næsten et århundrede, gav det manifest, som Nikolaj 2. udstedte den 15. februar 1899 anledning til finsk fortvivlelse.