The Glenwood post., 1904-08-27
CARS MESSAGE
1T PROMISES MANY REFORMS
In Gratitude for the Birth of an Heir to
the Throne.-Corporal Punishment
Aboishcd.-Poiitica al Prison
ers Released.

St. Petersburg, Aug. 25,-The Gar
yesterday issued "a lengthy manifesto
on the occasion of the heir to the
throne. 1t is introduced by the follow
ing message to the people:
BY the will OF God, We. the Gar
and autocrat of all the Russias. Czar
of Poland. Grand Duke OF Finland,
etc, announce to our faithful subjects
that on this, the day 70 the christening
of our son and heir, the G and Duke
Alexis NCholaievitch. following the
prompting of our heart, we turn TO our
great family of the empire, and with
deepest and most heartfelt plea sure,
even amidst these times of national
struggle and difficulty. bestow upon
them some gifts of our royal favor for
their greater enjoyment in their daily
lives"
The various benefits bestowed on
many classes are then enumerated at
length. One of the most complete pro-
visions relates to the entire abolition
of corpoIeal punishment among the
rural classes and its curtaiment in the
army and the navy The manifesto re-
mits land purchase arrears. which af-
! fects one of the largest classes of tho
lopuld'IoH lilt tlnDl1t, anu
its benefits are also extended to es-
tates in Poland.
! The general provisions of the mani
/ festo include an all-round reduction in
sentences Tor common law 0Genses. a
general amnesty for political offenses,
except in cases of murder, and the ed
ucation of the children Of officer. and
soldiers who have been victims of the
! war. as well as assistance for such
/ families as need it whose bread win
ners have fallen in the service of their
country.
l The sum of 81 100000 is set apart
from the state fund for the benefit of
landless people of Finland. All fines
imposed on villages, towns or COM
munes of Finland for failure to elect
representatives or to serve on the mil
itary recruiting boards during tl:N years
1902 and 1903. are RENTED.
Permission is granted to Films who
have left their country without the
sanction of the authorities TO return
within year Those returning and
liable to military service must imme-
diately present themselves for service,
but Films who have evaded military
service will not be punished, provided
they present themselves within three
uloHlHS Ol lIe DlTIn OIL tDe nblT 10 tDo
throne
Certain classes of offenses, excluding
theft, violent robbery and embezzle-
ment, are pardoned, and the governor
general of Finland is directed to con-
slider what steps can be taken to al
leviate the lot of those forbidden to re-
side in Finland.
Fines imposed upon the Jewish COM
munes in the cases of Jews avoiding
military service are RENTED
Persons arrested for offenses punish
able by fines. Imprisonment or confine-
ment in fortress without loss of civil
rights, and who are still awaiting SEN
tenca at the time of the birth of the
heir to the throne, are pardoned
Political prisoners who have distin-
guished themselves by good conduct
may, on the interposition of the minis
ter of justice. obtain restitution OF
their civil rights at the expiration of
their sentences.
Persons guilty of political offenses
committed within the last fifteen years
who have remained unidentified, will
no longer be subject to prosecution.
while political offenders who are now
fugitives abroad may apply to the min
lister of the interior for permission to
return to Russia.