The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-24
CARS JOY SHOWN
IN PARDON UKASE
Christening Of Heir Celebrated by
Banishing Lash and Bestow-
/ ing Benefits.
RELIEF rs GRANTED
TO FINNS AND JEWS
Corporal Punishment Among the
Rural Glasses Is to Be
Abolished.

St Petersburg, Aug. 24.-The czar
today issued a lengthy manifesto on
the occasion of the christening of the
heir to the throne. 1t is introduced
by the following message to the
people:
"By the will Of God, we, car and
autoorat of all the Russias, czar of
Poland, grand duke of Finland, ETC.,
announce to our faithful subjects that
on this. the day Of the christening OF
our son and heir, the Grand Duke
Alexis Nicholavitch, following the
promptings of our heart, we turn to
. our great family of the empire, and
with the deepest and most heartfelt
pleasure, even amidst these times OF
national struggle and difficulty, be-
stow upon them some gifts Of our
royal favor for their greater enjoy
ment in their daily lives"
The various benefits bestowed on
many classes are then enumerated at
length. One of the most important
provisions relates to the entire abo-
lition Of corporal punishment among
the rural classes and its curtailment
in the army and navy.
The manifesto RENTS land pur-
chase arrears, which affects one of
the largest classes of the population
thruout the empire, and It's benefits
are also extended to estates in Po-
land.
General Amnesty.
The general provisions of the mani
festo include a reduction in sentences
for common-law offense, a general
amnesty for political offenses, except
in cases Of murder, and the education
of the children of officers and soldiers
who have been victims of the war, as
we'll as assistance for such families
Ht.Ne, RI Inn a c
have fallen in the service of their
country.
The sum Of s1,5oo,OOo is set apart
from the state fund for the benefit OF
landless people Of Finland.
All fines imposed upon villages
towns or communes of Finland for
failure to elect representatives or TO
serve on the military recruiting boards
during the years 1902 and 1903 are
reEnitted.
Permission is granted to Firms, who
have left their couatry without the
sanction Of the authorities, to return
within a year. Those returning who
are liable to military service must i'm
rmediately present themselves for SER
vice, but Firms who have evaded mill
tary service will not be punished pro-
vided they present themselves within
three months of the birth Of the heir
to the throne.
Certain classes Of offenses, including
theft violent robbery and embezzle-
ment, are pardoned, and the governor
of Finland Is directed to consider what
steps can be taken to alleviate the lot
of those forbidden to reside in Fin
land.
Jews Gain by Manifesto.
Fines imposed upon the Jewish
communes in the cases Of Jews avoid
ing military service are RENTED.
Persons arrested for offenses pun
ishable by fines, Imprisonment or con-
finement in a fortress without loss of
civil rights and who were still await
ing sentence at the time Of the birth
Of the heir to the throne. are par
doned.
Political prisoners who have distin-
guished themselves by good conduct
may, on the interposition Of the min
lister of Justice, obtain the restitution
of their civil rights at the expiration
political offenses committed within the
last fifteen years, who have re-
manned unidentified, will not longer
be subject to prosecution, while po-
1itical offenders who are now fugitives
abroad may apply to the minister OF
the interior for permission to return tc
Russia.
Promotions Announced
An imperial autograph letter was
also published today making a mum.
Der Of promotions and comforting dec.
orations on the occasion Of the bap.
tism of the heir to the throne includ.
ing the bestowal on M. Witte, presi.
dent Of the council of ministers, the
order Of the White Eagle on Foreign
Minister Lamsdorff' the st. Alex
ander Nevsky order. and on Min
lister Of Justice Muravieff and M
Yermoloff, the minister of agricul
ture, the st. Alexander Nevsky order
Prince Hilkoff, the minister Of rail
roads Is appointed secretary O.
state.
An imperial order Of the day direct
that the Finnish military district b.
abolished as a distinctive district anc
that it be merged in the st. Peters
burg district. Special acts of grace tt
the army and navy similar to those
enumerated in the manifesto are alst
announced.