The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-24
The Gar Pardons Many Offend
ers Against the Law.
Ab0lishss Corporal Punishment
Throughout the Empire.
BESTOWS BLESSINGS
Of Various Kinds Upon His Suf-
fering People
On the Occasion of the Christen-
ing of His Son.

st. Petersburg, Aug. 24.-The czar to-
day 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 the czar and
autocrat of all the Russias, Finland,
etc., announce to our faithful subjects
that on this, the day of the christening
of our son and heir, the Grand Duke
Alexis Nicholaievitch, following the
promptings of our heart, we turn to
our great family of the empire, and
with the deepest and best heartfelt
pleasure, even amidst these times of
national struggle and difficulty, bestow
upon them some gifts of our royal IA
vor 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
corporal punishment among the rural
classes and its curtailment IN the army
and the navy. The manifesto RENTS
land purchase arrears which affects one
of the largest classes of the population
throughout the empire and it's benefits
are also extended to estates in Poland.
The general provisions of the mani
festo include an all around reduction in
sentences for common law offenSeS, a
general amnesty for political offense ex-
cept in cases of murder and the educa-
tfon of the children of officers and SOL
dierS who have been victims of the war
as we'll as assistance for such families
as need it whose breadwinners have
fallen in the service of their country.
The sum of 81, SOC, 900 is set apart from
the state fund for the benefit of land
less people of Finland.
All fines imposed on villages. towns or
tary recruiting boards during the years
granted to Firms who have left their
country without the sanction of the au-
returning. liable to military service, must
Immediately present themselves for ser
service @ viii i''' not be - punished provided
they present themselves within three
months of the birth of the heir to the
Certain classes of offenses. excluding
theft violent robbery and embezzlement.
of Finland is directed to consider what
steps can be taken to alleviate the lot of
those forbidden to reside In Finland.
Fines imposed upon the Jew -communi-
ties in the case of Jews avoiding military
service, are remitted.
Persons arrested for offenses, punisha-
BILE by fines, imprisonment or confinement
in a fortress without loss of civil rights
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 mterposttlon of the minister of
justice, obtain the. restitution of their
civil rights at the expiration of their sem
tences.
mitted within the last Is years. who have
unidentified, will no longer be
subject to prosecution, while political Of
may apply to the minister OF the interior
for permission to return to Russia.
The manifesto concludes:
Given at Peterhof on this the eleventh
day of August, 1904.
The date of the manifesto. August
II, is the old, or Julian style, coincid-
ing with August "a, of the new, or
Gregorian style.
The Christening.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 24.-The
christening of the heir to the Russian
throne took place this morning at the
church of the Peterhof palace with
ceremonies. A procession
of gilded coaches accompanied the in
FAINT prince from the Alexandra villa
to the church. After the metropolitan
of ST. Petersburg had administered
the sacrament to the heir the en-
peror invested the latter with the in
thereafter the ringing of
church bells and the firing of salute |
of 101 guns announced the compile |
ton of the ceremony.
Both Peterhof and ST. Petersburg |
are lavishly decorated. There will be |
tonight.
The empress left her bed yesterday |
for the first time since the birth of her
son. Both she and the infant are in |
excellent health. The heir weighs about |
l01a pounds.
A Number of Promotions.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 24.-An impe- |
rial autograph letter was also pub
ished today, making a number of
promotions and comforting decorations
On the occasion of the baptism of the
heir to the throne, including the be-
stowal on NJ. Witt, president of the /
council of ministers, the order of the /
White Eagle; on Foreign Minister
the St Alexander Nevsky
order in brilliants and on Minister of
Justice Muravieff and M. Vermoloff,
The minister of agriculture, the ST.
A AIexander Nevsky order.
Prince Hilkoff. the minister of rail-
-oads is appointed a secretary of state.
An imperial order of the day di-
-ects that the Finnish military dis
rict be abolished as a distinctive dis
rict and that it be merged in the
st. Petersburg district.
Special acts of grace to the army
md navy, similar to those enumerated
n the manifesto are also announced.
$4,000 Vote to Strike.
New York, Aug. 24.-Nearly $4,000
will be added to the 10000 strikers
nd locked out workmen in the build