Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-24
BENEFITS To RUSSIA
Liberal Concessions Made bv
the Gar.
AMNESTY FOR FINNS
GIVEN ON OCCASION OF HIS
HEIRS CHRISTENING.
Abolition of Corporal Punishment of
the Rural Classes-Arrears of
Land Purchases RENTED.

81. PETERSBURG, August 2i.-The car
Today issued a long manifesto on the occa-
sion OF the christening of the heir to the
throne.
Inc date OF the manifesto, August II, is
the Old or Julian STYLE coinciding with
August "a, of the new or Gregorian style.
The manifesto is exceedingly liberal in
the benefits to be bestowed on many classes.
Inc amelioration of the conditions which
prevail in Finland are more extensive
than had been expected and include the
establishment of a state land fund am
nesty for various offenses remission of
penalties inflicted for noncompliance with
the conscr1ption acts and for emigration
without permission.
The manifesto is introduced in the fol-
lowing message to the people:
by the will of God, we. tho Czar ard
autocrat of all the Russias, Car of Poland.
Grand Duke of Finland, etc announce to
our faithful subjects that on this the
christening day of our son and heir the
Gland Duke Alexis Nfcholaevitch, follow
ing the promptings of our heart turn to
our great family of the empire and with
the deepest and most heartfelt pleasure
even amidst these times of national strug-
gle and difficulty, bestow upon them some
gifts of our royal favor for their greater
enjoyment of their daily lives
Corporal Punishment Abolished.
The various benefits bestowed on MANY
classes are then enumerated at length One
OF the most important provisions relates to
the eh'ire abolition of corporal punishment
among the rural classes and its curtail-
ment In the army and navy.
Ihe manifesto RENTS land n,,rcb.sa or
Iedis, Whlch affects one of the largest class
81 OF the population throughout the eu
& p,e ana us benefits are also extended to
The general provisions of the manifesto in
clude an all-round reduction in sentences for
common law offenses, a general amnesty
Ior poHtlcaI offeEses, except In cases of
urder, and the education of the children
or of1eers and soldiers who have been VIC
TINS OF the war, as well as assistance for
such families as need it whose bread-win-
hers nave fallen in the service of their
country.
Concessions to Finland.
The sum of 81, ,5o0, COO is set apart from the
state fund for, the benefit of landless peo-
pie of Finland
All fines imposed on 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 remitted.
Permission is granted to Firms who have
left their country without the sanction OF
the authorities to return within a year
Those returning who are liable to military
service must Immediately present them
selves for service. but Firms who have
evaded military service will not be pun
ished, provided they present themselves
within three months of the birth of the
heir to the throne.
Certain classes of offenses excluding
theft, violent robbery and embeZzlement,
are pardoned. and the governor general 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 Jewish communes
in the case of Jews avoiding military serv-
ice remitted.
Clemency to Those in Prison.
Persons arrested for offenses punishable
by fines Imprisonment or confinement in
a fortress without loss of civil rights and
who were still awaiting sentence at the
time of the birth of the heir to the throne
are pardoned.
Political prisoners who have distinguished
themselves by good conduct may, on the
interpositon of the minister of justice OBJ
tain the restitution of their civil rights at
the expiration of their sentences
Persons guilty of political offenses COM
mitted 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 minister of the interior
for permission to return to Russia
The manifesto ends:
Given at Peterhof on this the eleventh
day of August 1901.
(signe0 NICHOLAS"
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