As Finns near and around Helsingfors were peacefully protesting it was not known why and perhaps it would just pass, although, military forces were prepared in case of a revolt. Nothing happened other than a more organized protest and resistance being established where many more actions were taken against Sweden. Skattevägrare, tax resistance, was the end point and was unacceptable; civil disobedience had reached an all time high from the Finns in the Helsingfors region. As soon as the news reached Stockholm it was ordered that 70 policemen would be sent to the region to restore order. The police would first try and just disperse the Finns wherever they were protesting in groups, take down the crude red flags that clad the Helsingfors town centre (that was replaced either way a couple times a day by a military patrol from Sveaborg) and restore order. Fines of between 80 Öre to 2 Kr 60 Öre would be handed to those Finns who were actively blocking major roadways, depending on how difficult it was to remove the obstacles. And for those who actively continued to refuse to pay taxes even with the presence of the additional 70 officers, the police would accompany tax collectors to arrest a handful of Finns to put them on trial.

It wasn’t expected that the arrested would receive long sentences depending on the severity of their involvement, but it was hoped that it would deter protesters from continuing. The refusal to pay taxes had brought both schools and poor care to its knees since these institutions were organized and paid for by local councils for each parish.

Since the officers in Finland already was on alert still because of the disobedience they were prepared still for an uprising even if it was mostly just the Helsingfors region that was protesting. Especially the armed forces stationed at Sveaborg were prepared to send out a cavalry charge. But it was ordered by king Oscar that they were to act with similar tactful force as had been used in Stockholm were the people to rise, but the king simply hoped that a larger police force in the region would be able to restore order.