The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-09-26
EXtraditiOn.

tDl" I'M possible, HIS ncAb COHlSc Is W
seek shelter where the law will not
reach him. He knows that he is not
usually 50 safe in his own country as
he would be in foreign one. Hence
we see criminals like Tweed and Wins
low, fastening to find refuge il dis
tant land.
1t is not for the welfare Of mankind,
however, that ono who has committed
an offence AGAINST his own community
shoulJ he secure the moment he has
placed himself in another community,
against whom he has committed no Of
fence. \ crimo may be said to be real
~ aimed against the good order Of So
cioty everywhere; and it is for the in
tercst of each country that it should
not become the asylum OF foreign Grim
inals.
These considerations have given rise
to treaties between almost all civilized
nations, called "cXtradition treaties"
Extradition means the act of returning
II criminal who has escaped from his
own country into another, to the former,
so that he may be dealt with according
to the laws which he has violated.
For instance, if a man commits for
gerry in New York, and flies to England,
our Government demands of that of
England that nc shall be arrested, and
that after prjD1a .fdcie case has been
found against him, that is, after proof
has been offered that there is reason to
believe that he has committed the for
gerry, he shall be delivered to our Off
GERS, to be by them brought back to
New York and tried.
The extradition treaties between two
countries always contain a list OF the
crimes and offences to which the right
of demanding the return of criminals
applies. Some countries only agree 10
return to others persons accused OF
murder; others extend the list to forge
ry, perjury, endorsement; others still
further, to swindlers, confidence men,
burglars and common thieves.
There is one class of offences, more
over, which are very seldom subjects
of eXtradition; they are what are called
"political crimes Neither the United
States, England, Belgium nor Switzer-
land will arrest and return man guilty
of high treason, rebellion, or other
purely political offence to the country
against which he has acted.
The men who were prescribed by Ma
poleon Ill, i'll France, after his violent
seizure of power, men like Victor HUI
go. Louis Blanc, and Ledru Rollin, ac-
cused of being political offenders
found II secure refuge on English soil;
nor could the Emperor, close as was
his alliance with the English Govern
ment, persuade it to send these politi-
al ,f Ia /
tory.
1t is probable that ere long an clect-
i've eXtradition treaty will be concluded
between Great Britain and this country.
The one which now exists is far from
being effective. Several years ago. the
Boston forgcr Winslow, was demanded
of the English Government, he having
fled to that country. He was arrested
and went through Il preliminary trial
in London. and his crime was proved.
But the English had national law
that no man should be "cXtradited"
unless the country which demanded
his return promised that he should not
be tried for any other crime than that
upon which his restoration was sought,
We could not promise this in regard
to WlnslOW, and he was therefore re-
leased, and left u roam ut will.
The new treaty will, without doubt,
remedy this imperfcction. 1t is of the
greatest importance. Tor several reasons.
that the United States should have us
broad an agreement as possible with
England in regard to ;homutual return
of criminals.
Living Just on orr borders is the
English possession OF the Cauala,. 1t
is very easy for indicator 10 cross
the line: and if he is safe from arrest in
-