The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-24
CORRUPTION OF CANADIAN Of
F1ClAlA

FIClALA
The Canadian Officials ara no longer
able TO escape from the responsibility
Of instituting IN inquiry into the
charges made against the Officials at
Dawson Fer q long time the gold
commissioner Of the Yukon has been
able 10 stare OF inquiry By represent
Ing TO the Canadian minister OF the in
terror that the complaints we're made
by Americans who had failed to realize
their expectations and were merely
venting their spleen upon the officials.
When. however. the London Times
took the matter up and Published
sta;ernen. by its special correspondent
q. Dawson the matter assumed = more
serious aspect Nothing that had ap-
peared In American newspapers was
equal to the scathing criticism passed
Honorable Clifford Sifton cAbled Lord
Strathcona. the Canadian high COM
missioner in London, requesting him
10 contradict some OF the statements,
but the Times replied with such details
that the Toronto Globe took the matter
UP and insisted upon m investigation
of the most searching character. This
has been prefaced By . change In the
principal officials. and . special COM
missioner viii probably be designated
to make q thorough inquiry. The ex.
cuse that only Americans hava found
fault with the conduct Of affairs is rem
dered worthless by the fact that an In
dignasion meeting, consisting entirely
OF Canadians and other British SUBJ
jects. was called at Dawson for the
purpose Of arranging to send a repre-
sentative to Ottawa to set forth In de-
tail the wrongs which, according to
the resolutions adopted. have black
ened the name Of Dawson and Canadian
justice. and driven thousands OF hon.
est miners out Of that country
The Post-Inseliigencer made its own
Investigation through a special corre-
spondent On the ground. who cautiously
but thoroughly investigated the griev-
ances OK the miners for himself. The re-
suits have been published from time
TO time and letters have been received
from private persons indorsing every
thing tina, has been said and giving
names and details. which leave no doubt
whatever OF the seriousness Of the COM
plants. amounting in many cases TO
barefaced blackmau and corruption on
the part OF officers.
The friends Of Commissioner Fawcett
est, but 1t is manifest that he has taken
very lenient view Of the acts OF his
subordinates, who have been encour-
aged thereby to institute reign OF ter
ror among the prospectors. There is
too much reason to believe that the Of
fcials intimidated those who COM
planned by threatening vengeance il
they persisted In demanding investi-
CATION Of the wrongs TO which they had
been subjected.
The Yukon officials have wrought
immense mischief in the district. The
legal imposisions We're sufficiently oner-
Gus to check enterprise and retard the
development of the district, but in ad-
dition to this the prospectors have been
subjected to petty annoyaaees. to un-
lawful exactions. and even TO a de-
prval Of rights which were guaranteed
TO them by the law. Now that public
sentiment has been aroused. both IN
England and Canada, there is reason
TO hope that thorough reform may be
instituted, and that both Canadian and
American prospectors may be enabled
to enjoy the fruits Of their Industry and
their enterprise. The natural difficult
ties Of prospecting for gold are SUI
fcient 80 discourage the most hardy.
and wise policy would have dictated
that every inducemen: should have
been held out 10 them and every pro-
ieetlon afforded them In their sr1uous
Undertaking.