Bismarck daily tribune., 1903-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Continued from Page 1.)

Continued from Page 1.)
TO those who represent them in official
capacity There can be no offense
heavier than that of him in whom such
a sacred trust has been reposed who
sells il for his own gain and enrich
mcnt. and no less heavy is the offense
of the bribe giver. He is worse than
the thief, for the thief robs the indi-
vidual while the corrupt official plum
dcrs an entire city or state He is as
wicked as the murderer. for the mur-
dcrer may only take one life against
the law. while the corrupt official and
the man who corrupts the official alike
aim ut the aSSa SSination of the common.
wealth itself. Government of the pco-
pie. Icy the people. for the people will
perish from the face of the earth if
bribery is tolerated. The giyers and
takers Of bribes stand on an evil pre-
eminence of infamy
Punishment Of Public Corruption.
The exposure and punishment of
public corruption is an honor TO "A ma
in liberation. not in correction. No city
or state, still less the nation, can he
injured by the enforcement of law. As
long as public plunderers when detect
ed can find a haven of refuge in any
foreign land and avoid punishment.
just so long encouragement is given
them to continue their practices If
we fail to do all that in us lies to
stamp out corruption we cannot cs-
cape our share Of responsibility for the
guilt. The first requisite of successful
self government is unhinching enforce
ment of the law and the cutting out of
corruption.
For several years past the rapid de-
velopment of Alaska and the establish
ment of growing American interests in
regions heretofore unsurveyed and
imperfectly known brought into prom
inence the urgent necessity of prac-
teal demarcation of the boundaries be
tween the Jurisdictions of the United
States and Great Britain. Although
the treaty of lS2o between Great Brit
ain ant Russia. the provisions of which
were copied in the treaty of 1867
whereby Russia conveyed Alaska to
the United States. was positive as to
the control. first by Russia and later
by the United States. OF a strip of ter
ritory along the continental mainland
from the western shore of Portland
canal to Mount ST Elias. following
and surrounding the indentations of
the coast and including the islands to
the westward, its description of the
landward margin of the strip was in
definite, resting on the supposed eX-
istence of u continuous ridge or range
OF mountains skirting the coast, as
figured in the charts of the early navi
gators. 1t had at no time been posi-
bic for either party in interest to lay
down. under the authority of the trea
ty, line so obviously exact according
to its provisions as to command the
assent Of the other. For nearly three
fOurthS of century the absence of
tangible local interests demanding the
exercise of positive jurisdiction on Ell
ther side Of the border left the question
dormant. In 1873 questions of reve-
nue. administration on the Stikine river
led to the establishment of ii provision
al dcmarcation, crossing the channel
between two high peaks on either side
about twenty four miles above the riy
er mouth In 1899 similar questions
growing out of the extraordinary de
velopment of mining interests in the
region about the head of Lynn canal
brought about a temporary modus vi
vendi by which convenient separa
ton was made at the watershed di-
vides of the White and Chilkoot passes
and to the north of Klukwan, on the
Klehini river. These partial and tenta
tive adjustments could not, in the very
nature of things, be satisfactory or
lasting. A permanent disposition of
the matter became imperative.
Alaskan Boundary.
After unavailing attempts to reach
an understanding through 4 joint high
commission. followed by prolonged ne
gOtiations conducted in an amicable
spirit q convention between the United
States and Great Britain was signed
Jan "a. 1908, providing for an examina-
ton of the subject by ii mixed tribunal
of six members, three on a side. with Il
view to it's final disposition. Ratiica-
tons We're exchanged on March last.
whereupon the two governments APP
pointed their respective members. Those
on behalf of the United States We're
Elihu Root. secretary of war; Henry
Cabot Lodge, Il senator of the United
States. and George Turner. an eX-Sena-
tor of the United States, while Great
Britain named the Right Hon. Lord
Alverstone, lord chief justice of Eng
land Sir Louis Amable Jette. X. {. NJ
g.. retired judge of the supreme court
of Quebec. and A. B. Aylesworth *
c., of Toronto, This tribunal met III
London on Sept. 3 under the presidency
of Lord Alverstone. The proceedings
were expeditions and marked by a
friendly and conscientious spirit. The
respective cases, counter cases and ar
guments presented the issues clearly
and fully On the Goth of October Il