The San Francisco call., 1903-12-08
Bribery Strikes
LdW'S Foundation
Exposure and Punishment
of Public Corruption Is an
Honor to Nation, and Not
a Disgrace, Says President

There can be no crime more serious than
bribery. Other offenses violate one law while
corruption strikes at the foundation of all law
Under our form of government all authority is
vested in the people and by them delegated 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 re-
posed who sells IL for his own gain and enrich
ment; and no less heavy is the offense Of the
bribe- giyer- He is worse than the thief. for
the thief robs the Individual while the corrupt
official plumbers entire city or State He
is as wicked as the murderer, for the murderer
may only take one life against the law while
the corrupt official and the man who
ccrrupts the official alike aim at the
assassination Of the commonwealth it
the people. for the people will perish from the
face of the earth If bribery is tolerated. The
givers and takers of bribes stand on an evil
pre- eninence of nfamy. The exposure and
punishment of public corruption is an honor
to a nation. not a disgrace. The shame lies
in federation, not in corruption No city or
State, still less the nation, can be injured by
the enforcement Of law. AS long as public
plunderers when detected can find haven of
refuge in any foreign land and avoid punish
ment, just so long announcement is given them
to continue their practices II We fail TO do
all that in us lies to stamp out corruption we
cannot escape our share of responsibility for
the guilt. The first requisite of successful self
government is unfiinching enforcement of the
law and the cutting out OF corruption.
For several years past the rapid develop
ment of Alaska and the establishment OF grow
ing American interests In regions Heretofore
unsurveyed and imperfectly known brought into
prominence the urgent necessity, cf a practical
demarcation of the boundaries between the
jurisdictions of the United States End Great
Britain Although the treaty Of 1925 between
Great Britain and Russia, the provisions os
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 territory along the continental main
land from the western shore of Portland canal
to Mount ST. Elias following and surrounding
iDdentatiOQS coast and
islands to the westward. its description of the
landward margin of the strip was indefinite,
resting on the supposed existence OF continu-
ous ridge or range Of mountains skirting the
coast. as figured in the charts of the early
navigators. 1t had at no time been possible
for either party in interest to lay down, under
the authority of the treaty, a line so obviously
exact according to its provisions as TO COM
mand the assent of the other.
For nearly three-fourths of a century the
absence of tangible local interests demanding
the exercise OF positive jurisdiction on either
side of the border left the question dormant.
In 1878 questions of revenue administration on
the S.ikine River led to the establishment of
a provisional demarcation, crossing the channel
between two high peaks on either side about
twenty-four miles above the river mouth In
1899 similar questions growing out of the
extraordinary development of mining interests
in the region about the head of Lynn canal
brought about a temporary modus vivendis by
which a convenient separation was made at
the watershed divides OF the White and Chill
koot passes and to the north of Klukwan. on
the Klehini River. These partial and tentative
adjustments could not in the nature of
things. be satisfactory lasting. perma-
nent disposition of the matter became i'm
peratiye.
After unavailing attempts to reach under
standing through a Joint High Commission,
followed by prolonged negotiations, conducted
In an amicable spirit, convention between the
United States and Great Britain was signed
January "a. 1908. providing for examination
of the subject by a mixed tribunal of six mem
bers, three side, with view to its final
disposition. Ratifications were exchanged on
March last, whereupon the two Governments
appointed their respective members. Those on