The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-07

partment looking 70 the making Of brib-
cry an extraditable ofrense with foreign
powers. The need OF more effective trea-
ties covering this crime Is manifest The
exposures and prosecutions OF official cor
ruption in St Louis. Mo. and other cities
and states have resulted In a number OF
givers and takers OF bribes becoming fu-
gitives in foreign lands. Bribery has not
been included in extradition treaties here
tofore. as the necessity for IL has not
arisen. While there may have been as
much official corruption In former years.
there has been more developed and
brought 10 light in the immediate past
than In the preceding century OF our
country's history. Ii should be the policy
OF the United States to leave no place on
earth where a corrupt man fleeing from
ms country CHI rest IN peace. f'here is
no reason why bribery should not be in
cluded in all treaties as extraditable. The
recent amended treaty with Mexico.
whereby this crime was put I'm the list
OF extraditable offenses has established
salutary precedent In this regard Under
this treaty the state department has
asked, and Mexico has granted, the ex-
tradition OF one OF the st. Louis bribe
givers.
There can be no crime more serious
than bribery. other offenses violate one
law while corruption strikes at the foun-
dation 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 reposed, who sells IL for his own
gain and enrichment and no less heavy
is the offense of the bribe giver. He Is
worse than the thief, for the thief robs
| the individual. while the corrupt official
plumbers an entire city or state. He is
as wicked as the murderer. for the muir
derer may only take one life against the
law, while the corrupt official and the
man who corrupts the official alike aim
at the assassination OF the commonwealth
itself. Government OF the people. by the
people, for the people viii perish from the
/ face OF the earth IL bribery Is tolerated.
/ The givers and takers OF bribes stand on
an evil prominence OF infamy. The ex-
/ posture and punishment OF public corrup-
/ tion is an honor to a nation, not dis
| grace. The shame lies I'm liberation, not
/ i'm correction. No city OF state, still less
the nation. can be injured by the en-
forcement OF law. AS long as public
| plunderers when detected can find a
haven oferefuge in any foreign land and
avoid punishment, just so long encour-
! agement is given them to continue their
practices. If we fail TO do all that in
us lies to stamp out corruption we can
not escape our share OF responsibility for
the guilt The first requisite OF success
full elf-government is unflinching en-
forcement OF the law and the cutting out
of corruption.
ALASKAN BOUNDARY.
For several years past the rapid devel-
opment Of Alaska and the establishment
I, OF growing American interests in regions
| heretofore unsuveyed and imperfectly
known brought into prominence the ur-
! gent necessity of n practical demarcation
Of the boundaries between the turisdic-
! tions of the United States and Great
Britain. Although the treaty of 1926 be-
tween Great Britain and Russia, the pro-
visions OF which were copied I'm the
| treaty OF 1867. whereby Russia conveyed
| Alaska 10 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 mainland
| from the western shore of Portland canal
TO Mount st. Elias. following and sur
rounding the indentations OF the coast
and including the islands to the west
ward. it's description of the landward
margin Of the strip was indefinite. rest
| ing on the supposed existence of n con-
| tinuous ridge or range OF mountains
skirting the coast; as figured in the charts
OF the early navigators. II had al no time
been possible for either party In interest
to lay down. under the authority of the
| treaty n line so obviously exact accord
! ing to It's provisions as 10 command the
assent OF the other.
For nearly three-fourths OF a century
the absence Of tangible local interests de-
| mandng the exercise OF positive juris-
diction on either side of the border left
! the question dormant. In 1873 questions
OF revenue administration on the Stikine
| river led TO the establishment Of n pro-
visional demarcation. crossing the channel
] between two high pealSsl on either side
about twenty-four miles above the river
mouth. In 1899 similar questions grow
ing out OF the extraordinary development
OF mining interests In the region about
| the head of Lynn canal brought about a
| temporary modus vivendi. by which a
convenient separation MAS -raada-at-thl
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, I'm the
very nature OF things. be satisfactory or
lasting. A permanent disposition of the
matter became imperative.
| After unavailing attempts 10 reach an
| understanding through n joint high com
mission. followed by prolonged Anegotia-
tions. conducted I'm an amicable spirit. a
convention between the United States and
| Great Britain was signed January "a
subject by mixed tribunal OF six mem
bers three on a side. with view to its
final disposition. Ratincations were ex-
changed on March 3 last. whereupon the
two governments appointed their re-
spective members. Those on behalf OF the
United States were Elihu Root. secretary
OF war. Henry Cabot Lodge, senator OF
the United States. and George Turner. an
ex-senator OF the United states. while
Great Britain named the Right Honour
able Lord Alverstone. lord chief justice
OF England. Sir Louis Amable Jette. X.
G. NJ. O.. retired judge OF the supreme
court OF Quebec and A. b.. Aylesworth,
X c.. OF Toronto. The tribunal met in
London on September 3. under the presi-
dency OF Lord Alverstone. The proceed
ings we're expeditions. and marked by a
friendly and conscientious spirit. The re-
spective cases. counter cases. and argu-
ments presented the issues clearly and
fully.
on the 26th OF October n majority OF
the tribunal reached and signed an agree