Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-12-08
"[VERY MAN MUST Be GUARANTEED HIS LIBERTY"
Demands That Interests Capital and Labor Shall Harmonze With N
terests Of the Public. The Post Office Frauds Panama
Course Justified. Better Land Laws

state Of affairs in the due enforcement
of the laws Of the United States re
lating to public lands and the laws re
lating to postal crimes and offenses
and the subject Of naturalization. Re
cent Investigations have shown a de-
plorable state Of affairs In these three
matters of vital concern. by various
frauds and by forgeries and perjuries,
thousands Of acres Of the public de-
main, embracing lands Of different
character and extending through var
ious sections Of the country. have been
dishonesty acquired. II Ii hardly nee
essary to urge the Importance OF re-
covering these dishonest acquisitions,
stolen from the people, and OF prompt-
ly and duly Furnishing the Offenders.
II speak In another part Of this mes
sage Of the widespread crimes by
which the sacred right of citizenship
Is falsely asserted and that sinestim-
able heritage" perverted to base ends.
BY similar means-that Is, through
frauds. forgeries. and perjuries. and by
shameless briheries-the laws relating
to the proper conduct OF the public
service in general and to the due ad.
ministration OF the postofiice depart
ment have been notoriously violated
/ and many indictments have been
!, found and the consequent prosecn'
tions are In course Of hearing or on
-l the eve thereof For the reasons
u thus Indicated, and 80 that the govern
e ment may be prepared To enforce
d promptly and with the greatest effect
Z the due penalties for such violations
"a OF law, and TO this end may be iir
!. nished with sufficient instrumental
Il ties. the competent legal assistance
6 for the investigation and trials which
/. will be necessary at many different
q points Of the country, urge upon thu
il congress the necessity Of making ~
said appropriation available for immo
n diate use for all such purposes, 70 y
il expended under the direction Of tn
If attorney.general.'
n The state department has takei
K steps looking to the making Of briberl
y an extraditable offense with foreigi
u powers. while there may have beel
% as much official corruption In forme
le years. there has been more develope'
n and brought to light In the immediat
le past than In the preceding century Q
al our country's history. II should y
re the policy Of the United States z
TO leave no place on earth where col
ne rupt man, fleeing from this countr
ie can rest in peace.
CT "There can be no crime more seriou
er than bribery. Other offenses violat
,r, one law while corruption strikes
re the foundation Of all law. Under ou
We form OF government all authority
ed vested in the people and by them deli
is. gated to those who represent them !
M Official capacity. There can be y
20 offense heavier than that OF him !
re whom such trust has be reposed, VIII
UT sells Il for his own gain and enricl
ment; and no less heavy is the offens
Of the bribe giver. He Is worse tha
-
iot The thief, for the thief robs the ind
he yidual, while the corrupt ofiicial plul
Ise ders an entire city or state. He
m as wicked as the murderer. for u
ly. murderer may only take one life ag
op' inst the law. while the corrupt oflici
an and the man who corrupts the q
Ige cial. alike aim at the assassination
"a the commonwealth Itself. Cover
m ment Of the people. by the people, =
the people, will perish from the IA