Steps have been taken by the State Department looking to the making of bribery an extraditable offense with foreign powers.  The need of more effective treaties covering this crime is manifest.  The exposures and prosecutions of official corruption in St. Louis, Mo., and other cities and States have resulted in a number of givers and takers of bribes becoming fugitives in foreign lands.  Bribery has not been included in extradition treaties heretofore, as the necessity for it has not arisen.  While there may have been as much official corruption in former years, there has been more developed and brought to light in the immediate past than in the preceding century of our country’s history.  It should be the policy of the United States to leave no place on earth where a corrupt man fleeing from this country can rest in peace.  There is no reason why bribery should not be included in all treaties as extraditable.  The recent amended treaty with Mexico, whereby this crime was put in the list of extraditable offenses, has established a salutary precedent in this regard.  Under this treaty the State Department has asked, and Mexico has granted, the extradition 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 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 reposed, who sells it 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 plunders an 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 corrupts the official alike aim at the assassination of the commonwealth itself.  Government of the people, by 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-eminence of infamy.  The exposure and punishment of public corruption is an honor to a nation, not a disgrace.  The shame lies in toleration, not in correction.  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 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 can not escape our share of responsibility for the guilt.  The first requisite of successful self-government is unflinching enforcement of the law and the cutting out of corruption.