Extradition of Dynamiters.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 202, 28 August 1886, Page 2

Extradition of Dynamiters.

By the new extradition treaty betweon Great Britain and Americi, the final

ratification of which is confidently ex pected, the foul crimo of tho dynamiter is clearly and specifically removed from tho

region of political offences, and vory

I properly classed with such heinous outrages as murdor, arson, manslaughter, etc. Tho fear, of course, has been that Irish political influenco in America, . which is very strong, might be exerted against the inclusion of tho clauso referring to dynamito and kindred outroges. This fear may, however, be dismissod, sinco it is based upon tho groundless assumption that most Irish - i Americans belong to tho " dynamito party," whereas only a few of tho disreputable ordor sympathise with tho detestable tactics of O'Donovan Rossa and his frionds. As Mr Justin McCarthy remarked in a rocont letter—" Dynamitards are not popular among Irishmen. They havo dono tho Homo Rulors moro harm than any other factor has, and wo should be glad to see them suppressed." Some of the London papers havo oxpreesod dissatis- ; faction because the troaty docs not provide means for thesupprcssion in America of dynamito conspiracies against England. But it is evident that in asking this, such journals as the " Standard " show a dense ignorance of the principles of international law. It would be shocking to the sense of justice if an offence committed in one country might be dealt with by tho Courts jf another. The object of extradition is to deliver up to a country its own criminals or accused criminals, and it is plain that those who plot outrages o^ainet English property in the United States commit no offence against English law. The way to reach acd punish those diabolical wretches is for American domentic legislation to declare it a crime against tho law of the land to conspire against the lifo or proporty of people in other countries, Tho English criminal code would stand amending in the same direction, for it is notorious , that malcontents of every nationality find a safe asylum on British soil, whero they can safely hatch their murderous schemes against their rulers and public men. That United States citizens are willing to pa.a a law for the surrender oven of the plotters of mischief on American soil is proved by the fact that the "New York Times" lately declared that the new treaty '"must deal with a class of offences against the British Government and British subjects which have hitherto been committed on our soil." The "Times," boing a Government organ, may be accepted as expressing the view of the President and his Ministers on this important question. The treaty, as it stands, will do much to draw England and the United States into closer bonds of friendship, by removing what threatened to cause unpleasantness—the sanctuary which America offered to the worst class of Irish criminals. Great interest has been manifested in London in the negotiation of the troaty, and the text of the alterations was published in all the papors. In an article on the subjoct the " Pall Mall Gazette" said the treaty was a great triumph for the Homo Rulo Cabinet, and expressed the opinion that tho United States will not extend to persons committing dynamito outrages the exemption granted to political offenders. American opinion is that the treaty expressly places dynamifern beyond the protection accorded to political offenders,