The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-03-27
MILD BUT DIGNIFIED.
The Lasker Resolutions Again Before
the National House Of Rep.
resentatives.
Bismarck's Acts Discussed, Ourtin's Reso.
lutions Adopted, and the German
Liberals Thanked.
tAsepctaicd Press Rcport ,

Liberals Thanked.
fAseociatcd Press Rcport1
As soon ns the members were In their seats
| Mr.. Curtin, Chairman Of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, submitted Ms privileged
question the report OF thu committee. This
declares TINT the original resolution was In
tended as mark of sympathy for distin-
Rushcd man who had died In this country.
While tho committee was OF the opinion that
tho resolution should have been re-
ceived in the proper spirit, yet 1t
would refrain from crticising the
in regard to them. rho dirniflcd position Of
the Deparmcnt of State fully sustained the
high character tho department had main
tanned since the organization OF the Federal
Government. AZ 10 the resolutions offered
March 10, the committee was Of tho opinion
that they contained language not necessary
or proper 10 vindicatc the character or dig
nifty Of the House. Therefore they would re.
port the following resolution as substitute:
Resolred, That the resolutions referring to
the death OF Dr. Edouard Laskcr, adopted by
this House on Jan. last. were intended as .
tribute of respect TO the memory of an eminent
statesman who had died In the United states;
people for whom he had been an honored rep
Resoired, That the House, having no Official
concern with the relations between the execu-
tive and legislative branches OF the German
Government, does not deem IL requisite to it,
dignity to criticise the manner OF the reception
Of the resolutions or the circumstances which
prevented their reaching their destination after
they had been communi atcd through the
proper channels to the German Government.
Mr.. Curtin then moved the previous gues.
ton. Mr.. Reagan said he hoped this would
not be done, ms tho House had aircady made
apolo2ies enough for being insulted. Mr..
Cox, OF New York, moved to lay the matter
on the table, ms the best way TO treat the Ger
man Chancellor, but this motion was loet-S3
to l25. The previous question having been
ordered, Mr.. Gchiltree rose to debate tho
resolution. He declared that this affair had
gone beyond the domain of red tape and
circnmlocution and had assumed phase
which called upon each Representative to
preserve his own honor and dignity. 1t was
not becoming the honor and dignity OF tho
House to explain the meaning Of the original
resolutions. They spoke for themselves. The
apolaR, tie tone of the pending resolutions
was unworthy tho representatives OF this
great nation. The compliment to Laskcr had
been n rebukc 10 the German Chancellor be.
cause the men were the antithesis Of each
other. The Chancellor had ever been syco-
phnnt to royalty. had never upheld the rights
of the poo lc. and never lost an opportunity
10 dcnouncc popular sovereignty. Mr.. Bel
ford inquired ironically whether II would be
III ID ucF I'D OECr RESOLUTION JTcNeHJluK IuC
apol, gies of the House TO the German Chan
.clor for having troubled him, but WAS told
IL would not.
Mr. Phelps, the second speaker. said that
this matter Ind tccome Of grave conse-
quence. As the committee had unanimously
agreed in their report. 1t would seem that
there ought 10 be an explanation. The rcso-
buttons were passed unanimously Jan. =, just
u the members were preparing TO ad .ourn.
lea days later the House was startled by the
inform alton that the Chancellor had refused
to accept them. The members then looked up
the record TO sec what they had done. They
found that they had expressed regret Mt the
death Of Iasker, and alsa the belief that his
Tree and liberal sentiments had advanced
the interests of his ountry. Both were true,
but the last one the House cAuld not report
1t had no right to send out in opinion that
his political work had hcncfted Germany.
There was no refuge. The House would re-
sent the fact that its friendly sentiments had
been rejected, but II could not resent the fact
that its political Z. ntimcnfs had leon sent
back because IL had no business to put them
on the same paper.
Mr.. Curtin reviewed ana defended the
features OF the report. and the resolutions
were adopted without division, though an
unsuccessful eiort was made TO have the
yeas and nays ordered. Mr.. Curtin then
presented report concerning the memorial
of the Literal Union of the German Parlia-
ment TX ressing II dc sire for Il closer union of
tie two nations. and an appreciation of the
action of the llous". Resolutions were pre-
scented reciprot ating the wishes Of the Liberal
tnon OF Germany, aeccI ng the resolutions.
and directing that they should be spread on
the journal. Mr.. Cox thought the House
was trying to show its thanks TO ono pr.
ton If the Reichstag after ing been
thoroughly insnlted by the blood and-iron
Minister. by So doing it was complicating
matters In such n way rs to lose ail dignity
aud nlt,ek. Iip had fin yprqd the rcSnitl.
ton of Mr.. Hiscock, which was digniiicd and
consistent, but the HO,lse preferred 10 make
and democracy n farce or un-
dignifcd bur o merry. TIE people Of Ger
many we're in accord with those OF this
country, and he believed that some day there
would lie an uprising of the liberty-loving
TeutOns.
Mr. Brumm said that the House was trying
TO carry water TN both shoulders. Dignity
was, in his Judgment. honorable, heroic
ard. simIl because Chancellor
might say the rules of etiquette had
not been strictly followed. Mr.. Deus
ter commended the action of the De-
partmcnt of State, and declared that Bis
marck's hasty action would prove unfortunate
only for him. Mr.. Phelps Closed the debate.
He claimed that the letter sent by Bismarck
TO the German Minister in Washington, In
which he had expressed his cordial regard
for the American people and Willingness TO
transmit the resolutions II they had not eN-
pressed a political opinion, was an ample
apology. Thanks to bismarck. to FEELING
huyscn and his skill, and to the TOM
mit.cc on Foreign Affairs. the dignity Of the
House had been saved. The German Chan.
celor had entered the Ecehstag for the first
time in eighteen months, in order to play tho
new role OF an apologist; the gentleman from
Texas had seen his fame grow from the con-
fines of his State To the circumference of the
world; all had been satisfactorily ended, and
the members had the right TO ring down the
curtain on this international episode. The
resolutions were then adopted without q d.