New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-12
AMERICAN DIPLOMACY.

Mr.. Frclinghuysen has closed the correspond
ence about ;he Laskcr resolution with caustic
review of the case, which Minister Sargent is
instructed 10 present to the German Minister
for Foreign Affairs. This letter seems to us
unfortunate in form. If Americans had not
ceased TO take any interest in the Lasker
episode, anything like spirited demonstration
on the part of an inert State Department would
be welcomed. As it is the irascble Chancol-
lor's temper will not be improved by the curt
phrases Of this letter, especially as his own COM
| municati0ns have been exceedingly courteous
in form. His refusal to deliver the memorial to
the Rcchstag may have recn an affrOnt to
American legislators, but in his dealings with
the State Department he has been neither
offensive nor even discourteous. He has
frankly expressed his regret at being forced
to do what lac has done
The resolution offered by Mr.. Hiscocl in the
House not only reitcrates the sentiments cx-
pressed in the original memorial, but refers
with unnecessary vehcmcncc TO the ChanccllOr's
action, Office and political influence. We hope
that this resolution will never leave the Com
mittec of Foreign Affairs, and that 10 attempt
will be made to reopen the subject in the
House. The passage of this, or Of any other
resolution, would only work mischief and impair
the reputation of the American Government
abroad. The legislators and people of the
Fathcrland can decide for themselves whether
the Laskcr resolution has been arbitrarily in
tercepted by a person how holding the posi-
ton of Chancellor" and whether " a single too
powerful subject" is detracting "from the
position and prestige Of the Crown and from
the rights OF the manufactures of the people,
These matters do not concern the House of
Representatives,.
Such a resolution If passed cannot be printed
in Germany, much less laid before either the
Chancellor or the Reichstag. 1t is curious
and instructive fact that the press there has not
vcnturcd to reproduce without eXcisiOn the
comments Of the Ncw-Yor journals on the
Laskcr incident. For example, the Frdabtarter
lei aHg of February 23 attempts to copy pas
sage from an editorial of The TRIBUNE, but
closes with ii long dash, explaining in paren-
thesis that the blank if filed out would involve
arrest and imprisonment for two months. The
sentence which could not be reprinted in the
Fatherland was this: 4" The best answer to the
ChancellOrs curt message is silence this is at
once dignled and contcmptuousr 1t was
W suppress llIc NDlu COUltUlpI
uous." In like manner quotations from other
New-YOrk journals are broken up with hiatuscs,
accompanied by such parenthetical comments
as these three months" "here it is matter
of years -; some month"
The savage attack made on Monday by Bis
marck's chief organ upon Mr.. Sargent fully
cOrrObOrates the view already expressed in
,hcsc columns respecting the responsibility of
Mr.. Frelinghuysen for the American Minister'S
mpOpularity in Berlin. The State Department.
by it's indiscretiOn and folly in publishing
confidential communications intended only Tor
is own information, placed Mr.. Sargent in
most embarrassing position and excited Bis
narck's implacablo hostility. The Berlin cor
respondent of The LOndoR. Times attributes the
insulting language now used by the official
ircss TO the publication of tho American Min |
stei's report on the exclusion Of swine prod
lcts. The State Department, having discred- |
ted It's agent III advance now leaves him 10 |
ireaGt stnrm nf ablnnuv. insnlt aud dafain. |