New-York tribune., 1884-02-28
Has TIE NA7IoN Any SELF-RESPECTs

HIS TIE NATT0N Any SELF-RESPECTf
This Nation has succeeded in getting itself
snubbed by quite a number of foreign Powers
within the past year or two. Not to speak OF
the extraordinary Lasker resolution and Bis
marck's extraordinary treatment of it, we have
cOntrived to get just what we had invited from
several other Nations, and havemanifested such
gentleness and meekness under reproOf as to
create the impression that We quite
enjoy being the butt of the family. In our
speeches and resolutions, we "gO slOshing
around" as if entirely ready to fight for our
opinions with anybody on any subject, and use
language which the other Nations considered
civilized do not use unless when they mean TO
back it up. But afterwards, having been told
more or less curtly to mind our own business,
we pass over the whole matter as lightly as If
what the United States said was not of the least
account any way. Possibly our present rulers
and lawgivers may enjoy this state of things.
But they should know that it is distasteful
to many of the people,
For instance, our Government made sundry
representations to Great Britain regarding
murderer who was taken in the act of assas-
sinating British subject on a British vessel.
1t was quite appropriate to do this if the United
States had any reason to protect that person
under such circumstances. And, if there was
reason for making any representation what
ever in the matter, there was reason for
resenting to the utmost the cool and
deliberate reply that 1t was none
of our business. But If it really
was none Of our business-if the criminal. by
his open and fragrant violation OF British law
had clearly deprived the United States of all
right to protect him or to have anything to say
about him-did we not subject ourselves to
merited shame by unwarranted and inexcusable
interference Either the Nation was shamedby
its own rulers or it was insulted by Great
Britain. If the latter, lts rulers ought to have
defended its honor. If, by their yielding to the
passions and prejudices of a set OF inhabitants
who boast that they are Irishmen rather than
Americans, these rulers subjected the Nation to
merited snubbing, is it not about time to have
different Tulersf
Our Congress resolved that the course OF
Iasker, in hostility to the present Government
of Germany, had been wise and patriotic. This
opinion we had right to hold and to express.
But we then proceeded officially to thrust that
opinion before the Government which Lasker
had opposed. Is it good manners to thrust into
your neighbours house your written opinion of
the latest controversy between him and his
wife What reason could there be for officially
to the German Government our
opinion that its opponents were the true
patltots unless to insult it If in return we arc
that Germany ought to be supposed
10 know AS much about its own affairs as we do,
what is there to be said except that VIC invited
a kicking}
China formally notifies this country that its
Government really is not anxious TO ship Its
citizens to our shores, and, though we once
stipulated by solemn treaty that they might
come if they chose, China does not propose any
longer to act under treaty which we are
considered to have broken. The refined
courtesy of the language, from so-called
semi-civiized TO a so-called civilized Nation |
does not make tho contemptuous thrust less |
keen. But what can we do about it We have |
made a treaty, and then have not had sell
respect enough to refrain from laws intended to |