The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-14
What Is Said by other Members.

WhaV rs Slu Dy Other members.
| To the Western Associated Press
| WASHINGTON, March 13-The cablegram re-
porting the speech of Prince Bismarck was
shewn this afternoon by a representative of the
Associated Press to members of the foreign
affairs committee of the House and other mem
bers of the House, by whom it was read with
interest. Among the comments made upon the
subject were the following:
Governor Curtin, chairman of the foreign
affairs committee and ex-minister to Russia, said:
"A great big statesman made great big mis-
take When such man makes a mistake it is
apt to be big one. The diplomacy of Secretary
Frefnghuysen in this connection is very com
mendable, and we shall probably say so in our
report tomorrow"
Ex-senator Eaton, member of the House for
eign affairs committee and of the subcommittee
TO which the subject of the Lasker resolution
was referred, said; "The speech shows Bismarck,
individually, has no antipathy against the Ameri-
can people. No violent resolution can possibly
pass our committee. We shall probably report
tomorrow, and 1 can not express my opinions
more fully until then. 1 will say the Depart-
ment of State deserves well of the country and
this House, and has sustained the high reputa-
ton it has maintained for 100 years"
Mr., Kasson, exMinister to Austria, said:
Prince Bismarck evidently regarded the refusal
to forward our resolutions as purely an internal
German question, and aims to show he was gov
erned exclusively by considerations of internal
policy, and not by any feeling against our
body OF our own country. 1t seems to me to
confirm the view taken by the State Department
that fIrthar hat 11+i ;s
purely German question involving the rela-
tions between Prince Bismarck and his parlia-
ment In this country we do not quarrel over a
eulogy delivered at the grave of an enemy. 1t is
time for peace not censure and the mouth of crit
icism is usually closed in such scene. If there
be reasons in Germany for a public struggle
over the phases of the enlogy of the dead we
should not be expected here to understand
them"
Congressman Hitt, ex-Assistant Secretary of
State, ex-secretary of the legation ard charge
d atfaires at Paris and member of the committee
on foreign affairs said: ''The Lasker resolution
business has been placed in such shape
by our foreign Office there is
nothing LETT at this moment to be done and it is
doubtful whether it is necessary that anything
should be said The resolution was one which
no one in this country, and, except Bismarck, no
one in Europe so far as known, thought it was
aimed at, or in any way related to the domestic
politics of Germany. As utCerances of courtesy
and friendly sympathy it was there said complete
ly. 1t is hard to show any reason for saying it
over again. The position and dignity of the
House have been properly protected by the
course taken by our own Secretary of State
The question as it just now stands is in form
most disadvantageous to Bismarck. 1t is doubt
full whether Congress ought to indulge in any
criticism as to the mode of government in Ger
many, and it need not do so by any resolution
declaring its unconcern as to the individual opin
ion of public officer who Showed
hostility, but was unable, in intereepting reso
luton, to change its kindly character or prevent
the body for whom it was intended from fully
understanding it. Bsmarcks speech shows his
embarrassment and consciousness of the diff
culties of the position i'll which he has placed
himself"
Congressman Ochiltree the author of the
Lasker resolution, said of the speech: at is
complete hedge. If Bismarck would instruct
his minister to return that resolution to him
think this whole affair, in consideration of what
he has said would drop There never was any
intention to do more than compliment the peo
pie of Germany by PAYNE our tribute of re-
spect to one of Germanys greatest men,"
Mr.. Lamb said the speech demonstrates that
Bismarck has discovered that he has made a
great mistake in his course which has compelled
him to go into the Reichstag and make a public
explanation. The speech is an admission on his
part that he at least acted hastily and in bad
temper; otherwise, he would not have deigned
to notice the matter publicly.
Mr. Deuster, also a member of the foreign
affairs committee, and a representative German
expresses himself as being highly pleased with
the speech. He said Bismarck had placed diff
ferent construction on the resolution from that
he had given in his letter to the German minister
here. He thought the speech would have some
influence on the committee of which he
is a member When Mr., Lasker was
II passed much time with him In
all our interviews he always expressed the high
est regard for the policy of Bismarck. 1 spoke
to him on the subject of changing the naturaliza
ton treaty between this country and Germany.
He said he did not believe there could be a
change, because when the treaty was made in
1865 Germany was in position to make more
concessions than she has been at any other
time"
S. S. Cox said the utterance Of Bismarck was
nonsensical.
Mr.. Hewitt characterized the speech as good
natured attempt of Bismarck to relieve himself
from the unfavorabe comment caused by his
action The position he takes, said Hewitt. is
simply absurd. In intercourse among nations
the mere vehicle Of transmission does not be-