The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-20
The Proceedings in Detail.

SHfNctt MS naulNe lanu as member OF It's highest
legislative body, and as tribute of respect to his
memory. While your committee is of the opinion
that said resolutions should have been received and
transmitted in the spirit of cordially and good
will by which they were prompted, it refrains from
expressing opinion as to whether the course
pursued by the authorities of the German empire in
regard to them not in accordance with the
propreties governing the internal regulations of said
empire, as matter not within its province of consd
Grafton The digniiied position assumed by the De-
partment of State merits and will command the conf
denee of the country, fully sustaining the high char
acter that the department has maintained since the
organization of the federal government. As to the
resolutions offered ON the 10th of March your com
mlttee is OF the opinion that they contain language
under the present superhuous and rre
evant and not necessary proper to vindicate the
character or dignity Of this House Your committee
therefore, reports back said resolutions with the
recommendation that they lie upon the table and
ports the following resolutions with the recommends
ton that they be adopted substitute therefor:
Resolved That the resolutions referring to the
death of DIR. Edward Lasker adopted by the House
january last were intended tribute of respect
to the memory of eminent foreign statesman, who
had died within the United States and expression
of sympathy with the German people, for whom he
had beenan honorable representative.
Resolved That the House, having official con-
with the relations between the executive and leg
satiye branches of the German government does not
deem il requisite to its dignity to crticise the manner
of the reception of the resolutions the circumstances
which prevented their reaching their destination af
ter they had been communicated through proper chan
nets to the German government"
Mr.. Curtin Immediately demanded the pre-
vious question.
Mr.. Regain hoped the previous question would
not be ordered. The House had made apologies
enough for having been insulted
Mr. Cox. of New York, moved to lay the
whole matter on the table That was the way to
treat the German Chancellor
The motion was lost, SO to 1876.
The previous question having been ordered
Mr.. Ochlltree rose TO debate the resolutions
He yielded TO gentleman i'll his esteem for
and confidence in the distinguished members
of the foreign affairs committee and ordinarily
was disposed to rely their judgment, but this
afaiF had gone beyond the domain of red tape
and circumlocution. 1t had assumed phase
which called on each and every representative
to look to it that his individual honor and
dignity were preserved and in doing so to defend
the dignity of tne people. 1t was not becoming
the dignity of this body to enter into explanations
of the meaning of the original resolutions
They spoke for themselves, and the apologize
tone of the pending resolution was unworthy the
representatives of this great nation.
Mr.. Ochiltree then delivered eulogy on the
high abilities and noble character of Dr. Lasker
and said the compliment to DR.. Lasker was a
rebuke to the German Chancellor because
they were antithcsis of each other. The present
incident itself showed of what base metal the lat
ter was nodded. He had ever been a fiatterer
and sycophant to royalty, vino had never up
held the rights of the people, and never lost an
opportunity to denounce popular sovereignty
The proudest boast of this man of blood and
iron that ne had served the royal family
of Prussia for half a century. Well might
this proud and naughty instrument of
despOtism seek to shut out American
German people. The principle of absolute i'm
perialism could not withstand the moral power
Of American freedom.
Mr.. Ochltree then, amid some laughter, read
an extract from letter written by DIR. Lasller
some days before his death, in whichn he refers
to Mr.. Ochiltree as having introduced him to
the President, member Of the Cabinet and for
eign ministers.
RaJfor,l inOy,irad ironically xvhafl,ar II
would be in order for q member to offer reso-
luton presenting the apologies of the House to
the German Chancellor for having troubled him.
The Speaker replied it would not.
Mr.. Phelps said this matter, at first of very
little consequence, had become of great conse-
quence. AS tho committee had unanimously
agreed upon its report, it would seem there
ought to be an explanation. When, on the 9th
of January members were closing their desks
preparatory to adjournment, the gentle
man from Texas lMr. Oehiltreel sent to
the clerks desk series of resolutions. and asked
unanimous consent for their adoption. After
waiting until tho resolutions were read. unani-
nous consent was given, and the House ad-
journed. After ten days the House startled
by the information that the Chancellor had
fused to accept them, and next morning mem
bers hunted the Record to see what they had
done. They read that they had expressed regret at
the death of DR.. Lasker and sympathy with the
German people at his loss This was true. They
read also that they had expressed the belief that
had advanced the material and social interests
of his country. This was true But between
the two truths there this differences: One
was a truth which the House could export; the
other was IA truth it could not export. The
House could say it regretted tho death of
DR.. Lasker, and send message anywhere 1t
could believe and know his political sentiments
We're for the good of the German empire but it
had no right to send that opinion to a friendly
power which entertained different opinion and
thought the political sentiments of DR.. Lasl1er
had not materially advanced but materially
tarded the progress of the government. Here
was the dilemma and where was the REFUGEE
There seemed to be none. The House could re-
sent the fact that its friendly sentiments had
been rejected, but it could not resent the fact
that its political sentiments had been rejected,
because it had no business to put them on the
same paper The gentleman from New York
Mr.. Hiscock had expressed sentiment borne
in the hearts Of every member of this body
that unexplained, it was insulting act of the
German Chancellor In the resolution offered
by that gentleman the House was afforded some
satisfaction in censuring this servant of the Ger
man empire and people, who had proved so bad
a poEtman. But the House concluded it ought
to wait awhile, and the Gentleman from New
York was willing that it should and parenthic-
ally, for the benefit of the newspapers he wished
to say that this House, so much maigned,
everything slow when it meant business. even
though it might be everything rapid and rash
when it meant buncombe.
Mr.. Curtin briefly reviewed and defended the
features of the report, and the resolutions were
adopted without division. although an unsuceeSs
full effort was made to have tho yeas and nays
ordered.
B1r Curtin submitted tine following further
port relative to the memorial of tho Liberal
Union Of the German Parliament:
''The resolution contained in this memorial
presses so Just an appreciation Of the action Of THE
House. ard so cordial wish for the prosperity Of
country and the two nations, IS deeuTed proper 20