Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-21
BISMARCK'S INSULT.
NO DOUBT OF THE RETURN OF
THE LASKER RESOLUTION,

The Text of the German ChanceIIor's
Reason for His ActiOn-Herr Lasker's
Political Standing the Alleged Ex-
cuse-A German-American Editors
Solution of the Affair.
NEW YORK, Feb. 20.-Die Stats Zei-
tuHq editorially says in regard to the re-
turn of the Lasker resolution by Prince
Bismarck: THE Anglo-American press
is beginning to treat in a more serious
matter the relations between the United
States and Germany. These papers,
however, are not assisting the cause of
justice and right by asserting that the re-
turn of the Lasker resolution is simply
piece of malice on the part of Prince Bis
marck, whom they accuse of bOOris hness.
1t is only too true that Prince Bismarck
looks upon every opposition as a rebel
lious act, and it is equally true that DO
htlcal differences of opinion are not toler-
ated IN Germany to the same extent as in
this country. but Prince Bismarck's ha-
tired against Herr Lasker does not explain
the return of the resolution of coincidence,
and our confreres of the English press
place too low an estimate upon the Chan
cellor when they are of the opinion that
such hatred was alone instrumental in
making him assume his present unfrIendly
attitude toward the United States. He
has long ago assumed this attitude and if
this had not been the case he
would not have sought.to make so much
capital Of the Lasker resolution as he has
done IN this instance. We have to deal
with an act which is no doubt only part
of plan which Prince Bismarck is now
Systematically pursuing. TO-day's cable
dispatches, stating that naturaliZed Ger
man-American citizens who return to
Germany are again being vigorously sub
jected to military duty, and that the Ger
man Foreign Office ignores United States
Minister Sargent, and conducts all nego-
tiations directly with Washington, Will
be essentially instrumental in en-
tightening Americans as to the situa-
ton. The treatment which Mr.. Sargent
has for some time received at the hands of
Prince Bismarck is really scandalous,
and our government should never have
tolerated it. The insults heaped upon
Mr. Sargent by the official press OF Ger
many on account of his alleged newspaper
articles on the hog question were only a
prelude to an actual prescription of our
Minister by Prince Bismarck. Mr.. Sar-
gent is not permitted by Prince Bismarck
TO hold personal intercourse with him,
although his rank entities him to it. and
is in all cases referred to Prince Bis
marck's subordinates. The American
Minister actually suffers under this slight
placed upon him to such a degree
that his position has become very un-
pleasant, but he endeayOrs to hold on to
his position, because it is his bread and
butter. This is indeed a bitter lesson TO
the United States, which is in the habit of
thus providing for PLAYED out politicians.
In addition to other causes for complaint
which our government has regarding the
action OF Prince Bismarck it has also
to take into consideration the treatment
OF its diplomatic representative in Berlin.
The simple fact that the latter had been
passed over when the Lasker resolutions.
which he had presented was returned, is
In itself so gross an insult that our gov
ernment can by no means pass it over in
silence. Our government would be per-
tectly justified should it present an an
swer to the communication which the Ger
man Minister in w ashingtOn NAV have to
make to the Chancellor of Germany
through Mr.. Sargent, thus taking no notice
of the German Minister. Should the
Chancellor then decline to receive the
American Minister our government would
be justified in recalling our Minister in
Berlin and sending Mr.. Eisendecker his
passports. Greatly as German-Americans
must regret that the situation has under
gone such change they must insist that
that the Government of the United States
viii maintain its dignity. We sympa-
thize with the German people, that the
rupture between the countries will in
crease its misery and its sufferings, but it
can only hold its own government RESPONSE
bic for it. If the German Government,
through hostile acts against our industry,
and through gross insults against the
United States, is seeking to find pretext
to close Germany against the United
states and torefuse Germans this harbor
OF refuge against their misery, the
United States will have no other choice /
but to take up the gauntlet thus insolent- |
ly thrown down. If the German nation
is not able to protect itself against so in
competent and oppressive government
we cannot offer them any help"
BERLIN, Feb. 20.-The Official Gazette !
to-day published a communication of
Prince Bismarck to HerrVon Eisendecker !
directing the return to the American
House OF Representatives of its resolution
of coincidence at the death of Herr Lasker,
1t is dated February 9, and is as follows:
ANY recognition ia foreign country Of
the personal qualities Of German, espe- |
clalIy when made by so important body
as the House Of Representatives, is graft |
Tying to our national feelings. | should
have gratefully accepted the communica-
ton made by Minister Sargent, and should
have asked the Emperor to empower me
" pl lSS6Ht IL 70 llle belcDsIag. IL the reSO- ]
luton had not contained an opinion
regarding the object and effect of Herr
Lasker's political activity which was op-
posed to my convictions according to nv
experience OF the political and economic
development of the German people. can
not recognize the opinion as one which
the events l have witnessed would justify.
should not venture to oppose my iudg-
ment to the opinion of such an illustrious
body as the House of Representatives if l /
had not, by more than thirty years of
active participation in the internal policy
of Germany, gained an experience which
justified me in attaching a certain value
to my judgment in questions of home
affairs. l cannot determine to ask
the Emperor for the necessarary power
to communicate the resolution to the
ReIchstag, because should have officially
to advocate before the Emperor an opinion
which l cannot recognize as correct"
The action of Prince Bismarck contin- |
ues to excite much comment. The friends
of the deceased statesman in the Reichs-
tag propose to demand of Prince Bis