The sun., 1884-02-17

The severe snubs experienced by our House
of Representatives in its recent attempts to
meddlc with the judicial and political con-
Germs of foreign countries are likely to
make that body of gushing, not to say sloppy,
statesmen n laughing stock the world over.
The peremptory demand for the arrest OF
the normal machinery OF British justice
in the case OF the alleged American citizen
and convicted murderer ODoNNELL, seems
to have been regarded even by its framer,
Mr.. A. S. HEWITT as piece Of comical stage
business. and it was dismissed by tho British
Foreign Ofllce with curtness that savorcd
strongly of contempt. And now. ac-
cording to the Berlin correspondent of
the London Times. the German Min
lister at Washington has been in
structed to return, as essentially imperti-
nent, the resolutions by which our light
headed Legislators, under the pretence of
condolng with the Reichstag on the death OF
man who had for some time ceased to be
member Of that assembly, implicitly assumed
to criticise the policy and the statesman that
have long been dominant in the German Par
liament and empire.
We suppose that, as matter OF fact, tho
Uiicious Congressman VINO introduced the
LAsKER resolutions imagined that the de-
ceased German Liberal had been elected to
the present Reichstag, and took for granted
that the tokens Of respect usually offered by
O legislative body on the death OF one OF
its members would be forthcoming IN
this instance. 1t is also probable enough
that his notions of Gerll:sn politics were OF
the vaguest character; that he presumed
that the National-Libcral party, with which
Herr LAsKEE had been associated, still re-
tanned the asccndancy in the Reichstag,which
1t once possessed, and that he was ltholly
unaware that the surviving fragmel Is OF
that disaedited and ruptured orga4izn-
tion, far from being Prince BIsMAprK
supporters and co-workers, Ind become
his most bitter enemies. The ill-inforIled
proposer OF the LAsKER resolutions never
dreamed that in officially eulogizing the
principles and purposes of which the de-
ceased politician was representative, the
American Congress would be arrogating the
right TO condemn by implication the
avowed policy and practice Of the Ger.
man Government He Is no doubt as
founded to discover that what he
meant for mere formal demonstration Of
International comfy should be construed
rs an offence. 1t is very singular, however
that no member Of the House Committee OF
Foreign Affairs WAS competent or willing tt
enlighten his colleagues on this subject, tt
inform them that no legitimate occa
sion existed for legislative action, seeing
that Dr. LAsKER wns not member OF th'
German Parliament, and to warn then
that tho extravagant laudation OF Princ'
BlsMARcK's enemy was an uDmistakablo IN
suit to the man who unites In his own per
son the whole executive power OF a friendl.
nation. The House should have been stcrnl,
admonished that private sympathies are on
thing, and the Official proclamation o
them In tho form Of legislative resolution
quito another, and that before Congress ven
tured on piece of gratuitous impertinenc
that might lead to grave diplomatic compli
cations, 1t should carefully take the sens
OF the American people touching the eNpe
diency OF such hiRh-handed performance.
For the services which DR.. LAsKER in tn
earlier part OF his career rendered to Gel
man liberalism TIE Sun has been promp
to credit him, and we have expressed regre
that he should have subsequently lost tn
greater part OF his influence by alowin
himself to bo made tool OF Bis
MARCKs centralizing and reactionary dC
signs. Had he lived he would have doubtles
tried to regain his old position and retrev
his past mistakes. But Hhile the announce
mont OF such opinions and prcpossessions
eminently proper In the mouth OF prlvat
citizens or Of Independent newspapers, thel
was. as we have said, no suitable occasio
for legislative action, and the American Coz
gress had no business, unless prepared
Ssna tia rnnseQusRifs VI lts uYealled for de-