Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1884-03-28
THE LAsKER MATTER.
Action of tho House of Representatfvc-A
Dignified Rebuke To the German Chan'
ceiIer-Congressu,en Oeheltree and Deus
ter EuIogIse the Dend Stntesman.

| ter EuIogise the Dead Statesman.
WASHINGTON. ID. C. March 10.
| Mr.. Curtin from the Committee on
| Foreign Affairs, submitted a report on
the Presidents message and accompany
| Ing papers in relation to the death OF Dr.
| Lasker, in which the committee approved
the resolutions OF January 9th, and regret
| that they were not received in the spirit
| in which they were adopted. The report
| also compliments the State Department
| for its course in the matter, and submit
| ted the following as n substitute for His
| cocks resolution:
Resolred, That the resolutions referring
| to the death of DIR. Lasker, adopted by
| this House January 9th last, were intend
| ed as tribute of respect TO the memory
| of an eminent foreign statesman who died
| within the United States, and as an ex-
preston of sympathy with the German
| people, OF whom he has been an honored
| representative.
ReS0fred, That House having no Off
cial concern with the relations between
the Executive and Legislative branches
| of the German Government, does not
deem it requisite to its dignity to criticise
the manner of reception OF the resolu-
tions or the circumstances preventing
them reaching their destination after they
had been communicated through Il
proper channel to the German Govern
ment.
Mr. Reagan protested against any apol-
ogy by the House for its action.
Mr.. CIrtin demanded the previous
question, which was ordered
Mr.. Ochiltree took the floor for the
fifteen minutes allowed to the opponents
of the resolution, and said that no man
OH the floor had more confidence in or
esteem for the Committee on Foreign
Affairs than himself; but this matter had
assumed phase which called upon every
member to see his own dignity and the
dignity of the House maintained. 1t was
not becoming in the House to explain the
meaning. The resolution spoke for itself
An apology was unworthy the body: lie
then went into an eulogy of Lasker, say
ing the resolution was compliment to
Lasker but rebuke to Bismarck
Mr.. Deuster, of Wisconsin, followed in
q set speech. He said: 81 sincerely re-
gret the hasty action of the German Chan
cellor in refusing to transmit the resolu-
ton of coincidence of this House on the
death of Lasker merely, as it appears, on
account of antipathy for departed polit-
ical adversary. He knows, as does every
sane person, that to place before the
Reichstag u resolution of the American
House of Representatives didn't in
any way imply the Endorsement
of sentiments therein expressed.
his Office, so far as the resolution was
concerned, was that of medium rather
than master. His assumption of the
latter was unfortunate only for himself.
We can afford to cover the act with
the charity of forgetfulness. "To err il
human, to forgive divine,r we may say
with Pericles. We are liberal in our pub
lie administration. With regard to mu-
tual jealousy of our daily pursuits,
we are not angry with our
neighbor, if lie does anything to
please himself, nor wear on
our countenance, offensive looks which
though harmless are unpleasant. The
Parliament and people of Germany are in
possession of the letter and spirit of the
resolution, even though the parchment
upon which it was engrosSed becomes
moulded in the Chancellor's waste
basket. The action of our State Depart
ment cannot be too highly commended.
1t was not only dignited, but did not
overstep the bounds of international
courtesy, while at the same time admin
istering q rebukc to what is Justly con-
sidered an unwarranted usurpation of
the rights and privileges of the German
Parliament and people.
"Mr. Speaker, | was, l may say with
some degree of pride, intimately acquaint-
ed with him whose death has given rise
to this controversy. | was among the
last persons with whom he cOnYerSed, and
in justice to his memory, | deem it
my duty to make another statement. |
have Dir. Lasker's word for it, that he had
the highest regard for the German Chan
cellor both as man and statesman. They
differed only on one question, Il question,
sir, upon which not only two political
parties upon this floor differ, but upon
which the members of each are not united.
Laskcr was Free Trader. This was his
only offenSe. People unintiatcd in German
politics have stigmatZed him with Nihil-
ism, Socialism and nearly all other '.isms''
in the vocabulary, simply because he was
a Liberal and believed in opening the
marts of Germany to the competition of
the world. 1t is not my purpose nor is this
the place to eulogize my friend, but i'll
my heart mourn his loss as man of
broad views, grand inspirations anda no.
bic heart, who, as an American citizen,
would have achieved distinction as the
advocate and guardian of institutions
broad enough for his broad mind. AS u
German he claimed the right to expand
beyond the boundaries of arbitrary pow
erS, and the result is seen to-day. Tho
resolutions were adopted.