Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-03-15
The Lasker ImbrOgIiO.

BAVURDAY, MAHCH 10, lSS4s
The Lasker ImbrOgIiO.
The war of words now going on in
a nd out of Congress over the Laskel
resolutions seems to grow in intensity
and feeling, and as Bismarck has seen
proper to place such Importance upon
the resolutions as to make a speech in
the Reichstag in reference to them there
seems to be prospect for a first class
breeze between the United States and
Germany.
The question in this discussion that
is attracting so much attention is which
is right the United States or Germany,
Congress or the Reichstag, Frelinghuy-
sen or Bismarck. 1t is not our purpose
to take the side of our enemies, abroad
but nothing is ever lost by trying to
find out what is right and then to adj
vocate what is believed to be right. 1t
looks to us very much as if Congress
was to blame in the matter, and for
the following reasons: Germany is not
a Republic like the United States
ly relations have subsisted.
Germany, however, is limited mon.
archyandinthis it differs from the United
States; Germany has an Emperor, the
United States a President. In these
the two countries essentially differ, and
to such an extent that a loyal citizen
Of the United States would be a rebel
in Germany if he attempted to enforce
in Germany the principles he holds at
home. Germany, though one of the
most liberal and enlightened of Euro
pean nations and we may add one of
the most powerful, but she has saw
proper to stick to the old limited form
of monarchical government.
This she had right to do, but there
are in the nation large following of
Liberals, citizens who favor Republ-
can form Of Government, or reforms
leading to such Government. These
Liberals have considerable liberation
and at times are so strorg in the Reich
stag-which i, Congress with us-that
they control the line of policy to be
pursued by the Government. Some Of
these Liberals are more advanced than
Others. Their opposition to the govern
ment takes the form of incipient rebel
lion. Right here the Government steps
in and suppresses such liberal tenden-
cies with the strong arm of the nation.
When this is done some liberal lead
erS find it convenient and more safe to
leave the country and seek another
where their liberal ideas are not only
tolerated but are made the leading prin-
ciples of government
Herr Lasker was one Of these Liberal
leaders in Germany. He had educa-
ton, wealth and influence, was in fact
born leader. He earnestly espoused
the cause of advanced liberal Govern
ment in Germany and incurred the
displeasure Of Bismarck and his gov
ernment. Lasker under considerable
pressure left his country and came to
the United States. From under a dark
cloud in Germany he emerged in bright
sunlight in America. The banished
liberal Of Germany became here the
accepted exponent of true Republican,
ism. In the course Of time Lasker
took sick and died in New York. The
American Congress had just met.
One Of its members Tom Ochil-
tee, from Texas, infatuated with
Lasker as leader and patriot, offer
ed resolutions sympathizing with Lask-
er and the principles which led to his
selt-banishment from his native Father
land.
These resolutions were not only of a
sympathetic order but they went so far
as..to say that " Herr Lasker's labor.
had been useful to Germany" Little
did Ochiltree know what II tempest he
was stirring up in the German political
teapot when he offered his resolutions
in Congress, and SO little did the House
of Representatives care what was in the
resolutions, that it is said that OChil-
tree was the only member that voted
for them. One vote, however, passed
them just as legally and as binding us
if all the members of the House had
voted for them so long as there were no
votes against them. In this state they
were engrossed, signed by the proper
officers and sent to Bismarck, the old
enemy of Lasker. Need there be any
surprise that they were returned to
Congress? What had Bismarck and
the German Reichstag to do with Las
ker, except to see that he was so far
away that he could do no harm?
They looked upon the resolutions as
as an insult. Why should they not :?
Here were resolutions extolling an enc
my and praising the very principles
their nation had trouble in suppressing
and these resolutions were flashed into
their faces by nation that though a
Republic, professed to be kindly. Who
can blame Bismarck for getting out of
humor? As well might the United
States Congress have passed resolutions
eulogistic of Parnell, when he was in
this country, and have sent them to the
English Parliament. As well might
the English Parliament have passed |
resolutions sympathizing with JEFF Da-
Wis, the principles for which he con
tended, and have sent them to the
United States Congress. The people
may lionize refugees and build monu-
ments to their memory as much as they
please, but when Congress undertakes |
to do such things and then sends an &C
count of what has been done to the ma
ton from which the refugee was BAN
ished, it is quite different thing.
1t is not likely that any serious results
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