THE LATE HERR LASKER.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3908, 29 January 1884, Page 4

THE LATE HERR LASKER.

Death has removed ono of the most prominent politicians in Germany, the unflinching opponent of a reactionary policy, and the recognised head of the Liberal party, not merely in Prussia but throughout tho wholo of tho empire. Eduard Lasker, who haa just cliod at tho comparatively early ago of 51, belonged to the samo race as Disraeli, and, like him, was educated for tho law. At tho ago of 22 ho took up his abode in England for a few years, whero he became enamoured of those principles of constitutional freedom to which ho maintained tin unswerving fidelity throughout tho wholo of his honorable curcer. Returning to Berlin in 185G, ho was elected io the Chamber of Deputies in 18G5, and when tho Imperial Reichstag was organised, after Sadowa, ho was returned by no loss than fiix constituencies Ho subsequently sat in tho -Prussian Landstag, as one of tho representatives of Frankfort on the Main, whero hia co-religionists form so large and influential a section of the community. He was both a political orator and an admirable debater. In the latter capacity ho had no superiors, whilo his published writings show him to havo been oven abler with his pen than with his tonguo. Diminutive in person, speaking with a slight lisp, and handicapped by his belonging to a proscribed race, Herr Lasker had many disadvantages to encounter. But he surmounted them all; aud although tho liberality of his political opinions excluded him from official powor, he was one of tho most popular men in Prussia. His courage was indomitable He was tho the means of driving from office a Minister of Curaincrco who was enriching himself by frauds, and of procuring the dismissal of one of Bismarck's proteges, whom Hon: Lasker proved to have granted railway concessions from .interested motives. Ho was a zealous Jaw reformer, and he nobly vindicated Parliamentary privilege in the case of a Catholic deputy whom tho Government had arrested during tho session. If in England, his legal attainments and political eminence would havo secured him a judgeship. In <_rerman t y they were .it bar to his preformc.it. —Australasian.