One hundred years ago
THE TIMES' correspondent in Berlin evidently believes that the Anti-Semitic agitation in Germany is growing more serious. An excessively violent represen- tative of the party, Herr Ahlwardt, has just obtained a majority for the Reich- stag, though he has to stand a second ballot, and more than half the Conser- vative Party are committed to Anti- Semitism. The peasantry in many districts show a disposition to resort to physical force; and, more serious than all, the enemies of the Jews are formu- lating their demand, which is that they shall be declared by the Legislature to be foreigners, and therefore disqualified for any posts in the State service or the Universities. The bitterness seems to arise rather from jealousy of the Jew intellect, than of the Jew faculty for accumulation, for the Socialists, who abhor capitalists, refuse to join in the Anti-Semitic movement. They could hardly join, indeed, remembering who their earlier leaders were. The Court is understood to be strongly opposed to the persecution; but the "well-born" class, as a whole, is as hostile to the Jews as a section of the populace is. The facts are the more remarkable because the Jews of Germany, unlike the Jews of Russia, have assimilated German civili- sation, and are externally indistinguish- able. The Spectator 3 December 1892
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