One hundred years ago
THE JEWS in Germany would seem to be in serious danger. As we mentioned last week, Ahlwardt, their great oppo- nent, has been elected by a majority of three to one, and the Conservative party, as a whole, have ratified the act of the local Conservatives in giving him their votes. The entire Reichstag, more- over, has expressed a degree of sympa- thy with him, having decided by a large majority that even though sentenced to five months' imprisonment for libelling the Jewish rifle contractors, he must be allowed to take his place on the benches of the House. This vote, no doubt, was due in part to a desire to preserve the privileges of the House, which might be greatly impaired by an opportune series of State prosecutions; but it was also due to sympathy with Herr Ahlwardt's opinions. A Socialist libeller would not have been recalled to his place, and the vote was given one day after the Ger- man Chancellor had declared in a speech on the Army Bill that no one had so grievously injured the German Army as Herr Ahlwardt. The Govern- ment, it is said, is greatly perplexed at this recrudescence of the persecuting spirit, expecting that the country dis- tricts everywhere will, at the next elec- tions, send up men who accept Herr Ahlwardt's ideas. This would make it necessary either to break with the Con- servatives, hitherto the steadiest friends of the Monarchy in Parliament, or to bring in a Bill making distinctions between the Jews and other citizens, — putting the clock back, in fact. It is not likely that the Government will yield, but the position of the Jews in country districts will be an insecure one.
The Spectator 17 December 1892
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