The extraordinary hatred of the Jews, which is developing into
a passion both in Germany and Austria, was fully expressed on Saturday, in two speeches in the Austrian Reichsrath. In one of them, Dr. Lueger, who, it must be remembered, was elected Lord Mayor of Vienna by a two- thirds majority, declared that the property of the Jews did not rightfully belong to them, but had been stolen from the people, and should be confiscated by the State, and then redistributed. If the present system continued, all the wealth of Europe would soon belong to the Roth- schilds, while not only the great landlords, but the very peasants, were in Jewish hands. Herr Schneider, in the same debate, went further, declaring that the Jews were a curse to the land which they " unjustifiably " inhabited, and demanding in so many words their expulsion from Austro- Hungary,—a demand in which he is supported, it is said, by rapidly increasing associations all over the Empire. It is very doubtful whether, if the Russians, Germans, Hungarians, and Austrians were appealed to by plebiscite, they would tolerate the Jews, or whether, when they expelled them, they would suffer them to remove or sell their property. There is a growing feeling of this kind in France also, and even in London the agitation against "pauper aliens" is chiefly supported by hatred of the Jews. We know of no clearer proof that, whatever the merits of democracy, its creed is not a religion of love. Jews everywhere are guests.
Previous page
