A STORMY DEBATE
When summer was over and autumn was tinting the leaves with its
brilliant hues, the krone began to fall again, (as had become its
habit,) and the cost of living to rise. Prices became preposterous,
even the rich hesitated to buy new clothes; laborers, office workers,
and even the unemployed made new demands. A ride on the tramway car
cost ten thousand kronen, a pound of butter a hundred thousand.
In October, when bitterness, restlessness, and discontent were at their
height, the National Assembly convened; the face of the Chancellor was
care-worn and deeply lined. When he spoke the awed silence of the old
days did not prevail; instead, there were calls and loud remarks, even
the galleries hooted occasionally, and the small Social-Democratic
opposition no longer let itself be intimidated, but constantly joined
in the debate.
After surveying the hopeless financial condition of the country,
Schwertfeger went on to say:
“I must tell you frankly that the Christian people of Austria will be
called upon to make many great sacrifices.” (Call from the gallery:
“Only the Christians, of course, since we threw out the Jews!”)
“Sacrifices that will require a stout heart and loyal patriotism!
The government needs money for the continuance of its administrative
business; and as we are unable to obtain further credit abroad, we must
resort to new taxes, direct and indirect, to bring in the enormous sums
required for the administration, to cover the interest on our debt, and
to pay for the support of the unemployed.
“I know, ladies and gentlemen, that the people are bitterly
disappointed; I assure you that I am also. The trouble is that we
underestimated the difficulties of the transitory period, and thought
that the Christian citizens would adapt themselves better to the
control of our financial and business undertakings, which had been
entirely in the hands of the Jews. But what are such disappointments
in comparison with the lofty goal we have set ourselves--to give back
Austria to her Aryan people, to build up a country that will be free of
the spirit of usury, free of Jewish scepticism, free of the corrupting
properties and elements that represent Jewry!”
At the close of his speech the Chancellor, raising his voice, put the
question of confidence.
Dr. Wolters, representing the small Socialist fraction, spoke against
the granting of credit, against approval of the government’s plans and
against the vote of confidence. Vividly he portrayed the ever-growing
misery, the imminent danger of national bankruptcy, the devastation of
Austria’s economic and intellectual life. Among other things he said:
“More than two years ago, when he was arguing for his anti-Jewish law,
the honorable Chancellor called our people honest, simple, and sincere,
and declared that they are not fit to compete with that superior race,
the Jews. But he overlooked one thing: That even without Jews we
honest, sincere, and simple Austrians would be surrounded by nations
which are all the more superior to us now that the Jews are no longer
with us. What has become of Central-European commerce since the Jews
are gone? We have lost it, for the Jews have taken it along to Prague
and Budapest. What has become of our flourishing clothing, jewelry,
and millinery industries? They have disappeared almost entirely, for
they cannot live on honesty and sincerity alone, but need the Jewish
purchasers of all the world, who make no bones about spending their
easily acquired money. Today it is evident that we cannot dispense with
the Jews.”
Wild shouts interrupted the Socialist leader. The Christian-Socialists
and German Nationalists were furious, and cried, “Throw out the
hireling of the Jews!” The turmoil became so great that the Presiding
Officer, the red-bearded Tyrolese, had to close the meeting
temporarily. When he opened it again, he reprimanded Dr. Wolters
severely, because his words had deeply wounded the Christian sentiment
of the deputies, and because he had attempted to undermine the
foundations of the new state.
Finally all the proposals of the government were accepted, over the
opposition of the Socialists. But many deputies had left before the
vote, and later Schwertfeger, smiling grimly, told his Presiding
Officer:
“This time they ran away--but next time they’ll vote against me, those
opportunists, always looking for the winning side. Yesterday they
shouted ‘Hosannah,’--but tomorrow they’ll cry ‘_Crucifige!_’”