“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!_’” CHAPTER XII. THE LEAGUE OF TRUE CHRISTIANS Odd, mysterious things were happening. One morning hundreds of men and women stood before advertising kiosks at the Schottentor, before the Opera, in the Stubenring, and in other localities, where someone had attached, by means of a tack, small octavo leaflets bearing the following legend: “Citizens of Vienna and Austria! Arise before you are destroyed altogether! With the Jews you drove out prosperity, hope and the possibility of future development! Accursed be the demagogues who misled you! The League of True Christians.” People read the impudent words aloud; many were indignant, and declared it was the work of Freemasons; others went away silently, and still others had the courage to voice their approval and to look defiantly at those who differed. A few days later new posters appeared in various places, reading: “Vienna is becoming provincialized! Citizens of Vienna, do you not see it? Another year or two, and the old metropolis, once the seat of emperors, will have become a shabby little hamlet, forgotten by all the world!”