The Denver Jewish news., 1922-04-19

II
of German history. lie traces the politi-
cal vicissitudes of the Jews in Germany
and arrives ut the important conclusion
that in the new German state, anti.
Semitsm will be reduced to insiSnifcance,'
Editor.
Before Wilhelm II. ascended the
throne, we had the brief, tragic af-
fair of the reign of the dying Empcr
or Friedrich. 1t was he who originat-
ed the phrase that Stoecker's anti
Semitic campaign was a disgrace to
the century" and the Empress Freid-
rich. who was educated in liberal
traditions, always had about her Jews
and Jowesses who were worthy of the
distinction.
When Wilhelm H. asCended the
throne he found himself under the in
hueacc of Stoeckcr This period, how
ever, in his development, was not of
long duration. He .uyited the Jews
to become his intimate friends and
they were called upon to "d"ise him
in various specified directioH- Among
these Jews was Rathenau, the father
of Walter Rathenau who has recently
been conducting negotiations in Lon
don. Paris and Cannes with the lead
ing politicians of the Allied coun-
tries. There was also james Simon.
who took n leading part in the work
of excavation in the Euphrntes and
Tigris districts. and in Egypt. Max
Narburg in Hamburg. brother of the
Warburgs who attained to important
positions in the United States, and
above all. Albert Ballin, the directing
head of the Hamburg-Amerika ship
ping line. the creator of the great
Hamburg shipping trade which he sue
ceeded in bringing to a remarkably
fiourishing state.
Ballin beyond all others, and alone
among them all, it must he said, had
the opportunity of exercising political
influence on Wilhelm IL. Ballin was
wise. rich in experience and at the
same time. immensely tactful in po-
litical affairs. \ book which has
recently been published ON his life
shows that Ballin made strenuous ef-
forts TO bring about timely APP
proacllment with Britain. which would
have obviated what was for Europe
and also for the United States. eco
nomically at least. n disaastrous war.
When the war did break out. Ballin
strove to bring it to n speedy end.
on conditions honourablc 10 all sides.
Ill ify- nf
the millions who were caught up i'll
tie whirlwind of death. The military
circles around Wilhelm IL. Snew how
to render his efforts innocuous and
made il impossible for Ballin to In
nuencc the Emperor to act in the in
terests of humanity. and thus the
world was given a piece which is
disastrous both to victors and van
guished. The victors are suffering. so
arc the vanquishcd. This is what Al
bert Ballin foresaw. but luckily did
not live to see.
We will return to tracing the polit-
ical development of Germany and the
future of the German race.
The Empire collapsed, the Republic
was proclaimed, a1d the new German
Constitution can again be character
lied as the most progressive in the
world. All German citizens male ana
female. over the age of twenty, have
the right to vote. There is no re-
striction or disability. not even the
oUnin-t thp
Jews. This time the provisions of the
| Constitution have not remained dead
letter, the Constitution of the German
! Republic is living fact In the short
l., riod that the new German constitu-
ton has been in operation. J"ws have
attained to practically all positions In
the State. They Ia been and are
Ministers. Secretaries of State and
Ambassadors, and what is most sig
nificant, the Constitution T. which
has put an end to all sorts of pre-
| mdiccs and may be regarded as the
creation of far-secing and wise states
manship. was drafted defe1dcd and
eventually carried into effect. by
Jew. the then Minister, Professor Dr.
| Hugo Preuss.
That the power of the reactionaries
! in Germany has not entirely gone Is
! Obvious. There is still today. n reac-
tionary party in Germany and in the
Constituent States, and as always
the reactionary party comes before the
people with revival of anti-Semlt
ism. Anti-Scmitism has been and Is
the cloak under which the reaction
seeks to hide its anti-popular policy.
1t is highly improbable that the re-
dictionary forces will succeed by their