Liberalism, Anti-Semitism and the Jewish Question, 1861–95

Abstract

In a mid-term election campaign in the Viennese district of Hernals during the summer of 1882, the unofficial liberal candidate Wilhelm Exner gave numerous speeches outlining his programme and his belief in technology and the metric system.¹ In the liberal tradition he attempted to keep discussions to the facts and provided much evidence of his abilities. At one of the speeches Schönerer dis- rupted proceedings and shouted, ‘That does not matter to me at all. We must vote for the German nationalists and fight the Jews!’² Here was a new kind of politics, quite different from Exner’s sober demonstrations of competence. Anti-Semitism spoke to the emotions and feelings of the people. It presented a fundamental challenge to liberalism.