THE forthcoming mass meeting at Madison Square Garden on March 7, when “The Case of Civilization Against Hitlerism” will be presented, promises to be an important and effective affair. Judge Samuel Seabury, political reformer and outstanding jurist, will deliver the principal address, basing his indictment of the present rules of Germany on the record of their religious, racial and political persecutions during the past year.
The occasion will gain in significance and impressiveness because of the fact that the American Federation of Labor has joined the American Jewish Congress in sponsoring the meeting.
Mr. William Green, President of the American Federation of Labor, has summed up the attitude of his organization toward Hitlerism in unmistakable terms when he declared that “free people who love liberty and who believe in democracy and democratic principles cannot r# silent, refusing to protest when injustice and persecution are being inflicted upon free, liberty-loving people in other lands” and that “the laboring people who place a very nigh value upon the enjoyment of freedom and who cl#sh the principles of democracy as a priceless heritage are amazed at the reports which reach them showing the assault which is being made upon the exercise of ordinary elementary human rights by those in charge of the Government of Germany. The persecution of the Jewish people was followed by an atrocious attack upon German trade unions, their officers and members. Those responsible for these strocities stand condemned before the world.”
The American Federation of Labor demonstrated its sincerity and indignation by coming out in favor of an anti-German boycott as a protest against the outrages that are being perpetrated in Germany today.
The conscience of the world must be continually aroused against Nazi horrors in Germany and against Nazi propaganda in other lands. But we must guard ourselves against haphazard exaggerations. The truth about Hitler’s regime is terrible enough to impress liberty-loving people that Hitler has placed Germany beyond the pale of civilization.
A SUICIDAL POLICY
WITH the gathering shadows of Nazism over Austria, {SPAN}#{/SPAN} other elements that support the Dolfuss Government are imposing terms of an intensified anti-semitic program to rival that of the German Nazis. It is believed that plans are being formulated for the elimination of Jews from the intellectual life of Austria, from the universities and the
While officially Austrian Jews have been assured that they need not fear anti-semitic legislation under the present regime, there is every indication that the Hitler methods and the Nazi race theories are rapidly gaining ground in Austria.
Austria is in a most desperate position just now. The sympathy of the world goes out to her in her heroic efforts to resist Hitlerism. The eyes of the other European nations may be opened to the common danger that would result from Hitler’s triumph in Austria. And Hitler may be prevented from goung too. far. But if Austria is to indulge in the same cruelties and outrages that have disgraced the Hitler regime in Germany, she is sure to alienate the sympathy of the nations that have aided her morally and materially.
Austria cannot succeed in warding off Hitlerism by Nazifying herself. It is a policy that must inevitably lead to suicide.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
