GHDI logo

Theodor Fontane Describes a Conservative Election Campaign in Rural Brandenburg (1880s)

page 2 of 11    print version    return to list previous document      next document


Woldemar’s concerns were only too well-founded. It was by no means certain that old Dubslav, as popular as he was even with the opposition, would necessarily emerge as victor in the electoral contest. The Conservatives, of course, had grown accustomed to viewing Rheinsberg-Wutz as a citadel which could not be lost to their party. This belief was an error, however, and whatever previous reverence had existed toward old Kortschädel had its roots solely in the personal element. True enough, old Dubslav was his equal in esteem and popularity, but the whole business of perpetual personal favoritism had to come to an end sometime and the claim old Kortschädel had gained by serving so long, simply had to be over and done with, if for no other reason than at last there was someone new. No doubt about it, the opposition parties were springing into action and the situation was exactly as Lorenzen had written Woldemar, a Progressive, in fact, even a Social Democrat, could be elected.

What the mood of the district really was would have been best learned by anyone listening in passing at the office door of old Baruch Hirschfeld.

“Let me tell you, Isadore, you should be electing our good old Herr von Stechlin for sure.”

“No, father, I won’t be electing our good old Herr von Stechlin.”

“So why not? After all, he’s a nice gentleman, and he’s got his heart in the right place.”

“That he does. But his principles is wrong.”

“Isadore, don’t give me that principles business. I seen you fooling around with that little Marie from next door, and the way you undid her apron, and she was giving you a slap in the face. You made eyes at a gentile girl. And with the election coming now it’s public opinion you’re making eyes at. For that business with the girl, I’ve forgiven you. But that public opinion business, for that I ain’t forgiven you.”

“You will, Papa, dear. These is the new times, you know. And when I vote, it’s humanity I’m voting for.”

“Don’t give me that, Isadore. I know about that business. Humanity. All it wants is to do is to have, but never to give. And now they want to share everything besides.”

“So let them share, Papa.”

“God in heaven above, what do you think you’ll get? Not a tenth of it.”

And so it went in the other localities as well. In Wutz, Fix spoke for the convent and the Conservatives in general, without recommending Dubslav specifically, because he knew how the Domina stood with regard to her brother. Then too, a leftist candidate from Cremmen looked as if he wanted to gain the upper hand in the Wutz area. More perilous for the entire county, however, was an itinerant speechifier from Berlin, who tramped about from village to village instructing the poorer folk that it was nonsense to expect anything from either the aristocracy or the church. They were always content to let heaven take care of things. But an eight-hour workday, an increase in wages and a Sunday outing to Finkenkrug – now there you had the one true gospel.

first page < previous   |   next > last page