Political Considerations of Vienna Period
world-concept, but he did not see that only the broad masses of a people are suited to be the mainstay of such almost religious convictions. Unfortunately he had but slight realization of the extraordinarily limited fighting spirit in so-called “bourgeois” circles—a result of their economic position, which makes the individual fear to lose too much, and therefore holds him back.
And in general a world-concept can hope for victory only if the broad masses, the mainstay of the new doctrine are prepared to undertake the necessary battle.
His lack of understanding of the importance of the lower strata of the people resulted in an entirely inadequate conception of the social question.
In all this, Dr. Lueger was Schönerer’s opposite. His thorough knowledge of human nature allowed him to judge the possible forces, and at the same time preserved him from underestimating existing institutions, and perhaps even taught him, on the contrary, to use them as a means for the accomplishment of his purposes.
He understood only too well that the political fighting strength of the upper bourgeoisie in modern times was small, not sufficient to win the victory for a great new movement. In his political activity, therefore, he put the chief emphasis on winning over levels of the population whose living was threatened, thus spurring rather than paralyzing their fighting spirit. He was likewise willing to use every instrument of power already at hand, to win the favor of powerful existing institutions, and so to derive the greatest possible advantage for his own movement from the old sources of power.
So he aimed his new party chiefly at the middle class, which was threatened with destruction, and thus assured himself of an almost unshakeable following, ready for great self-sacrifice, and of dogged fighting determination. His relation to the Catholic Church was built up with infinite shrewdness, and soon attracted so many of the younger clergy that the old clerical party was forced either to abandon the field of battle or, a wiser choice, to unite with the new party, and thus win back many strongholds.
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