But deprive the Socialists of the possibility of expressing themselves freely in word and print, and their grievances, which now found vent in harmless speechifying, would assume the form of practical violence.
His speech made an impression, but that of a rival candidate a still greater, for he succeeded in rousing the deepest and most powerful emotions of his hearers, by the plain statement that whoever refused the government the right of adopting such measures as it thought necessary for the safety of the public, simply delivered the life of their aged and beloved sovereign into the hands of assassins.

At the election, Schrotter had on his side only a small number of independent-minded voters, who were able to remain unmoved by sentimental arguments.

The workingmen would not vote for him, knowing him to be an opponent of Socialism.

The rival candidate was returned by a large majority.
The Reichstag assembled, the Socialist Act was passed, Berlin declared to be in a state of semi-siege, and a great number of workmen dismissed from the city.

It was November, and winter had set in with unusual severity.