Page:Edward Prime-Stevenson - The Intersexes.djvu/537

 The Petition was rejected in 1897. It was received in part with decided favour, in part with the expected very resolute opposition—and abuse. In 1898, it was brought fowardforward [sic], even more vigorously, with more supporters. But its fate was not any better, though there is hope that a near Code Revision will remove the specific Paragraph. The Clerical Party is not friendly to any such change. More or less active and dignified attempts to similar ends iii Austria and in Hungary, aided by Protestants or Catholics, have not been to practical purport; chiefly in view of similar clerical opposition. Imperial favour is not shown to the movement.

There is some reason to argue that even as a dignified leverage to publicity in the German Parliament the association of the movement with any political party is not useful. Many persons thoroughly favouring humane and intelligent laws, will not aid in the conscientious and brilliant activities of the Committee, until it has another political atmosphere, or none. They claim that such a national movement should have absolutely no political conjunctions. The hostility of the German Emperor as to the Social Democratic element in politics is so emphasized that alliance with that faction (which includes some of the most progressive, patriotic and intellectual men in German politics) embitters the Kaiser against more liberal legislation. But it has been well said that so humane and observant a monarch as the present emperor cannot