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352 more to lose, and is destitute of a good citizen's sense of responsibility in regard to investments. With indignation people recognised that they had delivered themselves entirely into the hands of an adventurer. There was a general, heart felt desire to prevent him from doing further harm. As he himself did not draw the obvious conclusion from the damaging verdict, it became necessary for others to drive it home. The right to hold administrative office must surely be conditioned by the provision that a public official must prove him self worthy of the dignity demanded by his position, by his conduct both in and out of office. Did old Buck fulfil this condition? To ask the question was to answer it, as the "Netzig Journal" observed, of course, without mentioning names.

But things had reached such a point that the matter was brought to the attention of the Municipal Council. Then in the end, one day before the discussion, the obstinate old man became reasonable and resigned his position as town councillor. After that his political friends could not risk losing their remaining supporters by retaining him as the leader of the party. It appeared that he did not make their task any easier. Several visits and some gentle pressure were necessary before a letter appeared in the press, saying that he placed the welfare of democracy above his own. As the former was threatened with harm, through his name, owing to the influence of passions which he hoped were only temporary, he would retire. "If the general good demands it, I am prepared to bear the unjustified slur which a deceived public opinion has put upon me, in the belief that the eternal justice of people will one day absolve me again."

This was regarded as superiority and hypocrisy. Wellwishers excused it on the ground of old age. In any case what he wrote or did not write was of no consequence, for what was he now? People who were under obligations to him looked him in the face without raising their hats, many laughed