Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-12-31

Foiion was 30 completely untinged with bigot
r ry, that in his charities he made no distinc
tion between the jew and the Christian.
f In 1912, Rothschild left the mighty for
tunes, ,ofwhich his wisdom had laid the founda
tion TO ten children-Gye sons and FIVE daugh
ters-laying upon them, with his last breath
the injunction of an invoable union. This
is one of the grand principles to which the
success of the family may he traced. The
command WAS kept by the sons with religious
fidelity. The corarinership in which they
were left, remained uninterrupted; and from
the moment of their fathers death, every pro-
posal of moment was submitted 10 their joint
discussion, and carried ont upon an agreed
PLAN each of the brothers sharing equally in
the results. The other great principles of their
conduct is one which aciuates all prudent men,
and is only deserving of special remark in
them, from the almost mechanical regularity
with which it was acted upOn-this was the
determination never to run the slightest risk
in pursuit OF great profits. Theii srapd object
was to see clearly each transaction to its ter
minaton, to secure themselves from all acci-
dents that human forethought could avert, and
to be satisfied with reasonable and ordinary
reward. The plan acted in twofold manner
By outstanding their capital, they were enabled
to take advantage of thousand recurring
commissions, so as to extend their connection
day by day; while their habiinal caution
earned lJr them reputation of solidity,which
united with their real wealth, carried their
credit to a pitch which would have been dan
gerous, il not fatal, to less steady intellects-
Credit, however, was no snare to them. They
affected ne master-strokes-no eogps detat-
They would have used the lamp of Aladdin,
not to summon genii, but to light their steps
as they toied on n the path of genii The
only secrets by which they obtained their
choice of innumerable offers of business, were
the moderation of their demands-the pnnctual
fulhlment of their engagements-and the sim
plcity and clearness of their system. In short,
the house of Rothschild became great because
its affairs were conducted upon the most per-
feet system of mercantile tactics and because
the character of its members, partaking largely
of that of the original banker of Frankfort,
combined many of those amiable qualities
which secure popularity without for!eiting res
pect They sought TO make money by skill
and industry, not parsnony they gave lib
eral share of their profits to all whose services
were of use in attaining them; and their
hand
"open as day to melting charity
doubled the value of the gift by the grace
with which it was presented-the grace i'm
pressed upon the external manner by simple
and kindly heart.
We may now mention another circumstance
which, on various occasions, must have con-
tributed largely to the mercantile success of
the family. Although their real union contin-
ued indssoluble, their places of residence
were far asunder each member of the house
domiciling himself in different country AT
this moment, for instance, Anselm, born in
l773, resides at Frankfort; Solomon, horn in
INA, chieayat Vienna Charles, born in lI7s,
at Naples and James, born in 1909, at Paris
The fifth brother, Nathan, born in lI77, resi-
ded in London, and died at Frankfort in 1897.
The house was thus ubiquitous. It was
spread like network over the nations and
it is no wonder that, with all other things con-
sidered, its operations upon the money market
should at length have been felt tremblngly by
every cabinet in Europe. Its wealth in the
meantime enabled tito enjoy those advantages
of separation without the difficulties Of dis
tanCe. COuriers travelled, and still travel from
brother to brother at the highest speed of the
time and these private envoys Of commerce
very frequently outstripped, and still outstrp
expresses of government.
We have no means Of giving anything like
the statistics of this remarkable business; but
it is stated in the Conversations Lexicon"
that in the space of twelve years from 1873
the period, we may remark, when war had
ruined all Europe, and when governments
were only able to keep themselves afoat by |
hinging the financial burden upon posterty-
between eleven and twelve hundred million |
dorins (fllO,OOO,OOO to sl2O, ,oOO) were
raised for the soyereigns of Europe through |
the agence of this house, partly as loans, and |
partly as subsidies. OF these, 100000, 900 |
Aorins were for England; 100000 900 for Aus
tria; 100000, 900 for Prussia 200 900, 900 for |
France; l2O,OOO,OOO for Naples 6O,OOO,OOO for |
Russia 100000 for some OF the German |
courts 30, ,OOO, 900 for Brazil. And this, 1t is |
added is exclusive ''of those sums for the al |
lied courts, of several hundred millions each, |
which were paid as an indemnity for the war
to the French, and likewise of the manifold |
preceding operations executed by the house as
commissioners for different governments, the
total account of which far exceeded the fore
going" This, however, may already be con-
sidered an antiquated authority; fer, in reali-
ty the vast business of the firm can hardly
be said to have commenced till after the dozen
years referred to had expired. Since the year
1926, the house of Rothschild has been the
general government bankers of Europe and |
if it were possible to compare the two circles
of transactions, the former would seem to
dwinde into insignifcance.
In 1915, the brothers were appointed conn-
scllors of finance to the then Elector of Hesse
und in 1926, by the present eleetor, priyy
connsellors of finance. In 1918, they were
elected to the Royal Prussian privy council of
commerce. In Austria, they received, in 1915,
the privilege of being hereditary landholders
and in 1922, wero ennobled in the same coun-
try with the title of baron. The brother es-
tablished in London was appointed imperial
consul, and afterwards consul-general and in
the same year (ls22) the same honor was con-
ferred upon the brother resident in Paris. The
latter, the Baron James, has the reputation OF
being the most able financier in France; and
it is mainly through his assistance and inau-
ence with the other capitalists that railways
are now iutersecting the length and breadth