The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-07-31
Baron De RothSchild.
THE GREAT EUROPEAN FINANCIER

ing-house which has made kings and prin-
ces tributary to its treasury. A brief ac-
count of the rise and progress of this mon
eyed family, which we find in Harper's
Weekly will be interesting in this place.
Meyer Anselm Rothschild was born at
Frankfort on-the-M Maine, Germany, in 1743,
and died there in 1921. He was a money
changer and exchange broker in easy cir
cumstances. In the first campaign of the
French Revolution, General Cuisine, at the
head of the Republican army, took Frank
fort, and the Senate, in order to save the
town from pillage, agreed to pay a heavy
ransom. To meet the emergency, Meyer
Anselm Rothschild obtained a loan from
his friend the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel.
This was the beginning of a series of
transactions which continued through the
war; and in this connection the house of
Rothschild acquired its first standing in the
financial affairs of Europe. This land
grave, William TX, was one of those Ger
man despots who sold troops to England
during the American Revolution, and af-
lCIWdIu IllC Wills VI Viz L lClIh
Revolution. He accumulated immense
sums of money, but his tricky politics ex-
cited the Indignation of Napoleon. After
the battle of Jena, Napoleon decreed the
forfeiture of the States of Brunswick and
HeSse-C asset, and the French army was
put in motion to enforce the decree. The
landgrave was forced to fly; but he had in
his vaults twelve millions of tlOrins about
five millions of dollars) in silver To save
this vast amount of money from the French
was difficult matter, as it could not be
carried away, and the landgrave had no
confidence in his subjects. He sent for NJ.
\. Rothschild, and entreated him to take
charge of the treasure, giving him the use
Of the money without interest. By the as
sistance of some friends, Jewish bankers
at Cassel, the money was carefully slowed
away; those who desire to give touch of
romance to the story say that it was hidden
in Rothschilds garden. But, however it
may have been secreted, it was the stepping
stone to the immense fortunes of the house
of Rothschild. Meyer Anselm at this time
had five sons, three of whom-Anselm,
Nathan. and Solomon-were of age. An
selm was sent to Frankfort, while Nathan
was established in England: first in Man.
chester and subsequently in London-and
Solomon became travelling agent of the
house, visiting the various courts and prin-
ces of Germany who needed loans. By en-
terprise and industry the original capital of
th. financial establishment rapidly in
creased. Thus in 1918 its managers were
appointed agents for the payment by Eng
land of twelve millions sterling to Russia,
Austria, and Prussia-an operation which
was the source of very considerable profit
| to n,e Rothschilds. When the allied SOW
creigns iii the same year were pursuing
Napoleon, ate his defeat at Leipsic, and
had reached the po.4,.,-s of the Rhine at
Frankfort, the depleted condition of the
Austrian treasury compelled PriE"e Met
ternich to borrow from Rothschild, a j ",
because the merchants of Frankfort would
not, or could not, respond to the imperial
demands. The promptness and the grace
with which the request was granted was
not forgotten. NJ. A. Rothschild was crea-
ted baron of the Austrian Empire; his
son Nathan was appointed Austrian Con-
sui General in Great Britain, and the whole
weigh. If Austrian influence was devoted
to extend and secure the moneyed interests
of the house of Rothschild.
The Hessian landgrave's money was re-
tanned at the paltry interest Of two per
cent. until his death in 1923. NJ. A. Roths-
) child died in 1921, at which time his five
sons were at the head of five immense es-
Establishments, at Frankfort London, Paris,
} Vienna, and Naples. Between the brothers
there was a copartnership and perfect I'M
animity The foresight and enterprise OF
r the house, together with this cooperation
made it almost despotic in the financial at
9 fairs of Europe. Such was its influence
, that it frequently decided the issues o
+ peace and war. In 1880 Anselm Roths
n child, at Frankfort, was bold enough to de
e clare: s.The house of Austria desires war
:, but the house of Rothschild requires peace.
h Again, in 1910, when war was on the poin
t of breaking out between the Porte ant
if Mehemet Ali, the Rothschilds preserves
II the peace of Europe by arguments NOR
}; potent than could be urged by the mos
l. eminent statesmen.
e James Rothschild, the subject of GU
lc sketch, was the last surviving brother
< the original house, and now that he is deaf
l. the third generation of Rothschilds con
b. duct the business. James opened tt
lie clearinghouse in Paris in 1915 He ha
I'd been appointed Consul for Austr
TX in France. lie had no taste for polite
III life: to be the central figure of the mo
Int powerful commercial house that ever
ut listed, satisfied his ambition. He gave co
st siderable attention to railroad affairs III Il
nd early part of his French connection, al
on was noted for the boltlness OF his ventur
by in the channels of speculation. He W
Die charged with having been the occasion
he much suffering in the famine of 1S47,
mt his transactions in grain and other ag
nS cultural products, and became the obj
ry, of popular malevolence to such an exte
III. that when the revolution of 1S4o bro
ect out, the castle of Suresnes part OF
at property, was sacked by the mob.
ike He married, rather late in life, his o
de- niece, the daughter of Solomon Rothschi
the in accordance with the ancient resolve
ing the family-that of intermarriage amt
gh- it's members lie was by no means mise
oks in private life, as some assert of him, l
mes on the contrary, he lived in the most
lere urious style, and appeared to delight in
liver pensins munificent hospitality to
lind friends and acquaintance. Several Jew
the charitable institutions owe their eXistc
cap to his liberality. In Paris he was kno
elit on account of his frequent dealings '
Oh crowned heads. as SO lie pretew des no
mite .sThc Kings Money-lcnder, and is
ally posed to have been worth at the time
gain his death nearly $500, 10000 to W
rare vast wealth his son Edmond succeeds