New-York tribune., 1885-07-19
THE NEW PEERAGES.


the departing Government on Its supporters are
perhaps less numerous than was expected. Some
have been refused. Mr.. Gladstone set the example
by declining the Earldom which the Queen offered
him. 1t was fitting that the Queen should offer 1T;
still moro fitting that Mr. Gladstone should decline
it. Mr.. Treveyan has expressed the general feeling
1t is not for Mr.. Gladstone to go up to the Lords
1t is for the Lords to come down to him; as they
often have The Paper Duty, says Mr.. Trcvelyan.
the Irish Church Bill, both the Irish Land Bills,
the Abolition of Purchase IN the Army, the estab-
lshment of Household Sufage in the Counties, these
are, il the most conspicuous only q few out of the
many instances in which the Lords came down to
Mr.. Gladstone; and sometimes came down with
rum and at this time OF day few people desire that
he should reverse the process To accept Peerage,
moreover, would be to abandon his leadership of
the Liberals; perhaps to imperi his unequalled
popularity His present position recalls q celc-
brated saying Of Gambetta. A friend remarked
that he had no cross or decoration, not even the
Legion Of Honor Non" answered tho great
Frenchman, "mas fen donne" SO docs Mr. Glad
stone.
The Rothschild peerage is the one which is most
talked about. II there people who object to It,
they people who cling to old preudices against
the race to which Sir Nathaniel de Rothschld-to
give him his old name more-belonge. 1t
must be admitted that there are such people. and
some of them are to be found in the order which is
now for the first time thrown open to q Jew.
Their grumbling need not detain u.s. don't doubt
that Mr.. Gladstone, though the strctest OF
Churchman rejoced in the offer he was able
to make to the head of the Rothschi!ds all the
more because Of his alien faith He is in such
matters Mt least in this matter n Liberal first
and Churchman aftcrward Nobody disputes the
fitness of this gift personal grounds Sir
Nathaniel dc Rothschild has been the chief of the
house for some ten years. lie inherited his English
baronctcy from his uncle, Sir Anthony, Who took
it with special remainder in default of male issue
to his nephews, tho sons of Baron Lionel. The
services rendered by the firm of Mcssrs n NJ.
Rothschd & Sons to tile Government are
matters of notoriety. The million sterling they
advanced for Egypt is one of the latest but per-
haps the most remarkable. They lent 1t on the ex-
preston of wish by tho English Ministry, OF
rather by Lord Granville; in one more instance of
the curious relations between the English and
Egyptian Governments. The loan has not been
paid off; was indeed. renewed once more after
the accession Of the present Ministry.
Sir Nathanicl's father was the first Jew to sat in
the House of Commons; the hero of that long con-
test which ended in the triumph of free principles
over narrow bigotry. Events rapidly In
these days. yet il IL quite easy to convince ones
self that less than thirty years ago Jew could not
sit in the House of Commons. The oath required
was ION the true faith Of Christian Baron
Lionel omitted these words; the House decided the
omission 10 be fatal to his claim. In 1865 special
resolution moved by Lord John Russell cancelled
the obnoxious words. Eight years later came the
law by which the oath for both Houses was made
identical.
Sir Nathaniel himself is the official head, ono
may say, of the Jewish community. lie IL Prcsi-
dent Of the United Synagogue aud of the Jews
Free School lie has never withdrawn himself in
any way or in the slightest degree from the fulcs,
and association with his own people,
nor radc the least concession to the stale prejudice
against his race and his faith. The Roths hilds
not of the ancient prIesty lineage which counts for
10 much among the Jews. The place they fill they
have conquered: not inherited Perhaps that
would not be their least recommendation 20 Amcri-
raos Another thing will recommend Sir Nathaniel
lie Rothschild TO Americans. lie OF the
few Engiishncn who fOresaw the triumph OF the
Union in the Civil War. At the moment when
things looked blaclcst he invested tho whole of his
personal fortune IN American securities lie was
hen young man of twenty three; his father alive;
firm whose fortunes he has since directed aud en-
arged. With just pride in his name. he takes no
territorial designation but will be known hereafter
As Lord de Rothschild.
Mr. Edward Barring, whom Mr. Gladstone makes
. Baron, il. the head of Messrs Barring Brothers a.
Co.. firm which like the Rohschilds, has at times
he third peeragc in the family: the other two
,cing those held by Earl Northbrook and Lord
lshburton. The business world of London rcjoiccs
N this recognition of its members of. the phrase
,ocs here, city men among all whom none stands
higher than Mr. Edward Barring hcnccforward to
Dc called Lord Revclst0ke.
Probably none Of his creations pleased Mr.. Glad
tone more than that Of Sir Ralph Lingcn. who be-
zones Peer; by what title seems not to be
,nown. Sir Ralph Lingcn's claim to distinction
consists in his guardianship of tho Treasury, of
which he has been permanent secretary since 1869.
)f the bureaucracy Of permanent clerks who really
,overn this country he is perhaps the chief. The
treasury is supreme over everything except the
iouse of Commons; grants and witbhoIds money;
upervises every expenditure; prevents much,
limits what il does not prevent. and asserts in all
orts Of ways the power Of the purse and of tho
Sir Ralph Lingen is the impcrson-
tion of this system. Mr. Gladstone has been
,nown to culogzc him as one of tho greatest living
,enefactors of his country. He is ferocious
economist; parsimonlous with public money; look
ng upon the chief OF each spending department as
public enemy, against whom he defends the public
reasury. Be his services greater or less he has his
eward
Sir Robert Collier and Sir Arthur Hobhouse are
made Peers IN order to strengthen the legal side of
he House of Lords. Tho former was Solicitor
ieneral In the AIabama-AIexandra days. and
roved his soundncss as a lawyer by tho views he
ook of the obligations of the British Government
n respect of stopping the rebel corsars and rams.
lie became Attorney General in Mr.. Gladstone's
OF 1S8s three years later followed
lis appointment to the judicial committee of the
LIZ. Ganneu. 1alace - orfh &21 QQQ a