The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-10

Englishman can occupy, before he was
able to speak or vote. He sat without
the bar" for some sixteen years, silent
witness of gross injustice and a monstrous
absurdity: and his constituents, the
proudest commercial community in the
world, preferred to be represented by him
in that humiliatlng situation, rather than
by any one else who could enjoy all the
rights and privileges of member of
parliament.
On the last occasion when the Jewish
disabilities bill was brought forward, the
Earl of Derby, then leader of the opposi-
ton in the House of Lords. spoke strongly
against it on the ground that Jews were
not mt to sit in a Christian legislature. An
admirable cartoon was published at the
time, representing the well-known scene
in Sir Walter Scott's 'Ivanhoe," where
Isaac of York seeks to take the head of
the knight Templar Brian de Bots Gilbert.
In the novel, the templar repels him with
scorn. exclaiming Back. Jew! l touch
not misbelievers save with the sword !"
In the caricature Lord Derby was repre-
sented saying to Baron Rothschild: Back
Jew / touch not misbelievers save with
the-betting book. What will you do
about Blink Bonny?" Blink Bonny was
Lord Derby's famous mare that won the
stakes in '63. and the alusion was TO the
well-known fact of the naughty earl being
an intimate friend of the Jewish banker
on the turf
The bill was passed into law that year,
Baron Rothschild took his seat in the
body of the house of commons amid
cheers and congratulations from all sides,
and the English Jews, than whom the
queen possessed no more loyal and public
spirited subjects, entered into the full
rights of citizenship.
Lone hefnr, than IF courSa mon IF
Jewish blood had held all sorts OF high
positions. Disraeli had been chancellor of
the exchequer and Bernal Osborne had sat
in parliament for years. But these were
either ChristianiZed Jews, or at all events
they had no scrupie about taking any kind
OF oath that was rendered to them.
Baron Rothschiid was the first Jew adj
herring openly and avowedly To the faith
OF his toreiathers who was enabled 10 hold
Office In England, and no more credltable
representative OF his people could have
been chosen.
With their legal disabilities, the preju-
dces Of other kinds against the Jews
rapidly disappeared. One of their num-
Der, Sir George Jessei, who was elevated
to the Judicial bench, proved one of its
noblest ornaments
Sir Moses Montefore, the centenarian
phllanthropist rather honored the rank
OF baronet than was honored by it: and
ia departments Oh lllt III soon came 10
he recognized that English Jews were in
every respect worthy OF the liberties of
Englishmen. Now. il is difficult to realize
mat any doubt en- that point, or any feel
Ing on the subject existed within the life
oil mddle-aged people now living.
There was a fear that when Jews were
admitted TO perfect equality in England
they would swarm in from the continent
aud dominate the country by their wealth
ana their clannishness. That fear, how
ever, was totally unfounded. For some
reason not easily explained, Jews have
never become numerous in England.
Moreover, the English Jews have never
shown that tendency to hold themselves
aooi and remain peculiar peopie which
they display elsewhere. On the contrary,
they become thoroughly English i'll habits
ana ideas. and in q few generations are
merged by marriage in the general popula-
non. Even their foreign names pass away
IN tlme or undergo change into an En-
glish form. This interesting subject is adj
mlrab.y dealt with by DlSraeh in "Endy-
mion,' where. III the character of Mr..
Neuichatel, he draws life-iike portrait of
baron RothsChIid. the founder OF the most
English OF all Jewish families.
Baron Rothschild though bearing q
foreign title and presiding over great
JEWISH bank III the city, was essentially
an English country gentleman, and his
isS, and the family now consists of his
three sons, Nathaniel Mayer. Lionel and
leopold, with their cousin Baron Ferdi-
nand. son ot Aureiius, head of the house
OF Rcthschiid at Vienna, who is a natural
Ied British subject AMI thoroughly
English in all but birth. The beautiful
county OF BuckinghamshiCe seems 10 have
some special attraction for the great Jew
lsh families Ii was there that Disraeli
made his home, in the romantic manor
house 81 II ughenden, and II Is there that
TIE ROthsCuiIdS have planted themselves
As hrmy - II they were native 10 the
soil The town of Aylesbury Is the very
center 0t their influence. Nathaniel Mayer
RoIhschlid was member of the house of
commons for Avlesbury for twenty years,
ana " hen IN lSS5 he was elected 10 the
house OF lords. his cousin, Baron kerdi-
nand, vas elected his successor and still
retains the seat. The several RothsChlld
estates ailoIn one another and cover a
large extent of the most picturesque
country IN England and the noble man
sons where they live in prlnCeiy spiendOr,
are the most conspicuous objects IN many
mile OF landscape.
Since Nathaniel Mayer was created Lord
kotnschId. the flrst Jew who ever was
enuo0ied III England. his branch Of the
family have dropped their foreign title OF
baron and are content ID be plain esqulres,
hSe the gentry with whom they rank, aud
when Baron Rothschild"is spoken OF IN
EuE.aDd now. IL is always Baron terdl-
hand. VI. +. for Aylesbury and lord OF the
magnificent estate % Waddeston, that Is