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

landlords and most popular of country
gentlemen. He is keen sportman. a
master OF foxhounds, and, like his father.
noted patron of the turf. He owns good
horses, and runs them to win. and he
snares With the Duke of Beaufort. the
DuKe OF Westminster and other men of the
niehest rank, the credit of maintaining
the prestige of racing in England by pur-
SUNG 1t solely for the sake of sport and
horsebreeding, and not at all for the sake
of gambling.
Lord Rothschild is nominally the head
OF the London bank commonly called n.
NJ. Rothschild IL Sons; and in all matters
oi serious Importance he takes an active
interest in the business But his next
brother, Alfred, is really the financier and
IN the CITY man who bears the responsibilities
o. the mighty house OF RothschiId He is
director of the Bank of England. and
through one channel or another is repre-
sehted In the control Of every financial in
stltution of first rate importance. He is
nlghiy educated, and far superior, intel
iectually, to the average man of business;
ana when he is consulted, as he invariably
49, upon financial questions of worldwide
magnitude, he is regarded rather as a
Statesman than as mere banker. 1t
might well be imagined that no one man
could possibly bear the burden Of such
business as his; but, in fact,
hothschiids have system of family
strain on the individuals. and at the same
time makes their judgment in financial
questions almost iniallible. 1t would be
quite impossible for such series of blund-
ers TO occur IN their affairs as occurred in
the affairs of the Earrings, where one men,
per OF the firm, Lord Revelstoke, was al
lowed Tor years to follow his own bent,
almost without the knowledge OF bis part
ners. With the Rothschilds certain
Weli-consldered, well-tried line of policy
Is steadfastly adhered to. and on all
special occasions, not only the members of
the London iirm, but those of the several
continental firms, are consulted, and their
joint decision, backed by their Joint
credit, is what is carried out. Broadly
speaking. the secret of the Rothschilds'
success is the very simple one of not TAX
ing extraordinary risks for the sake OF
making an exorbita1t profit. Their oper-
atoms are often very bold and startling,
but they never go into transaction with
out being fully prepared to bear the ut
most loss that can ensue from it. They
make mistakes and incur losses some
times, like other people, but nobody ever
hears OF them. and the 1rst loss is the last.
sometimes they provide vast sums of
money for objects which cannot pos
sibly pay them directly, but those
who know them best are the least
likely to question the ultimate wisdom of
their action. They invest enormously
In iand-in which respect they differ from
most jewish houses-but only in countries
under the British mag; whereas they in
vest almost to an equal extent in mines in
foreign countries. They have a complete
monopoly, OF the quicksilver mines of the
world and they actually regulate the sup
ply SO as to OBTAIN the highest price that is
compatible with tic necessities of COM
merce. On the whole, however. the Roths-
childs are opposed to monopolies and
They RI af
ana TO take only their fair share of what
is TO be got In the open market. They give
no countenance to underhand or secret
combinations. This was strikingly exem-
plited in the case of the Union General, a
great French banking scheme which
aimed at nothing less than the monopoly
of the finance of all the Catholics
in the world. 1t was entirely got
up by Jews, but was SO sklllfully done
that most of the leading Catholics of Eu-
rope fell into the trap and believed 1t was
a Catholic affair. The pope not only gave
1t his sanction but Invested a large
amount of papal funds in it. The Austrian
emperor and his family took stock in
il to the extent of { 100000 sterling. The
Comte de Cnambord and the other Bour-
bons did the same. The Rothschilds were
offered an opportunity OF joining at an
early stage on very profitable terms, and
there Is little doubt that II they had
joined, the project would have succeeded.
But they positively refused to have any
thing to do with 1t, and privately warned
all their friends and clients against 1t. The
result was a disastrous failure and loss
OF $50, 0o0, 900. If the Rothschilds had not
opposed il As promptly and emphatically
as they did, If they had tried to make a
little dirty money out Of it, while yet not
committing themselves openly to 1t, the
loss would probably have been ten times
as great as 1t was, and the consequences
would have been felt all over the word.
Sometimes sentiment enters into the
Rothschlids' business affairs, as when they
withdrew altogether from dealing III Rus
sian loans as mark OF their indignation
at the parDarous treatment OF the Jews by
the czar's government. That withdrawal
doubtless cost the Rothschilds a good deal,
for Russia pays high rates OF interest and
has never made default. But It inflicted
such blow on Russia that the finances of
that country have been III confusion ever
since.
1t must be said for the Rothschilds that
they are always on the side OF enlighten-
ment and progress. In politics i'll Eng
land they have been advanced Liberals
ever since they had any influence at all;
and when, IN lsS6. Mr.. Gladstone broke up
the Liberal party by hi home rule bliI,
the whole family vent with John Bright,
Lord Harrington, Mr.. Chamberlain and
the others who are now called Liberal I'M
lonlStS. Iney are Stauucn supporters OF
the empire and warmly attached to the
royal family, and they enjoy the personal
friendship OF the queen and the Prince OF
Wales.
The Rothschilds are very much alike in
anpearanCe. and are Enthusiastically Jew lsn
looking. They are OF exactly the same
type, III fact, as thousands of Jewish bank
ers and merchants who may be seen anv
day in the streets of New York, and have
nothing in common with the romantic
Oriental type depicted by Dlsraeli III his
novels anu eXempllned 70 some extent III
himself They are short and stout, with
black hair. dark complexion, large nose
and thick lips and though their physique
is already improved Dy outdoor exercise
and country life, IL will take some
generations yet 70 make them
resemble their Angio-SaxOn fei-
low countrymen. Lord Rothschlld
only daughter married the Earl
OF Roseberrv. and the probability is mat
other mixed marriages viii follow, until
the Rothschilds, like the Dlsraelis ana
others. Will lose their Jewish identity and
become absorbed into the English stock.
However that may be, 1t Is certain that 50
long as they retain their family character
istics and their countless wealth they VIII
never cease to exercise an appreciate IN
tuence on the affairs of their country and
of the world. EDWARD NAhEtIkLD
Excursious 10 snoquaimte rails.
s. for round trip on sundays, limited 70 date
OF sale $50 Tor round trip, tEree-day tie&ets
to be sold on saturdays special rates ioT par
ties made on application 20 me. Fine trout hsh-
ing; delightful resort; good hotel. /. A Ma
General