The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-22
land. Napoleon heard of it and tried
every way to induce the banker to give


A ommission went to his establish
ment and infinitely examined the vault
aud the books. Menaces and intinlda-
ton We're III vain, however, in persuad-
ing Rothschild to divulge the where
abouts of the treasure and the commission
undertook to play upon his religious
scruples by demanding an oath. II 10 re
fused TO take it, and there was talk OF
putting MIN under arrest. Napoleon dia
not quite care to venture such an act OF
violence and an effort was then made 10
win the old man by the promise OF gam.
They proposed to leave him hall the
treasure If he would deliver the other
half to the French officials. They prom,
ised him receipt in full. accompanied
by a certificate proving that he had ylelded
only to force and that he was oiameiess
for the seizure of the large amount; But
the banker had already decided that all
trusts were sacred, and refused:
In 1914 the elector returned to frank
fort and the 15 OO0 00U francs were paid
back to him. The terms:ot the deposit
gavs the Rothschilds the interest on she
money while it was IN thelT custody, and
this considerable sum was IN reality the
cornerstone of the family fortune.
Wealthy marriage has also been part Of
the creed of the family. In 1896 the son
who mad settled in London married the
daughter of rich banker, Levi Barnet
Cohen.
This Nathan Rothschild was on the bat
tlefield of Waterloo and by q wonderfully
quick trip reached London before the real
news had heen received BY the govern
ment. He was on the stan of Wellington.
and the minute he saw the defeat of
Napoleon was certain he rode at break
neck speed to Ostend, crossed the chan
mel at the risk of his life aud was on the
stock exchange next morning. At that
time England only know OF the first part
of the battle. when it seemed that Ma
poleon was again destined to conquer.
Rothschild's gloomy air and the adrolt
rumors put in circulation argued the
wors. for England. The prices OF Sc
curit;es fell at terrific rate. At the
proper time Rothschild put his agents at
work buying every thing in sight Later
came the news of Wellingion's victory.
Rothsohild is said to have cleared Sc, 000,-
900 by the deal.
Bismarck has been forced to bow to the
moneyed mower of this family. In 1866
the Prussian government demanded an
indemnity of S25, 900. 900 from the city of
Frankfort. The Rotbschilds sent word
to Bismarck that if any attempt was
made to enforce the levy, they would
break every bank in Berlin. This was
no idle threat, as Bismarck we'll knew,
and he succumbed to the inevitable.
Baron Alphonse de ROthschild, to
whom tho internal ma ohine was recently
sent, Is the head of the Paris bank. He
has strong ideas on the labor question.
and has made many enemies in conse-
quence. Three years ago he expressed
these views OH the labor problem:
II do not believe in the so-called labor
movement. l am confident that the
workingmen, generally speaking, are
satisfied with their condition and have
neither cause nor desire to complain.
They are, am convinced, Indifferent to
socialism. TO be sure, some agitators
make plenty Of noise, but that amounts
honest and reasonable workingmen.
I'm considering the so-called labor
movement it is necessary, however, to
distinguish goou from bad workingmen.
"OnIy the idle, good -foI-nothing desire
the eight-hour day. Serious men, faith
ers of families. work as long as they
think necessary for their own and their
childrens needs. There is much loose
talk nowadays about the danger of so
much capital IN the hands of few men.
This is all rubbish. Some men are richer;
others are poorer. Tomorrow this is all
changed by vicissitudes which nobody
can control. 1t is the money which cir
culates which fructities. and money cir
calates with the same risk to all. 1t is
money which one lends Ia confidence
for so called good things which do not
always turn out to be good. All that APP
plies to the great as well as the small
ventures.
"Frighten and threaten capital and it
vanishes. Capital is like water. Grasp it
violently and it slips through your fin
gers treat it gently, dig a canal in which
to lead it, and it runs wherever you will.
Capital is country's fortune. 1t repre-
sents the energy, intelligence, thrift and
labor Of the people. Capital is labor.
Apart from unhappy exceptions. which
seem to be unavoidable. each shares in
the peoples capital according to his in
telligence, energy and work accom- plished.
If workman be disconnected with his
share he may strike.
cit is uni 1t to compare man with
capital and intelligence, organizing facul-
ties, invention and knowledge with any
gross brutal workman who applies to
his work only the unintelligent work OF
his hands,
These views were not pleasant to the
exctable masses of Paris. Perhaps the
internal machine was an echo Of them.
OF the eleven barons, Nathaniel, Alfred
and Leopold are located in London; AL
phonse, Gustav, EdwarN. Adolph and
James in Paris: Nathaniel in Vienna and
William in Frankfort. The Belmonts are
the agents in this country.
Some idea of their riches can be had
from the fact that since 1915 they have
raised for Great Britain alone more than
81, 900, 010 600; for Austria, $3.50, 900, 900;
for Prussia, 5000, 000,O 600; for France,
$500. 900. QUO: for Russia, $125, 600. 900; for
Brazil, from $50. 900, 900 to $40. 900. 900, and
they took through the acknowledgment
syndicate about $15 600, 600 of the issue of
United States bonds last February.