Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-05-10

ntSotlateu uurlnS tne last seVenty-nve
or hundred years would aggregate
billions of dollars. There is scarcely a
government on earth with which they
have not had financial transactions,
, the United States being the last to
: enter its name upon their books.
1t was at the chateau of Baron Al
phonse Rothschild that the Emperor
Louis Napoleon met the kaiser OF
Germany to negotiate the treaty that
terminated the treaty of the Franco
German war, and the homes of the
other members of the house have been
for nearly half a century -honorsd ro-
sorts of kings and princes.
The government loans they have
negotiated during the last seventy five
or hundred years would aggregate bill
lions OF dollars. There is scarcely gov
ernment on earth with which they
have not had financial transactions,
the United States being the last to
enter its name upon their books.
1t was Sir Lionel Rothschild, for
many years, and until 1879, the head
of the London house, who made the
fight for the recognition of his race in
the political system of Great Britain,
and his remarkable and persistent ef-
forts to secure the removal of the civil
and political disabilities with which
the Jews in England were hampered
is historic. The law required every
office-holder to swear allegiance to the
established church. and although Glib
bon and Charles Bradlaugh, both
atheists who denied the existence OF
God and repudiated the holy scrip
lures, were allowed to take seats in
parliament, Sir Lionel Rothschild was
not, because he declined to take that
oath.
In 1S47 he was first elected, and,
being refused seat, went before the
people again and was reelected by
majority of 7,00Ovotes. In 1852, in
1853 and annually thereafter until
1858 Sir Lionel presented himself be.
fore the bar OF the house of commons
with certificate of election, but on
being offered the ordinary form OF
oath declined to be sworn except as a
Jew upon the books of Moses.
In 1853 a bill passed parliament
omitting the offensive words from the
oath, and Sir Lionel, after more than
ten years contest, WAS swvrn uu tlie
old testament and allowed to take his
seat.
He continued to represent the city
OF London in the house of commons
until his death, but never took a
prominent part in politics, and is not
known to have ever delivered a speech.
But his quiet, unobtrusive influence
upon legislation, and particularly that
relating to the finances OF the united
kingdom, was greater than was exer-
cised by any other member Of parlia-
ment. He continued to manage the
affiaits of the firm up to the very eve
of his death, which occurred without
the slightest warning June 3, 1879.
Since then the business has been
managed by his tons, who equal him
in ability, and Queen Victoria, during
the jubilee year, was pleased to raise
Sir Nathaniel to the peerage, so that
he was the first Jew that ever entered
the house of lords.
The Vienna house has exercised an
influence and enjoyed a prominence
fully equal to that of the London
family, and has had the leading part
in all the great financial operations in
Austria during the last half-century.
The same may be said OF the Paris
establishment, which began its career
during the financial confusion which
followed the overthrow of Napoleon,
and has not only been the most prom
inent financial agent OF the govern
ment, but has exercised q greater in
fuence than any other firm upon
commercial and industrial undertak-
ings. Baron James Rothschild was
the father of the railway system Of
France, and his son, Baron Alphonse,
has again and again come to the re-
lief of the government when it was in
desperate extremities.
The business of the Paris firm has
been more extensive during the last
twenty or thirty years than that OF
any of the others and has embraced
not only loan operations but CONNER
cial undertakings of every description.
1t was through Baron Alphonse that
the payment Of the indemnity to Ger
many was made at the close of the
Franco Prussian war, and, as / have
: already stated, it was under his roof
that the German and French emper.
ors found neutral ground.
The Rothschilds have always been
noted for their philanthropy as we'll as
l for their riches, but at the same time
4 have inherited from the founder ol
their house habits OF frugality and ex-
e actness which have made them objects
s of ridicule among frivolous people.
They tell story OF the late Sill
Lionel which illustrates his economy
u as we'll as the quality of his wit. He
: rode from his office to his residence
one day in handsome cab. and, ar
II irving there, handed cabby shilling
g which was the lawful fare. The latte
II took the coin and with a sneer re
u marked:
"Your son always gives me at leas
J. half a crown when l bring him home.
'r He can afford to-" was the baro
of nets retort, for he has rich father
1t while have not"