The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-09

as much as the New York Central system
is owned by the Vanderbilts. The Queen
Regent and the boy King are picturesque
fgureheads, and serve their purpose just
as Chauncey NJ. Depew is the glory
crowned fgure-he of the New York Cen
trS!.
The chief difference between the two
corporations is that while the stock of
Spain is quoted at about IS or 50 cents on
abe dollar, the stock of the New York
Central sells for over 10, and while the
assets of the New York Central amount to
nearly 100000. Spain has not an asset
that can be relied on TO bring ready money
in the market. She has mortgaged her
monopolies and pledged her revenues until
she has nothing left to pawn.
That nation which made il a point of
honor and religion TO torture Hebrews is
now as absolutely owned by the great
Jewish bankers as purchase can give tile.
1t Is strange sort of anomaly, this
nation which saw the trains of mules shod
with silver entering Madrid bearing their
panniers laden with gold and gems de-
spoiled from the empires of Montezuma
and Inca now selling its notes of hand In
the open market far below par.
The Rothschilds are not al present much
delighted with their bargain, but Spain
was bought comparatively cheap, and her
owners may get something back event
ually. 1t is a peice of property which Is
capable of being improved, and if put into
the hands of joint stock company some
thing might be done with il. At present
the owners of Spain are letting the royal
family and number of politicians man
age the estate, but are about ready to get
new stewards. If Mr.. Depew ran the New
York Central as the rulers of Spain run
that property, the Nanderbilts would soon
get another man in his place. The New
York Central earns from 100000 TO $15
100000 year clear of all expenses, while
Spain, to meet her expenses for the year
1897, had to borrow $47 10000.
The debt of Spain is given by the Brit
fish authority the Statesman's Year Book.
as nearly $4,000 900 600, besides $500, 900, 600
which has been saddled on Cuba, and for
which the island is mortgaged. Then
Spain has a floating debt of about $780,
10000, and, Furthermore, her relations
with the Bank of Spain are not satisfac-
tory to the bank.
In short, Spain is mortgaged for all that
can be raised on her, and the Rothschilds
hold the mortgage. They can foreelose
this mortgage at any time, and. of course,
Spain could not fight through a war with
out money or credit. The Rothschilds are
not disposed to loan her more money, and
at the Office of August Belmont & Co,
the New York agents of the Rothschilds,
II was positively stated last week that
Spain had contracted no private loan.
The Bank of Spain has made a state
ment showing that il has notes in circu-
lation to the amount of 1,25l, 900 pese-
tas and gold reserve of only 23S,0O0.O0O
pesetas, while the silver and gold which
it holds altogether amount to only J09,-
100000 pesetas. A peseta is nominally
worth % cents. Taking it altogether, tie
New York Central is a more valuable
property than Spain at present
While the bonds of the United States
and the bonds and stock of the many
great corporations within her borders sell
at high premium, the bonds of Spain go
s-begging. Her owners are opposed to
her issuing any more stock, as she is al
ready suffering from an over-issue.
Now, the question is, What will the
owners of Spain do with her? If sne
fights, she loses Cuba and possibly the
Philippine Islands, and if she does not
fight, there is every prospect of revo-
luton which will sweep away the noy
King and the Queen Regent. If Don Car
los were a man of more character the
owners of Spain would probably put him
at the head of affairs, but his tnancial
record is bad, and, though his second wife
is a woman of wealth, there is much hesi-
fancy about considering his claims to the
superintendency of the Spanish property.
1t is puzzling situation for the owners
of Spain, and Mr.. Depew, secure in his
lob. with a record of profits to give his
employers, must feel a sort of pity for
the incompetent ones who have only de-
ficits to report and are in grievous danger
of losing their positions
Some years before the middle OF the
eighteenth century, Hebrew known SIM
pIy as Anselm, opened shop in which
he dealt in old coins and curlosities, at
No 50 Judengasse Frankfort, over the
door of which was a red shield. This
mans descendants have become the mon
ey kings of the world
1t has been stated that his full name
was Anselm Moses Bauer; but this seems
hardly probable, since Hebrews of his
time were forbidden by law in Frankfort
to assume more than one name. by li4S
however. when Anselm's first son was
born, the most repressive of the anti
Jewish rules had begun to relax, and the
boy was known as Meyer Anselm to dis
tinguish him from his father.
Ii was intended that he should become
q rabbi, but he preferred money-lending
and when his father died continued and
enlarged the business in the old place. Ir
time he came TO be known as Meyer An.
selm OF the Red Shield. or Won Roth
schild. andthe family has borne the name
of Rothschild ever since.
The Rothschild ancestors were among
those of his race who fed to Germany
from Spain to escape the prosecutions Of
the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries. and there is a tradition thai
the first Rothschild was descended from
a Spanish refugee. This receives soms
color OF truth from the fact that the
Rothschilds refused financial favors e
Spain long after all the other nations o.
Europe had become customers of the
house. Curiously enough, the Rothschild.
were also for many years exceedingly
chary of venturing money on United State
securities, though they are now heavl
creditors of this nation as well as Spain
II Is well known that the Rothschilds
fortunes got their first boost through tn
care Meyer Anselm took of the money lef
in his charge by a Landgrave of Hesse
Cassel near the beginning Of the presen
century, when Napoleon was about to in
wade Germany.
This Landgrave. William TX. was III,
successor of Frederick H., the Landgrav