Irttuo to 4t Elam.
THE HAPSBITRORS AND THE SIDONIAS.
Sin—The Right Honourable Chancellor of the Exchequer remarks, in one of his cleverest politico-theological works, that "The Jews, indepen- dent of the qualities for citizenship which they possess in their industry, temperance, and energy and vivacity of mind, are a race essentially mon- archical, deeply religious, ever anxious to see the religious systems of the countries in which they live flourish." From this he infers that "the Jews are essentially Tones," indeed, if we are to believe Mr. Disraeli, Tory- ism is merely a modernoffshoot from that mysterious scheme of government by which Europe has been ruled for the last three centuries, " Toryism," to use the precise language of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, "is but copied from the mighty prototype which has fashioned Europe," and as he contends that the Jews " must become more powerful and more dangerous to the society which is hostile to them," one is naturally led to inquire, at a political crisis like the present, what course the wealthy Hebrews of ing- land and France are likely to take, in the event of any attempt being made by Francis Joseph to raise a loan, seeing that Austria has never been very friendly to the children of Israel.
.• I always make it a rule to interpose," says Sidonia, " when affairs of State are on the carpet. Otherwise, I- never interfere. I hear of peace and war in news- papers, but I am never alarmed, except when I am informed that the Sovereigns want treasure ; then I know that monarchs are serious.
" A few years back we were applied to by Russia. Now, there has been no friendship between the Court of St. Petersburgh and my family. It has Dutch con- nections, which have generally supplied it ; and our representations in favour of the Polish Hebrews, a numerous race, but the most suffering and degraded of all the tribes, have not been very agreeable to the Czar. However, circumstances drew to an approximation between the Romanoffs and the Sidonias. I resolved to go my- self to St. Petersburgh ; I had, on my arrival, an interview with the Russian Minis- ter of Finance, Count Cane= ; I beheld the son of a Lithuanian Jew. The loan was connected with the affairs of Spain ; I resolved on repairing to Spain from Russia. I travelled without intermission. I had an audience immediately on my arrival with the Spanish Minister, Senor Mendizabal ; I beheld one like myself, the son of a Ntsero Christiana., a Jew of Arragon. In consequence of what transpired at Madrid, I went straight to Paris to consult the President of the French Council ; I beheld the son of a French Jew, a hero, an imperial marshal, and very properly so, for who should be military heroes if not those who worship the Lord of Hosts 7" . . . . The consequence of our consultations was that some Northern Power should be applied to in a friendly and mediative capacity. We fixed on Prussia ; and the President of the Council made an application to the Prussian Minister, who at- tended a few days after our conference. Count Arnim entered the Cabinet, and I beheld a Prussian Jew. So you see, my dear Coningeby, that the world is governed by very different personages to what is imagined by those who are not behind the scenes."
At the present moment, the author of Ooningsby being "behind the scenes," and having a very natural desire to remain there, would, no doubt, like to promote "an approximation between the Hapaburglis and the Sidonias," and it is just possible that his eagerness to precipitate a di- vision on Tuesday night arose from his wish to promote a financial intrigue in the City, for the benefit of Francis Joseph. A Chancellor of the Exche- quer who can speak of a National Debt of 800,000,0001. as " a mere flea- bite," would be an invaluable friend to an Austrian Finance Minis- ter, at his wit's end for a few hundred millions of florins, to carry on the war with vigour, and prevent national bankruptcy. Whether the Sidonias or any other section of that mysterious confraternity which exercises so much influence over the affairs of Europe will come forward in the hour of Austria's emergency, and lend her a helping hand, remains to be seen. To me it seems that there never was a period in which the sel- fish instincts of the money-lenders of England, and the best interests of hu- manity, were so completely in harmony with each other as they are at this moment. To back Austria either by words of encouragement, or by pecuni- ary aid, under present circumstances, is only to add fuel to the flame. When a monarch tries to borrow money to carry on a war for which he is mainly to blame, he need not wonder if he should happen to find that even the "13i- denies " are unwilling to enter into any new transaction of that kind.
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