coleman-the-rothschild-dynasty
coleman-the-rothschild-dynasty
coleman-the-rothschild-dynasty
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
174 Dr. John Coleman<br />
The 'Jew bill' as it was referred to by <strong>the</strong> Tories would<br />
not go away, even after eleven years of opposition by members<br />
like Lord Derby, Lord Bentinck and Sir Robert Inglis, who when<br />
asked why Jews should be excluded from Parliament stated: "The<br />
Jews are voluntary strangers here, and have no claim to become<br />
citizens but by conforming to our moral law, which is <strong>the</strong><br />
Gospel."<br />
The Tories in <strong>the</strong> House of Lords were solidly against <strong>the</strong><br />
"Jew bill" as Lord George Bentinck called it as he explained it<br />
each time <strong>the</strong> bill came up again for eleven years. One must give<br />
credit to <strong>the</strong> tenacity of <strong>the</strong> Rothschilds, when <strong>the</strong>y wanted<br />
something <strong>the</strong>y clung on tenaciously until <strong>the</strong>y got it. As Lord<br />
Bentinck explained:<br />
The Jew Question I look upon as a personal matter as I<br />
would a great private estate or Divorce Bill. Disraeli will<br />
of course warmly support <strong>the</strong> Jews, first from hereditary<br />
prepossession in <strong>the</strong>ir favor and next because he and <strong>the</strong><br />
Rothschilds are great allies. (From Hansard Report)<br />
Bentinck was later found dead, apparently from a heart<br />
attack at <strong>the</strong> age of forty-six. Like <strong>the</strong> death of Peel before him,<br />
Bentinck's passing left many unanswered questions, <strong>the</strong> most<br />
pertinent of which have never been addressed.<br />
On February 20, 1849 <strong>the</strong> Jewish Disabilities Removal<br />
Act came up again for consideration in its third reading in <strong>the</strong><br />
House with Disraeli in charge. In <strong>the</strong> gallery sat Louise de<br />
Rothschild, observing <strong>the</strong> proceedings on behalf of Lionel<br />
Rothschild. The measure passed by a vote of 272 to 206, but died<br />
in <strong>the</strong> Lords.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> following year, July 29, 1850, Lionel de<br />
Rothschild again tried to take his seat, but <strong>the</strong> Clerk refused to<br />
allow it and thus was generated a new round of frenzied activity<br />
characterized by scathing debate.