Well! The Jews, it seems, are conscious of their ill-treatment. _They_ join Secret Societies. _They_ (for the evils complained of by the Barbarians have nothing to do with it; their leaders are nobodies) topple over thrones with delight. Bless us, what a picture! And what does it suggest? Now we know why Shadrach is a Sheriff's Officer! "_All is race._" What a picture of cool malignity is this! Shadrach taps us on the shoulder with a fiendish luxury, and exults in dragging off the Northern Barbarian. He luxuriates in locking up the Frank in a sponging-house; he charges him for the "Semitic Element," and sticks it on to the chop and sherry.
Was _Punch_ an anti-Semite? The answer is to be found in his unwavering, if not always very courteous or respectful, support of Baron Rothschild in his eleven years' struggle to enter the House of Commons.
Baron Rothschild's anomalous position and his persistence in demanding relief recalled to _Punch_ Martin Luther's saying of the Jews: "They sit as on a wheelbarrow, without a country, a people, or a Government." This, adds _Punch_, was said 350 years ago, and the Jew is on the wheelbarrow still.
[Illustration: A GENTLEMAN IN DIFFICULTIES
LORD JOHN: "It's impossible for our House to let you have that little matter now. But you can have a Bill payable next Session, if you like."]
Rothschild, elected as Whig Member for the City of London, and re-elected in 1852, 1854, and twice in 1857, was still refused permission to take part in the privileges of the House, though allowed to sit below the Bar, and remain there when notice was taken of strangers. In all, _nine_ Bills giving the Jews relief had been passed by the Commons since 1830 and rejected by the Lords, before the tenth, and last, introduced by Lord John Russell in 1858, led to a compromise under which each House was enabled to determine the form in which the oath should be taken by its members. On July 26, 1858, Baron Rothschild's "barrow" was removed, and he was permitted to swear the oath of allegiance in the Jewish form and take his seat. To Lord John Russell belonged the chief credit for carrying through this reform and abating a crying scandal, but undoubtedly _Punch_ lent him valuable free-lance help throughout.