We mentioned last week a statement which reached us on
excel- lent authority that Baron Rothschild had instructed electors of his own faith to secure his return by plumping. The report threw Mr. Sidney Smith, a gentleman allowed by the Liberal Registra- tion Association to write in their name about the " exalted social rank" of Baron Rothschild, into a furious rage. In an adver- tisement and a letter to the Times he denounced the report as a lie and us as traitors, asserted that no such instructions had been issued, declared that we had insulted a community who were as stiffnecked as ever, and in short did everything except publish a short and simple denial signed by his favourite candidate. That he avoided, by stating in the advertisement that the Baron re- spected his " Sabbath day "—which is quite true, but does not explain silence on Monday, and in his letter, by calling attention to the obstinacy which, he says, is characteristic of the Jews. We believe the strict fact to be this, that as long as the Baron was safe his special following voted frankly and fairly for all four Liberals, but had his seat been endangered they would, well know- ing his wishes, have secured it at any cost to the Liberal party.
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