New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-17
MR. CECIL RHODES.
HIS UNIQUE POsITION-HIs VIEWS OF
THE SOUTH AFRICAN FUTURE-sOME
PERSONAL TRAITS
London, February 1.

London, February 1.
Mr. r. w. Lucy has gone to the Cape. and Mr..
Cecil Rhodes is, / presume, the magnet which
has drawn him thither The very first story no
tells Of the South African statesman is very
good illustration Of what Mr.. Lucy calls his pre-.
dominance.
"By the Act constituting the Cape Parliament
Ministers in charge of the various departments
are at liberty TO take part in debate in either
House Mr.. Rhodes, though Prime Minister,
holds no portfolio, and therefore did not come
within the provisions OF the Act. This was REM
edled by a simple but effective process a bill
amending the Act OF Constitution was brought
I'm making it possible for Mr.. Rhodes to take part
in the business of the Legislative Council equally
with that Of the House Of Assembly
There are other interesting matters al the Cape,
but 1t is Mr.. Rhodes who makes, or who has
made them interesting. Mr.. Lucy gees for the
Daily News" a singular journal which repre-
sents better than any other the sentimental view
Of affairs; when 1t does not prefer to represent
the purely party view 1t holds sort OF brief for
the Aborigines Protection Society. IL Is the
mouthpiece of English political Radcalism, In
so far as Radicasm does not conflict with that
larger and truer faith Of unaduterated Gladston-
ianism. the complete expression Of which Is Its
real mission ana the sufficient reason for Its ex-
istence
Well. the Radical and the Gladstonan who Is
not a Radical are at this moment, alike much
exercised By the condition OF things In South Az
RIGA The Matabele war Is over, but the results
Of that war are far-reaching. 1t Is probably
turning point in the history Of the Southern half
of a continent. Mr.. Rhodes's recent speeches.
have given some hint Of his own views and aims
arising out of the successful conquest OF pow
erful and warlike race by force which he who
created II delighted to describe as six hundred
tradesmen." Possibly he had in mind, when ne
named the figure the immortal six hundred OF
Balaclava though these were certainly not
tradesmen. There are visions in Mr. Rhodess
mind hard-headed man Of business ana gu
premely able man of affairs as he is. A United
South Africa. to include everything south OF the
Zambesi.-that is one OF them Once he thought
Of going as far as Tanganyika-his range OF VS.
ion stretches there STILL for some purposes and
beyond that Before know where we are
we shall be at Uganda. with telegraph wire
in his hand. lie is building a railway out OF MS
own resources He has plans when extend iar
beyond his resources. large as they are ana De-
yond those of any Neutrality-suspicious. when APP
peal 70 the English public again as well as 10
the South African public. He tells his hearers at
Cane Town You are responsible for million
and q quarter Of natives'-in 4 single district. as
II were The moment he says that, the sentiment
talst is on the alert. The Aborigines Protective
Society feels that its hour has STRUCK ms
cranks are up in arms. Who Is Mr.. Rhooes 'hat
he should be permitted 10 encroich on the luhc-
tion-they sometimes call 1t franchise-ot inc
amiable. estimable, well-meanng. and perfectly
impractical people who pose in England as 'ne
friends Of the noble savage?
ID CaDptONr Is,
some extent. photographer and gives some
account of himself and OF his claims. and OF MS
views Americans will like him none the worse
hecausa he describes himself over and over
again as one OF the peooe, as a representative
If the people as the agent and exponent OF the
wishes and interests OF the people OF South AZ
RIGA The ideas Of which the practical result mas
Just been achieved are ideas which he conceived
when he became representative or the peoplo
,x.lvs vears ago I'm season and out OF season
thought IL would be a good and wise idea 10 oo-
tain the unknown interior as a reversion 10 the
Colony Of which / one OF the citizens lou
may think 1t worth while TO pause long enough
~ note The use OF the word citizen. 1t is not so
uncommon now as It once was but II is stu IN
freoi,ent. The colonists OF South Africa ike
those Of Australia or Canada. are Her Ma)es'ys
subjects and subject is the word which most
their relations to the crowned commonwealth
which claims their allegiance primarily 70 the
Grown. Mr. Rhodes is loyal yet 1t Is plain that
his first conception Of civic duty is To the colony
OF which he Is Prime Minister. and 10 the people
among whom he lives
This colonial Prime Minister is before all
things a man Of his time. AMI man OF MS u'is
has now TO be a little ahead OF his time II 10
reckons on being leader OF other men, mat
Mr. Rhodes Is a born leader we all know re-
cent though the revelation be 10 those not spe-
cially, concerned in the affairs OF South AFRICA
How far ahead Of others he was. he tells us MINI
self.
II found myself with a responsibility reach
Ing as far the Zambesi took upon myset
those responsibilities because | thought 1t would
come all right. In those days everybody was
against me. and when l pointed out to the House
that the Hinterand must be preserved l could
no, get vote l. however. stuck to my idea
and it came out all right.
There YOU have the man. far-seeing. self-con-
ndent innexible in purpose and in courage; will
ing 70 take all risks. His account OF his CONVEX
sation with Sir Hercules Robinson, the able man
who at that time was High Commissioner at the
Cape is dramatic enough TO be put on the stage.
1t is too long to quote but will give the point
OF II. He wanted to convert Sir Hercules to his
Uinterland views. The Protectorate was then
bounded by the 22d degree of latitude. Il think
that is enough" said Sir Hercules. The only
reply Mr. Rhodes made was % ask the High
Commissioner to come with him and look at the
block house on the Table Mountain. They went
Said Mr.. Rhodes 10 Sir Hercules: Those good
people 200 years ago thought the block-house the
limit Of their domain. Where are we now? We
are considerably beyond the Vaal River. what
have you yourself done since you have been
Her Majesty's representative? You have gone
beyond latitude 90" Yes said Sir Hercules.
land what a trouble 1t has BEEN Then he
added:
But where will you stop?
Il will stop where the country has not been
claimed"