The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-04
A GUARANTEE.
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RHODES oFFExsE.


The disclosures made BY the Transvaai
government, are so serious that Secretary
Chamberlain viii Be compelled TO take
stems 70 show his earnestness IN the pros
ecutiou of the Offenders and his good faith
toward the Beers. English sentiment
s>,ms 10 have turned from Rhodes. and
this IN due to \ characteristic respect for
established authority. The English peo-
pie realize tina. wha; might be oondoned
In q private citizen becomes an unpar-
donable osrenss when committed by man
occupying the responsible Official position
held by Cecn Rhodes At the time he was
secretly conniving at an outrage upon q
country with which his government held
peaeeabls relations.
II is absurd. however. TO suppose that
any action taken against Rhodes will Gre
ate such feeling In Cape Colony As would
result In q rebellion against the authority
OF the mother country and an effort to
establish an Independent. state. There 10
IN the colony what is called an Afriksnder
party. which always takes sides with the
two Boer republics whenever any contro-
vsrsy takes place between either Of them
and the British government. but II forms q
small proportion of the people. who are
In tho main intensely loyal to the crown.
Their admiration OF Rhodes enterprise
and success would impel them to intercede
very warmly on his behalf shosld he be
threatened with punishment. but apart
from their loyalty the great commercial
interests Of the colony are 80 closely iden-
titled with England that any attempt on
his part to violently resist the process Of
the law would be deprecated
Up In the country known a. Rhodesia,
the machinery OF government IL very i'm
perfect and many OF the people are OF
the adventurer class. who might be tempt
d to act a. recklessly a. Jameson's follow.
ers did. but they would ind themselves in
. very serious position with all the power
OF the British government flung against
them. to which would be added the stern
sntaxonism OF the Orange Free State and
the Transyaai Hemmed in TO the east
and south by those forces. cut of from
any port through which they could receive
arms. and threatened from the north ana
west by hordes OF warltks savages. any
force Rhodss could gather would soon be
snnihiate6-
The great probability is that the charter
of the South African Company Will be
withdrawn. rcserving only to those who
have acquired property rights an equlta-
Bile protection; and that the British gov
eminent will place the territory under tho
authority Of n commissioner In the same
way that most Of the districts now added
20 tho colony have been temporarily
ruled. 1t Is usual in such cases 10 Greats
. local council composed Of residents
elected by the people concerned. so that
they have every assurance OF necessary
legislation. This would take away all ex-
cnse for revolt asains, the British gov
srnmen, because the troubles of which the
people might complain are such as would
be likely 10 interfere with the DEVELOPMENT
OF resources ana the profitable working
OF the enterprises into which the people
have put their money.
SO far as Cecil Rhodes IL concerned. he
is exceedingly wealthy. but much Of his
property would be lost to him by any Sc
ricus disturbances in Rhodesia. whereas
II would have better prospect Of being
conserved by the establishment ana main
tenanes Of government strong enough to
afford full protection for those engaged
In the prosecution OF enterprises with
which he Is connected Tia withdrawal
OF the charter would not dives, legitimate
enterprises Of any Of their rights. but IL
would wreg from Rhodes and his COL
leagues the territorial authority thsy have
90 grossly abused.