The herald., 1896-05-23
CECIL RHODES
Personnel Of the 0rest Leader Of Sout
Africa

sS'S~"Ss W. suV 0Teut LCo0eT OF SOuIn
Africa
He is human being cast in a rather
large mold, not the almost faultless
demi-god he apears to some of his ad-
mirers, still less the INSCRIPTIONS finan-
cial and political juggernaut he Is rep
resented to be by Truth and other
imaginative periodicals. Standing now
on the threshold of a tremendous career,
the future president of Federal Africa
presents character that is we'll worthy
of analysis-that is a curious compound
OF generosity and almost repellant Gym
icisfn, of disinterestedness and ambi-
ton, OF large aims, dependent on things
that are essentially trivial-the keen,
hard-tempered character of self-made
man who has carved career out of
Kimberley finances and Cape Colonial
politics. Few men are heroes to their
Wallets, least of all such untidy persons
as the subject Of this sketch. Yet, in a
Carlylean sense, the founder of our new
est great colony is fully entitled to the
name of hero. OF giant force of mind
and Will, with practiced judgment that
nearly amounts to intuitive perception,
with grasp of cause and effect that is
founded upon microscopic observation
OF the laws of nature, he is decidedly a
big man. He is a rarely accurate
critic of his fellow mortals Knowing
how inextricably intermingled are good
man nature, he prefers to trust mankind
in the collective rather than in the in
dividual, and his implicit confidence is
rarely, If indeed ever, bestowed--a fact
which has earned for him the epithet
''sphinx-like." Ready to do business
with all men, the Great Dealer" has
it is Of no use to blink facts--a habit of
appending doubt to the principle of self
interest. Nevertheless he knows whom
he can trust, and on the whole is
splendidly served-by such men, for in
stance, as the administrator of Rhode
sia, whose appointment was an absolute
inspiration. and whose rare qualities
have more than justified the selection.
over the public mind at the Cape his
personality holds an almost Napoleonic
sway, which after all, is a tribute sell
dom paid but to the truly great; and his
control over individuals is in many
cases little short of hypnotic fascina-
tion, in which one regard he possesses
one of Mr. Gladstone'S undoubted at
tributes. Perhaps the most important
matter of all is that he is, with all his
imaginative nature, eminently busi-
ness-like, cool, sane and level-headed-
unlikely to be carried away by the wild
intoxication of unchecked success, or
to play above his strength" 1t is In
this respect that his commercial train
ing stands him in such good stead. 1t
has taught him the Importance of re-
serve, OF always keeping something In
hand. He is still a young man. appar-
emily in the prime of life and the full
possession Of powers which of their
class have seldom been united in one
individual. The march of events and
the constant shuffiing of the political
cards are now giving. and will always
give, splendid chances to those who
watch for and are prepared to grasp
them boldly-of whom the hard working
premier at Cape Town is one. Given,
therefore, continued health of mind mad
body, his appearance upon large plane
that of imperial politics-would seem
to be inevitable. Apropos of which it
is rumored that Mr.. Rhodes was actu-
ally offered a seat in the cabinet of a
recent administration at st. Stephens
In private life-but really Mr. Rhodes
has no private life; scorning delights.
he lives f1ercely laborious days, his only
pleasure in his work-a self-denying
human steam engine, always travelling
at full speed in tow of a lengthy train
of responsibilities into an unknown re-
gion of possibilities whose horizon con-
tinually recedes. His ambitions do not
turn towards social distinction, but
rather to place in the nations remem-
brance as faithful and useful servant
Such desires mean stern efforts: but.
fortunately for Mr.. Rhodes he is en-
dowed with an all-compellng energy
which seem to need no rest or recuper-
alton. OF such men only is 1t true that
genius does what it must-talent does
what 1t can."-African Review