The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-07
CECIL RHODES BEFORE HE FELL
Personal Characteristics of South Africa's
"Great Dealer"
(The African Review. }

(Ihe AFRICAN R6Vl6W.
| He is a human being cast in a rather
large mould, not the almost faultless
iemi-gcd he appears to some of his ad-
mirers, still less the interruptions f1nan-
cial and political Juggernaut he is repre-
sented to be by Truth and other imagi-
native periodicals. Standing now on the
threshold of a tremendous career, the
future president of Federal Africa pre-
sents a character that is we'll worthy of
analysis-that is a curious compound of
generosity and almost repellent cynicisln,
of disinterestedness and ambition, of
large aims, dependent on things that are
essentially trivial-the keen, hard tenn
pered character of a self-made man VINO
has carved a career out of Kimberley f.
nance and Cape Colonial politics. Few
men are heroes to their Wallets, least of all
such untidy persons rs the subject Of
this sketch. Yet, in Carlylean sense.
the founder OF our newest great colony is
fully entitled to the name of hero. OF
giant force of mind and will, with prac-
tiCed judgment that nearly amounts to
intuitiye perception, with a grasp Of
cause and effect that Is founded upon a
microscopic observation of the laws of
nature he is decidedly "big" man. He
is rarely accurate critic of his fellow
mortals. Knowing how inextrioably in
termingled are good and evil strength
and weakness, in human nature, he pre-
fers to trust mankind in the collective
rather than in the individual 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. Neverthe-
less he knows whom he can trust, and on
the whole is splendidy seryed-by suoh
men, for instance, as the administrator
of Rhodesia, whose appointment was an
absolute inspiration, and whose rare qual-
lities have more than justified the selec-
ton.
Over the public mind at the Cape his
personality holds an almost NapoIeonic
sway, which, after all, is tribute sell
dom paid but to the truly great; and his
control over individuals is in many cases
little short of hypnotic fascination. in
which regard he possesses one of Mr..
Gladstone's undoubtsd attributes. Per-
haps the most important matter of all is
that he is, with all his imaginative ma
| ture, eminently business like, cool, sane
and level headed-unlikely to be carried
away by the wild intoxication OF I'M
checked success, or to ''play above his
strength. 1t Is in this respect that his
commercial training stands him in such
good stead. 1t has taught him the i'm
portance OF reserve. OF always excepting
something III hand. He Is still Young
man, apparently In the prime of life and
the full possession Of powers which Of
their GLASS have seldom been united i'll
one individual. The march of events
and the constant shutting of the politiea
cards, are now giving, and will always
give, splendid chances to these who
watch for and are prepared to grasp then
boldly-of whom the hard working pre-
mier at Capetown is one. Given, there
fore, continued health of mind and body
his appearance upon larger pIane-that
of inter-imperial politics-would seem tt
be inevitable. Apropos Of which it il
rumored that Mr., Rhodes was actually
offered seat in the cabinet of recent
administration at St. Stephens.
In private life but really Nr. Rhod o.
has no private life; soorning delights, hs
lives Gercely 1aborious days, his onlJ
pleasure in his works. self denying hu
man steam engine, always travelling q
full speed, in tow of lengthy train O
responsibilities whose horizon contin ual
ly Ieoe des. His ambitions do not turf
towards social distinction, but rather tt
q place in the nations rememb rance as
faithful and useful servant. Such desire
mean stern efforts; but fortunately fo
Mr.. Rhodes, he is endowed with an all
compelling energy which seems to neet
no rest or recuperation. OF such mel
only is it true THAI "genius does what i
must-talent does what it can"