The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-20
CECIL RHODES SCHEMES
Negotiations with Germany Not Yet
Ended-Striking Figure in Euro
pean Politics-Views of Americas
Expansion Meet with Skepticism.

London, March 19-Phe newspapers
this week reprinted from the American
papers an interview with Cecil Rhodes
on board the steamer HapsDurg in the
Mediterranean The remarks of Mr..
Rhodes on Americas imperial future
have attractetd much attention. The
Spectator" however, suggests that the
energy of the Americans may not prove
persistent enough for the vast task
Of conquest and occupation which the
South African statesman sets before
them, adding:
Their system, though it produces
men of ability, is probably not favor
able to the development of a meteor:
genius, and without such Il man the
work can hardly be done rapidly. Fat.
ing up South America like an artichOie.
State by state, is task To oVerstraln
any people, even the Americans. TIE
carrying out Of the work. too, might
bring to a head the great danger of
the United StateS-the difference in The
ideal and permanent tendency between
the North and South. 1t is true that
the state system Of America is a wOl-
derful system of empire, but it is also
a wonderful provision for disintegra-
tion. The North may refuse to persist
in career of conquest which wearies
it, and, with Canada, may elect 20
form a republic with another ideal than
governing, which, although attractive,
| wears out the surplus energy of the
| governors. If any one tells us the
| United States will expand to the Strait
! Of Magellan in spite of themselves we
may believe him. But if he says. as
| Mr.. Rhodes says, that this eXpansi IN
| will be deliberate. we shall hesitate ami
| ask for evidence that they wish the
| expansion to last.
Mr.. Rhodes striking personality stood
| out in bold relief this week against the
| political background of minor interest.
| The press of three countries--Great
! Britain, Germany and FranCe-waS full
| Of him. His visit To Berlin marks an
| important onward step in the Anglo
| German understanding, and the French
| papers realize this and the idea that
| the assistance of Germany might
| eventually be counted upon in a war
! between France and Great Britain is
! prapusterOus. The Figaro sees in Mr..
| Rhodes reception at Berlin sure proof
| of a secret convention between Great
| Britain and Germany. while the Temps
| says:
| Frankly IL is impossible to over
| rate its Importance. 1t is plain proof
Of Emperor Williams desire for a rap
| prochement with Great Britain, and
| the power and weight of such a com
| binatiOn cannot he exaggerated. II
ought to furnish food for reelection fOr
| those who fanced that France had
only to make Overtures i'm order t,
bring Germany to her feet, and who
|
! striving to bring about a rupture with
| Great Britain"
Mr. Rhodes, however, has not yet ar
ranged Il hard-and-fast agreement re-
specting the Cape-to- Cairo railroad
Politically, Mr.. Rhodes and the emper.
or have agreed but financially their ar.
rangement is hanging fire and the ne-
EOtiations between Mr.. Rhodes and a
German syndicate respecting financing
the German portion of the railroad have
not yet been concluded, though Mr.