Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-01-04
MCDONALD \ USEFUL. MAN TO
THE BRITISH.
A GENIUS IN HIS WAY
Can Take Heathen Land and Civ
illse it Quicker Than Any Other Man
in the Queens Sevice--Held in
Alteration by Some of the Ma
tons

The British empire has Entrusted its
interests in the far east to a tall, thin
red-headed Scotchman. He is de-
scyibei as man So dignihcd that it is
painful to be near him" Ike is not
4 pleasant person either to know or to
talk With, but he can take a heather
colony and civiliae it quicker than any
one in the queens service It may be
interesting to Americans to know how
citizens of Savagcs,
Col, Sir Claude Mcdonald is now
british ambassador to China. He was
promoted to that position because, in
Africa, he about fulfilled the ideals OF
a colonial governor, He was heard
from last when the Germans were In
Kai-Chow bay and the empress of
China was accused Of trying to kill OF
the young emperor. The report went
out that the lad was very sick and
gradually dying, The dowager is
hostile to- the English. who have
rhampioned the cmperors cause. The
reports continued to grow alarming
until one day Il note came to the
dowager from the British ambassador,
1t said simply, Time for the emperor
to get better" and the cables soon an
nounced his recovery
Sir Claude's reputation has preceded
him. Wherever English colonial COVER
uors are spoken of the name of Nc
Donald has first place, And though
his methods are incisive and ofrectual
his name does not inspire the dislike
OF even terror that does the mention
of Sir Redvers Butler.
"Rullcr kills; Just kills" the colon
ial Englishman will tell YOU, Sir
Claude is most considerable and even
kind. But woe to the person who
tries to trick him.
Last week an Australian surgeon re-
turned from Old Calabar and the Cam.
aroons on the gold coast, West Africa
lie had been associated there with Sir
Claude from the time of his first ar
rival, and he says that the presence OF
one such man advances civilization In
the African tribes more than score
Of missionaries and many machine
guns. His method is to bring about re.
suits gradually and let the native de
vclop himself you cannot transplant
A civilization of 20 centuries on tribe
of savaEes and expect them to breathe
| in it" Is his contention,
At the same time Sir Claude believes
in being oheyed and uses stringent
measures when they are required One
practice of the west coast Africans
| which he thought should be abruptly
| stopped was that of sacrificing human
| life. On feast days or when enter.
tanning a guest it has been the custom
along the banks of the Niger for {
chief to have several prisoners put tC
death. In central Africa there Is
still great deal of this done
Mcdonald put stop to it on the
gold coast by one move. He had beer
| away taking a vacation to england
and on returning found a native up
rising caused by several chiefs slaugh
tering some prisoners. There were
II guilty prisoners In all. and Si1
Claude had them brought before hin
early in the morning
Ranging 10 in front Of him, he said
Now YOU men have never been here
before. This is your first offcrse Il
Il Justice that you should be warned
Go away and never come back"
you two have been here before. You
| To-, Al, II. Al.
but you two are incorrigible
There's no good in you. I'm going t.
hang you. Sergeant, take them away
and hang them. Orderly, Is my break.
fast ready?"
While Sir Claude's methods are sc
incisive, Sir Claude Is not devoid Of
genlality and Kindness. and the natives
were actually fond Of him In Africa
This was true also OF his subordinate
officers. A party Of them were living
for time on a war ship at Bonny, at
the mouth Of the Niger, and Sir Claude
came there to take dinner.
BY the way" he said, when cham
payne was brought on, Il ordered
some fine Burgundy from an English
firm to be sent here. Did II ever ar
river"
The officers looked at one another in
confusion, and finally plucked up cour-
age to explain that the wine had ar
rived and been consumed. I'VE did not
know to whom 1t belonged. they has
tened to say. "and thought II any one
put In a claim we would make II good"
What good does that do me now"
inquired Sir Claude, with suspicion
OF temper, that may be excused when
one can realize what II Is to be de-
prived Of such a luxury in that for
saken, torrid spot But" he added,
young men will be young men.
Steward, bring on that last bottle Of
champagne.
AT another time, to illustrate
quality in this English mpire-builder,
the wife Of an officer Unexpectedly ar
rived. The quarters provided for her
we're very Inferior, and Sir Claude gave
up his own suitably accommodated,
which Is more OF a concession than
might be supposed for a person who
commands in his particular sphere
lhn rsgnppt NJ a king n ahowE him