Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-01-04
A PAGAN CIVILIZER
MCDONALD 4 USEFUL MAN TO
THE BRITISH.
A GENIUS IN HIS WAY
Can Take a Heather Land and Civ
ilize it Quicker Than Any Other Man
in the Queens Service-Held in
Alteration by Some of the Ma
tons

The British empire has intruSted its
interests in the far east to a tall, thin
red-headed Scotchman. He is de-
scribed as a man so dignifed that it is
painful to be near him" He is not
a pleasant person either to know or tC
talk with, but he can take a heather
colony and civilize it quicker than any
one in the queens service. 1t may be
interesting to Americans to know how
this man goes about making good
citizens of savages.
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 off
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
championed the emperor's cause. The
reports continued to grow alarming
until one day a note came to the
dowager from the British ambassador.
1t said simply, Time for the emperor
to get BETTER and the cables soon an
n0unced his recovery.
Sir Claude's reputation has preceded
him. Wherever English colonial COVER
nors are spoken of the name of Nc
Donald has first place. And though
his methods are incisive and effectual
his name does not inspire the dislike
or even terror that does the mention
Of Sir Redvers Butler.
Butler kills; just kills" the colon
ial Englishman will tell you. Sir
Claude is most considerate and even
kind. But woe to the person who
tries to trick him.
| Last week an Australian surgeon re-
turned from Old CaIabar and the Cam
aroons, on the gold coast, West Africa.
He 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 a score
CT missionaries and many machine
guns. His method is to bring about re-
suits gradually and let the native de-
velOp himself you cannot transplant
a civilization Of 20 centuries on tribe
Of savages and expect them to breathe
IN it, is his contention.
At the same time Sir Claude believes
in being obeyed 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 a
chief to have several prisoners put to
death. In central Africa there is
still a great deal of this done.
Mcdonald put stop to it on the
gold coast by one move. He had been
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 Sir
Claude had them brought before him
early in the morning.
Ranging 10 in front of him, he said:
Now you men have never been here
before. This is your first offense 1t
is justice that you should be warned
Go away and never come back"
you two have been here before. You
know the law. To the chains"
But you two are incorrigible
There's no good in you. I'm going to
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
geniality and kindness, and the natives
were actually fond of him in Africa
This was true also of his subordinate
officers. A party of the were living
for time on 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 it ever ar
rive?'
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 it belonged" they has
tened to say, 'and thought if any one
put in claim we would make it good
What good does that do me now?'
inquired Sir Claude, with a suspicion
of temper, that may be excused when
one can realize what it 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 a
quality in this English empire-builder
the wife of an officer unexpectedly ar
rived. The quarters provided for her
were 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
the respect of a king. 1t shows him
thoughtful of others.
While Sir Claude is not a military
man, he possesses GOODNESS in time
of danger that would make him a war
rior if his aspirations lay in that di-
rection. He took command personally
of an expedition up the Niger to quelI
an uprising once, travelling on a big
tug-boat armed with rapid-f1re guns
When 80 miles up the river fearful
fIISiIada of bT1IIo+c and o-rou-y ooo,r