New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-27
JOHN HAYS HAAIMoND's TRIBUTE
JUDGED BY AMERICAN STANDARDS. CECIL
RHODES WAS TRULY \ GREAT MAN.

JUDGED BY AMERICAN STANDARDS. CECIL .
RHODES WAS TRULY \ GREAT MAN.
John Hays Hammond who was for many years
and up 10 the time OF the death of Cecil Rhodes
intimately associated with him in the development
OF South Africa, consulting engineer OF the
British South Africa Chartered Company and the
Consolidated Gold Fields OF South Africa. in which
Mr.. Rhodes held important interests, had this 10
say OF Mr. Rhodes:
Mr.. Rhodes, whose went down when II was
yet day. dies in the fOrtyseventh year Of his age
He leaves posterity, but leaves his name on the
map of Africa tRhodesial. sponsor FOR common
wealth nearly large Western States
Had he lived he would have devoted the remaining
years Of his life and would have spent every dollar
of his fortune in equipping that commonwealth
That IS a fine ambition and a good Iife's work 20
reclaim region, occupied for centuries by
predatory blacks. and give that country social
and political system, railways. teegraphs, towns
and 10 run up there the flag OF his nation.
Unfortunately his character has been misunder-
stood in America. Judged by American standards,
Mr.. Rhodes truly great man. He was not
only a great empire builder. but also captain OF
industry, in which capacity he Commant Is higher
regard among Americans than among other peo-
pies He Is often represented a shttty, un-
scr1puIous hnancter. In league with capitalists 10
coax the Transvaal into hopeless war in order 70
steal the mines Of the country. He IS also often
represented as giving his entire life 10 the amass-
ing OF large wealth, and ready 70 employ the most
INSCRIPTIONS methods TO that end. But by even
the most bitter Of his enemies ConvCrSdnt with the
facts such allegations repUdiated-
The truth is that Rhodes cared little for money
beyond the power IT gave him TO assist In the de
velopment Of South Africa. His personal wants
wete few. He had undoubtedly great faculty for
making money greater still for iudiCiOusly ex-
pending it. Fr, m a most intimate connection with
him in his business enterprises l able 10 state
that his methods Of finance We're not only scrup-
ulousIy honorable. but were chard seriZed by I'M
usual Hberauty. lie was known 20 South Africans
as a man Of uubOunded generosity and one ON
whom they could depend for the furtherance Of
any deserving local enterprise worthy charity
Personally. Mr.. Rhodes democratic in his
tastes and Colonial in his political and social
bias He was fond Of the simpler and better
pleasures of life devoted especially 70 out OF door
life on the veldt. and had contempt for and dis
like Of social conventionaIities- He was man OF
innate refinement and culture, graduate or OK
ford having returned 10 England from South Africa
10 complete his education, Rhodes had an in
domftabe spirit and logged perseverance. He
was imaginative but not a mere visionary
since he had the rare power OF matsriaIizlnG MS
| visions There nothing Ma 7hiavellian IN
Cecil Rhodes He outspOken, and II anything,
too frank and unguarded in his expression OF opIn-
| ion he WIS built broad lines. and he aohorrcd
petty politics. which he cOutempruouSly designated
as the politics If ,h- parish pump and he depre-
Gated quite as strongly what he termed the 'unct-
uo,s rectir,Ide' Of certain statesmen Politically.
he was A great adr1irer Cf democratic institutions,
! but at the same time he was loyal imperiahst-
| He wished ,as Stead believe. expressed in 10
superimpose the imperial idea upon democratic
foundations.
| Rhodes had his defects and faults but these
| will not obscure the glory OF his name Great men.
| Il is said are made Of faults. OF one thing there
| can be no doubt. that Rhodes's Ideals were pure
! and lofty and I believe that history will deal
/ rather with his ideals than with his achievements
| and methods. and that he will therefore rank high
] among the great Of the nineteenth century
| Cecil Rhodes found the meditatiOns OF Marcus
| AureIlus many aspirations for his own career IN
| his private copy of that author found the follow
| ing passage marked:
| You have lived. man, citizen Of this great
| city. Whether for five years for seventy, what
matters it, What the laws aot each, that i his
| fust share. Where Is the hardship, then II no
! tyrant or unjust Judge but that nature which
! first led you into IL sends you from the city?
| Surely the pr,etor Vho employed the prayer can
| dismiss him from the stage. But say YOU !
] True; but life three makes complete drama
Ills His tx the limit who was the cause OF your
/ are YOU responsible Make your exit. then. gra-
clously; for gracious is He who gives YOU your dis
/ mssal.
| Cecil Rhodes will be greatly missed in South
| Africa. Until the unfortunate Jameson raid. for
which he has received far more blame than he de
| served. as history will prove. he popular
with the Dutch OF South Africa. They found IN MIN
| always a SympathetiC friend. ready give them
| helping hand financially and 10 assist in the de-
serT5ing class Tor Rhodes never ceased TO rate
agriculture the most valuable OF all the indus
/ tries. agreeinG with Theirs that the soil Is the
| nursing mother OF US all Within very short time
strange It may sound to-day, Rhodes would have
| been able to re-establish his influence with the
| vantage Of the situation and would have passed
/ into history the great paclhc3tor OF South
Africa This estimate OF RhodeS Is SHARED even 70
| day by many Of the progressive Dutchmen in the
! country