New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-13
THE DEAD EMPIRE BUILDER
ING FORCE OF CHARACTER OF
CECIL JOHN RHODES.

CECIL JOHN RHODES.
/ In the death Of Cecil Rhodes England has lost
one OF her foremost citizens and OF the world 2
most interesting personalities has passed away.
J Since the DAYS when Robert Give snatched India
from the greedy hands Of France. England has had
/ no such man as Rhodes. He essentially an
empire builder. and Il has truly been said that in
reality, in thought in aim and ambition he be-
longed TO earlier century than that in which
he lived Rhodes dreamed great dream, but he
did more than that for he set his strong hand TO
the plough. and his purposed furrow from the Cape
70 Cairo was well toward accomplishment when
death brought him peace and rest.
Of sickly youth he apparently came to man $
estate with measure heaping fun OF strength. hut
/ he needed il all. and more, the result proved.
s restless ambitious and far reaching spirit
1 Rhodes's birthriEht. and his worldwide thought
gave 10 his body rest: the soaring ambition
within the man drove him and until the
ambitious spirit the earthly clay and shook
itself clear. So Cecil John Rhodes lies dead in the
roontide of life but even so he seemingly had ac-
oompshed a and enduring work before death
brought an end TO his labors.
Rbodes's great political strength in South Africa
Law originally with the Dutch population. who up
N tbe time Of the Jameson raid fasco were with
Rhodes body and soul They believed him their
friend and he had only to ask and the Dutch
gave Willingly This meant enormous political
power for Rhodes, a power which he was using
wisely in the furtherance OF MS colo4dl SeiviiieS
for South Africa
Then came the raid. and with It the absolute
withdrawal by the Dutch Of all faith and beiet
in Rhodes. For a while his sun was deeply Cd
@c7,red but so forceful character as Rhodess
would not down. and, while Re did not live long
enough TO see himself again the power he had once
hee In South African affairs. Rhodes nevertheless,
had recovered much Of his lost prestige before
death laid him low. For the jameson raid Rhodes
both was and was not responsihie-not at all re-
snonsible for the raid it actually occurred;
I'LL. for
&c doubtful If the true story of that memorable
dash will ever now be written. but Rhodess friends
saw that all he intended was 10 scare the Beers
by a show OF armed force on their borders DIT
Jameson's unlucky zeal caused him 70 exceed his
instructions and 10 make fasco Of what might
otherwise have been a great success. Whether DR..
jim was or not 10 blame. Rhodes stood by
him wholly and him through the tangle that
his rashness got him into. Dr. Jameson as near
friend and physician. closed Rhodess eyes for the
last time. and is an executor under the WonderluI
will that the empire builder left.
Rhodes personally massive man in every
sense Of the word. The story has gone the rounds
Of a Young woman who was present when Rhodes
md Kitchener receives degrees Don't they look
Ike the great pillars OF the empire? she exclaimed,
and that remark exactly describes Rhodess ap-
pearance although not well applying 10 the erst-
while Sirdar-
Personally Rhodes genial and companion
able man who bound friends him readily and
an absolute lack of resentment toward persons, no
matter what they might do TO him. His treatment
OF Dr. Jim" illustrates this 1t was Rhodes ana
..Farnev" Rarnato originated and success
fully carried through the scheme Of limiting the
output of diamonds in South Africa After the
plan working basis. It became the Gus
tom 10 sell the output of the diamond heds 10 me
highest bidder. All the diamond producers nay
entered into castiron agreement to annually dis
pose OF 1y 0n one occasion Rhodes sold the
output o Barnato the highest bidder. but at the
! TO dispose Of which he wanted TO work off before
the agreement with Barnato became operative
How TO delay the agreement was the question;
The stones had been carefully sorted. weighed and
e IN o 0Foe5 s 10 r1os WORK FINALLY the two
men came terms to price. which was mutually
satisfactory and the talk switched TO other things
At length Rhodes, as though the idea had just
OF diamonds must MI a bucket. Not even solomon
in an his glory had such thing a pail full
vi With them and then having picture taken with
the bucket between US? The idea caught f ba ar
straightway agreed The diamonds in bucket
diamonds to work off and as it will be about three
months work for you TO resort and revaiue these
81 them BEFORE the control of the market passes
you Barnato smiled a. siekiy smile for SO it
Barnato was having his resorted He used to say
after after ~;iIIas tn the Wool over his eyes
Rhodes has been held up to the world as an arch
and as one who used words only to conceal his
an object Those who knew him best say that
abasa things were true OF him, and that he
was open and above board spoke the thought that
was in his mind. sought his goals by direct and
bonest routes and attained them because of his
Sorre of character and honesty of purpose. Ger
tainiy Rhodes did and said things that We're to say
the least indiscreet. and seemingly came more
sror, an irpetuous character used to speaking his
49, mind than from q calculating one whose every
,ora vas carefully weighed before II was uttered:
For example take Rhodess testimony before the
Parliamentary Commission. his famous controversy
,,,fb Colonel Kekewch. who commanded the Brit
fet, forces when Kimberley. was besieged Rhodes.
~ will be remembered was caught by the Beers
a. k,irnherlev and he later had bitter seni-publc
~ with Colonel KekeWich and. more
over published drastic letter OF criticism con con,
AFRICA This letter aroused storm Of protest, and
1hadas was severely censured for IT, Then when
British dSpIeas.ge VIII Rhodes was at Its hei-ht