Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-04-17
My SUCCEED CECIL RHODES.
Alfred Belt is Also Known ms an Empire
Builder.


Builder.
Philadelphia Press
Who will succeed Cecil Rhodes as
the empire builder of Africa? The
magnificent design to which he de-
voted his life will not be permitted to
lapse. The question now is, upon whose
shoulders will the mantle fall!
Every indication, according to many
New York financiers who have closely
followed the South African situation,
points to Alfred Belt as Rhodes sue
cessor. In the charter granted to the
British South African Go. his address
is given as 90 Holhorn viaduct, London,
merchant. He is the one man who has
possessed Cecil Rhodes confidence at
all times and has been his business
partner practically from the first
entrance of the dead millionaire into
the African field.
More than this, Mr.. Belt has shared
heartily in all of Cecil Rhodes schemes
for the expansion of British influence,
power and dominion in South Africa.
He has Endorsed all of Rhodes
ventures political and otherwise. The
evidence of this was their combined
work and unity of purpose in consoli
dating the diamond mines Of South
Africa.
In this gigantic operation, Rhodes
and Belt, who controlled the. De Beers
Mines, were opposed by the lato
Barney Barnato and his partner,
Woolfe Joel, who controlled the
Kimberley mines. Rhodes had been
laboring for 10 years to bring about n
consolidation of these diamond mines.
When it came to the final point the
four men named gathered in little
room in "a house in Kimberley.
Then ensued battle royal. All day
and all night, without intermission.
the foar planned and schelnod, but
without reaching any conclusion, The
stumbling block was Rhodes idea for
| the expansion Of She British Empire
In every proposition 10 this effect
| Alfred Belt gave his hearty assent.
Tho greatest obstacle was Rhodes
demand that all the surplus Of the
consolidated company should DC de-
voted to extending the British Empire
| farther northward into the heart OF
| Africa. Barnato and Joel were business
men and not empire builders, and SC
| they fought the suggestion. But they
we're in hole, and they knew that
Rhodes had them at disadvantage.
| At o'clock the next morning BarnatC
| yielded and the DE Beers Mines Co.,
| Limited, came into existence.
| While it is no doubt possible that
Rhodes himself would have won the
fight for his contention unaided, YET
the staunch loyalty of Alfred Belt
stimulated his purpose and aided il
the magnificent designs which he hac
mapped out As royal Rriton anc
an Afrikander of more years thar
Rhodes, he is regarded as the one mar
who can take up the work where Ceci
Rhodes has laid it down, with the CT,
upon his lips, $50 little done; so mucl
to do.
Entirely separate and apart from hi
position as political factor, Mr.. Bel
is today the greatest tinanzAl figure il
the whole of the Dark Continent, ant
possibly in the whole of England. In
deed, it has been said that Alfred Bel
is the wealthiest man in the world
This of itself would give his nam
commanding importance entirely out
side his connection with the late Ceci
Rhodes.
lie is man of indomnitable energy
great executive ability, stupendou
wealth and answering loyalty to tn
mother country. All this, combine
with his intimate personal knowledg
of Cecil Rhodes plans for expandin
his country's power in South Africa
mark Alfred Belt as the only worth
successor Of the "Uncrowned King G
South Africa. -