Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-04-10

I1e secured a majority OF the STOCK
Of the great De Beers mine, with its
100000 capital. Other properties
were secured until at last every mine
in the Kimberley district was united
in the De Beers Consolidated, with
capital Of s20,00O,00O and a revenue
that has been phenomenal.
The English government had not
been called into his plans thus far.
Meantime Rhodes was establishing his
political influence at Cape Colony. He
secured the complete confidence of Sir.
Hercules Robinson, the governor. He
impressed him with the boundless
prospects ahead In the settlement OF
Africa.
The race for Matabeleland began
and Dom Paul Kruger was defeated
in it by Rhodes.
His soldiers streamed through Be-
chuanaland and Mashonaland. He
found Mashonaland harried by the
Matabeles and sent machine gun ex-
petition against them.
This resulted in thousands of dead
savages and the absorption of Mata-
beleland. The Mashona people were
left to till the soil in peace.
Finally the dominion of his COM
pany, which is the dominion OF
Rhodes, extended all over "Rhodesia."
He had kicked out the Portuguese AMI
shot out the natives, and his empire
was safe. In this aggression he was
backed by the Cape Colony govern
ment, because it believed that he in
tended to make of Cape Town the po-
litical and commercial center Of the
United States of South Africa"
Germans, Beers and Portuguese were
claiming the country. Mr.. Rhodes be-
lieved that the domination Of an oil
garchy of Dutchmen who resisted nat
ural expansion was doomed. Later Oh
he acted.
In 1890 Mr.. Rhodes became premier
Of Cape Colony, which Office he held
for five years. Under his rule German
ambition and designs had been baf-
fled by him single-handed and a vast
territory gained for his native land.
The iron rule OF the Dutch premier In
the TransvAal bore heavily on the Eng
lish settlers. Rhodes became their
champion.
That he was connected with the
Jameson raid into the territory of the
Beers is no longer doubted. Its failure
gave the Beers the opportunity to pre-
IN, 81 oC1a viii fhn EnuliGh
when it should be backed by the gov
eminent.
Rhodes never expressed regret for
the attempt.
He declared that he had proof that
the Pretoria government had been in
triguing with Germany.
While the Boer war was raging Mr..
Rhodes was shut up In Kimberly,
while the Beers besieged the place. 1t
is said that II they had captured him
ransom of s10.O0O,0O0 would have
been demanded. in case his life was
not declared forfeited.
A reward of $4,000 was offered for
his body, dead or alive. To the Orange
rTSc Oldlc OllCldiS anu TIC liduSN dxtl7
ers his personality and ambitions were
hateful to the last degree. Mr.. Rhodes
escape is we'll known.
An Englishman wrote Of Rhodes:
HE has the face of Caesar. the am
bltion OF Loyola, and the wealth OF
| a Croesus." AS to his ambition and
wealth there can be no doubt. Rhodes
had the scholars brow and the steely
blue eyes and thin lips Of the man OF
| indomitable will.
Like all successful men he battered
down opposition and forced his ideas
on those by whom he was surrounded
Those ideas. however, were not mar
rowed to self. but as broad in their
scope as national British aspirations.
II England ever succeeds in planting a
second America on the soil of Asia she
will owe that treasure to the fact that
the young Oxford graduate was driven
from home by the ravages of dread
consumption. His subsequent adven-
lures will ultimately become fabulous.
JES' HOME.