The Washington times., 1902-04-27
MASTERLY WORK OF
CECIL RHODES WILL
By SAMUEL DAVIS WOODS Representative From California

The will of Cecil Rhodes has stirred the
nations as they have not been stirred for
centuries. Like the hlare Of trumpet
startling an infant from its sleep. it has
stimulated the brain and quickened the
heart Of the world. The world is larger
| today because Rhodes lived srd dreamed.
That dream had immortal expression In
that prophetic will into which this mis-
understood giant crowded the aspirations
of his life. In it are unparalleled sus-
| gcstions of the divinity of man; divin-
| ity working through the loneliness CT a
faith which had as its abiding guest the
consciousness that no man could under
stand IL If proclaimed by living lips. for
I such comes only as a voice to mankind
| out of the deeps of Eternity. AS the
vision disclosed in his will rises upon
our horizon and takes form and substance,
a reverent silence seems imperative be-
fore We feel strong enough to discuss the
stupendnus plan that had for its consunl-
nation Immortality Of freedom. and a
nation whose life should be in the
stsength OF the individual. whose brain
and heart are sensitive TO the inspira-
tions that make II possible for man TO be.
but little lower than the angels
Grand and peculiar this great soul, for
the first time even partially understood.
wrought with ceaseless toll. asking no
advice and giving confidence to no man.
No Adequate Contemporaries.
He knew by instinct that there could
be no adequate contemporanecus appre-
citation of the splendor and breadth of his
work He must. like all great souls.
tread the wine-press alone" misjudged
and misunderstood.
In the binding brilliancy of the first
view We do not quite discover the SYM
metry of the marvellous skeleton he ere
ated for coming generations to clothe with
flesh. and breathe into its nostrils the
breath of life.
He did not pretend to be more than the
architect to whom came as the gift OF God
the plan.
so much to do. so little done" was
a groan OF great soul called to leave
its work in the very dawn of its working
day.
Nothing since Isaiah stood upon the
heights of prophecy and sang of the
the dream of Rhodes.
Though 1t be as through a glass darkly
we begin to see as one sees through the
mists the looming shape of a mountain
summit, the reasons for his thirst for
gold; his hunger for power: his contest
for empire, and are amazed at the match
less reach of his mind: the silence of his
lips. and the seeming hardness of his
heart.
This post-mortem exposure Of the man
stamps him the most remarkable figure
of his time. He can be measured by no
comparisons stalwart figure OF orig
inality, which had no landmarks by
which to steer his thoughts and no mod |
els by which to work. He wrought alone. |
To weakness he was stranger. The !
terrible might of his will was almost |
super The execution of his plan, !
in South Africa was for England. and yet |
he made her prime ministers his play |
things until he needed the military power |
OF the empire TO slay a race II need be |
that would not yield to him and his plan |
a menace TO the completeness of his work. |
When his time was ripe he ordered |
English troops into South Africa, there
amid the awful disasters of war to work
his Will
Napoleon's dream of empire was a lean
and slender hope beside teh splendid an
ticipation that thrilled the mind OF
Rhodes through all the silent years of his
yirile manhood.
He wrought with mighty enthusiasm.
tireless vigor, and Godlike valor. He
wrought with the mind. and his processes
we're all intellectual. Not until he was
lead did the world know that he had
heart
In his young manhood his dream became
4 passion which dominated his days and
sat by his bedside at night waiting for
he morning.
Pleasure never had the courage to ex-
pose her beauties In his presence. Toll,
ireiess as the march of the stars. was
lis companion. He thought only to exc
ute, and in that execution he was as
nerciless as fate. What to him was war
md desolation II by them alone could
'e made possible the unifcation Of a
race. and the casting of by
nan at last OF the limitations Of his bar
'arfc ancestors. Above the cry of women
ver their mutilated dead upon the field
4 battle. he heard the voice OF destiny,
nd his visage was set as hard as the face q