The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-27
The LATE CECIL RHODES

alexander, Julius Caesar and I founded
Helena Had Cecil Rhodes lived a dozen
or so years longer he might have added
his name to this trio Of empire founders.
The man had Romans passion for eX-
tending the empire and a Romans cool
indifference as to the means Of such ex-
tension.
Before the Boer war. which was the
joint product Of the Vaccinations of Cecil
Rhodes, Dr.. Jameson and Colonial Secre-
tary Joe Chamberlain Rhodes visited
England as the promoter Of the Cape to
Cairo railway and the accompanying tel
egraph line. He was a good promoter
and capital was obtained to continue the
laying Of rails over the gap of three
thousand miles, for the road had actually
been completed about 1900 miles from the
Cairo end south and from Cape Town
northward some 1,400 miles. There is
little doubt that this line will, within
eight or ten years. be completed. The
telegra ph line is approaching completion.
Rhodes had projected on paper many lat
eral lines designed to open up all South
Africa from Lake Bembo and the Congo
State line and Lake Tanganyika to the
southern coast. There is little doubt that
he proposed to add all this territory to the
British empire. He has left his name at
tached to the great territory of Rhodesia,
which embraces the combined provinces
of Matabeleland, Mashonaland, Manica-
land and part of what was once known
as Linchwe's Country, the whole carrying
a population OF a million natives and
about 5000 whites. 1t is part of Rhodes
South African empire which appeared to
him in visions of the night.
Rhodes prompted Dr.. jameson to the
Johannesburg raid, of which Poet Laure-
ate Alfred Austin sang so jubilantly. 1t
was not good strategy Oh the part OF
Rhodes. Rhodes had, at that time and for
while afterward, very poor opinion OF
the Beers. He assured Dr.. jameson that
they wouldn't fight and were wholly de-
moralized by their prosperity, since the
Wittwatersrand rocks yielded their gold
en- wealth, and franchises were worth
much money to uitlanders who planked
down the cash for them and poured taxes
into the Transvaal Golfers. Rhodes had
more influence in bringing about the auda-
cious act of Kruger delivering an ultima
tum with time limit postscript to pow
erful John Bull than has been recorded IN
history. It was he who commanded the
ear of Joe Chamberlain and suggested the
propriety of letting DR.. jameson and his
raiders off so cheaply, after invading the
territory of power with which Great
Britain was a peace. Between the gold
reefs of the Transvaal and the diamond
dykes of Kimberley and judicious invest
ments in many localities Rhodes amassed
great wealth. He was no bold and daring
gambler in Kaffirs like Barney Barnato
who worshipped the yellow god. He was
liberal in his beneficences and poured out
his money like water to keep the peace
in Rhodesa at the time of the uprising OF
the natives. A political boss with South
Africa for his field of operations, he was
aggressive and somewhat INSCRIPTIONS
A man like him. executive, pushful, made
bitter enemies and loyal friends. The
Beers hated him with all the energy OF
their nature. They painted him with
coloring from Gehenna. Spinello of Ar
rezzo is said to have died of fright before
a devil of his own painting. The Beers
painted Rhodes as a leering devil, hide
Gus in the extreme, but they wanted TIC
lay on thu colors some more and reJo1ceo
in their work. Yet Kruger, who had, be-
fore the war, many bitter struggle With
Rhodes; is said to have been much affected
when he heard OF the empire builders
death. U.s. = 4.-.e.-.
Rhodes did more than any other man to
extend the area of British geography IL
South Africa His loyalty was unscrupu-
lous in action. The impression that ne
was dangerous kind of man to have the
power he possessed is well founded. NC
moral electroplating can conceal the Sc
rious faults in his nature and career. he
was not wholly bad. The element.of gooc
in him was surely visible. Yet the fact