New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-14
A New England Patriot and a
South African Empire Builder
Arte1nas Wards Place in American History-A
Record and Estimate of Cecil Rhodes and
His Anglo-Saxon Ambition

Charnwood's marvellous Abraham Lin
coin, David Hannay's Porfro Dirz
and Sir Edward Pears's Abdul Harnid.
we fix it at once in the foremost rank
CT that biographical literature in which
the present time is so peculiarly, if
not quite 5ncomparably, rich.
Mr.. Williams is no blind hero wor-
sh:per, and it was not his purpose to
produce q mere panegyric. Yet be-
cause Of his unsparing criticism and
even scathing denunciation whenever
that is deserved, his generous appreci-
alton Of Rhodes's intrinsic greatness is
all the more effective and convincing.
and the net result of his work will be
to establish that imperial genius more
securely in foremost place among
the men who even in our own time
have profoundly shaped the destinies
o. humanity ao3 have done so. on the
whole, FOR good. He draws a fine pic
ture OF the young mans indomitable
VII to conquer poverty and i'll health:
to secure, though through weary wears
of delay, the fullest culture in the
humanltses tina. Oxford could afford
to acquire a vast fortune, not for its
own sake, but as a means to an end,
and to promote the attainment of that
end which he had cherished even in
childhood-the world wide heremonv
Of the Ang. Saxon race. The almost
divine tender heartedness of the man
toward both man and beast; his CON
sAmlns passion for equal justice be-
tween the races of mankind. both be-
tween British and Boer and between
white and black, and his keen apprecia-
ton of beauty, both in nature and in
mind. are also well set forth.
how, then, are we to explain the
Raid, which we must regard with Mr.
" liIians as one Of the most stu
pendous and criminal blunders ever
committed by man? Il is very, very
easy, when we regard with our author
the fanatical obsession OF Rhodes's
whole life. Mr.. Williams, in the best
keynote to Rhodes's character and
career that we have ever heard. saws
that after long bordering he became
overpoweringly convinced Of the real
lty Of God, and upon that conviction
determined to base his beliefs and
actions His next step was to ascer-
tain Gods purpose in the world, the
forwarding Of which is the proper
business of man. Then
Running through various possible
ends, wealth, worldly success and so
or, he found that none Of these were
satisfactory, whereas on the broadest
view of life and history, he argued,
God was obviously trying to produce
a tyre Of humanity most fitted to
bring peace, liberty and justice to the
world and to make that type predomi-
Hant. Only one race. 50 it seemed to
AIM approached Gods ideal type, his
own Anglo Saxon race; Gods pur-
pose, then, was to make the Anglo
Saxon race predominant, and the best
way to help Oh Gods work and fulfill
his purpose in the world vas 20 con-
tribute to the predolaiaaace Of the
Anglo-Saxon race and 50 bring nearer
the reign Of justice, liberty and
peace"
That vas Rhodes'g ambition. his
obsession; re4ting upon him Ike
divine compulsion. Not Moses. lend
INC the Esrselites out Of Egypt: nor
Joshua, achieving the conquest Of Pal.
estine; ror Elijah, in he Battle ~
ne Gods on Mount Carmel: nor Paul
crying Woe unto ne if preach not
the gospel, not one Of these nor
any other ever more sincerely felt
himself to be divinely commissioned
as the direct personal agent Of God
to promote His purpose in the word
hen, therefore, he found his oath
oSstructed by the almost incredible
stupidity, bigotry and despotism Of
krugerissn ne "saw red.
In his efforts FOR the orcninr IN or
Soath Africa to Civilization and
Christianity he took up the work o.
Livingstone which had been hampcred
and thwarted by the same foes that
he had to meet. Kruger and the rcac-
t.onary element among the Beers.
Cn1iously enough, when he sonrht a
CHARTER for his great company he wax
regarded wish diyfavor by tho verv
nan who, 4 few years later. was
charged With being his fellow con
spirator, and WHO vas. il fact. tho
O. ef factor in ultimately realizing