The New York herald., 1921-06-05

natural feeling than a political detail; he
saw how the British had blundered in con-
sdering the Dutch a conquered race; they
stood aloof in sulen obstinacy, and Rhodes
was one of the few Englshmen with the
sense to respect the Beers and recognize
that they were to be reckoned with. He
cultivated their friendship continually and
tirelessy; in after years they came TO
change their view of him of one with
horns and hoofs; they finally saw him, as
Jan Hofmeyr-"OriZe Jan'-said: "A true
Englishman, but at the same time man
who could make allowances for true ma
tionalism existing in other people" Thus
Rhodes often used to say: Never mind
the details, now; we out for the big
thing" And so. when he took his seat In
the House of Assembly in April. 1881, he
had accomplished a good grounding for his
career and he soon made himself known
TO the political world of the Cape. II was
about this time that Gordon came to the
Cape, sent for from his sanitation work at
Mauritus to pacify the turbulent Basutos.
While Rhodes was in Basutoland he and
Gordon met and talked for long together
but the records are very scanty. Such meet
ings are tantaliZng to the historian" re-
marks Mr.. Williams when two outstand-
ing men of generation come face to face
and then pass on" Gordon tried hard to
get Rhodes to go with him, but the Cape
his home.
From the first step northward into
Bechuanaland the progress of Rhodes was
continuous, if deliberate and measured The
scramble for Africa" had just begun when
Rhodes went into Bechuanaland, and terri
torial and other claims began to come fast
and furious by England, Belgium, France,
Portugal Italy and Germany In 1882 Bis
marck himself yielded to the general pres
sure for colonial foothold in Africa Rhodes
found himself in the thick of all the fights
and then, as always, strove for his prin-
ciple-in his own words: II have ever held
one view. l. G.. the government of South
Africa by the people of South Africa, with
the imperial flag for defence"
Mr. Williams goes elaborately into the
details of the war between the De Beers
company's mines and the Kimberley Central
of Barney Barnato. that grandson of a rabbi
and of a little shopkeeper in White
chapel named Barnett Isaacs who came out
to Africa when he was eighteen with a
capital of sixty boxes of cigars, bought with
the savings of years. His first business
venture-after selling the cigars at an
enormous proft-was TO hire shanty for an
Office at a guinea a day-"worth it," he eX-
planned, "if you can make thirty shllings a
day" He took the more noticeable name Of
Barney Barnato, and in seven years he had
founded the firm of Barnato Brothers, deal
ers in diamonds and brokers' in mining prop
erty. He and Rhodes had thousand con-
tests, but the latter finally gained control Of
Kimberley Central to add to his nice little
mine"-the old De Beers. And on, until
Rhodes had complete control of the con
solidated corporation of all South African
diamonds. 80 per cent of the whole worlds
production. The stockholders profited greatly
by the consultations in 1890 the value of
the De Beers properties was estimated at
100000. but the capital was kept down
to 1880 900; the rest was paid for by de
bentures. With Rhodes's conservative man
agement these bonds were rapidly paid off
and a large reserve built up. And while
he was reaping such a harvest from the
diamond mines his gold mines in Witwaters-
rand were almost as profitable. How rich
he was even he hardly knew himself But
with all the defects which its rapid aggran-
dizement in these years involved, he thought
Of his wealth as means to the power to
accomplish his projects and on them he
then set TO work
In his chapter headed THE Raid" Mr.
Williams writes of his hero with dogged
belief in his essential honesty of purpose,
however indefensible the single performance
which broke down the public's faith in the
integrity of the master of South Africa.
The Transvaal and President Kruger stood
in the way of Rhodes's cherished and dom
mating idea of South African union. His
railroad ideas all ran toward that terminal.
his fights against Kruger's tariffs were all
part of the details which he patiently faced
one by one. and broke through toward his
goal. The vexations of tariffs and problems
of railroads did not disturb him. but when
Kruger set up communication with Germany
Rhodes felt that nothing more was to be
gained by open diplomacy. And so early I'm
1895 Rhodes decided to organize the rising
in johannesburg and insure its success.
In taking this decision judgment and the
sense OF honor had alike deserted Rhodes
for as Prime Minister Of the Cape and man
had no business to interfere in the internal
affairs Of friendly State. From the
outset he placed himself in a false position"
And Or. Jameson's patience could not stand
the strain of the repeated delays in striking
the blow you may say what you like" he
cried rs he rose from reading Macaulay's
essay. but Give would have done IT," So
i'm spite Of Rhodess direct orders. he pre-
pared 10 edo the host he could" When
Rhodes got the news Of the raid he was
utterly detected and different" When
Schrener went 10 him yes" he said. ITS
true. Old jameson has upset my apple
cart Poor old Jameson! Twenty
years we have been friends. and now he
goes I'm and ruins me. ! cannot hinder him
cannot go in and destroy him" or course
Rhodes's Ministry doomed. And by this
abortive short cut TO success Rhodes had
undone his work Of years to unite English
and Dutch and promote the Union Of South
N,I all fvtr f,fN ttat