Cecil Rhodes Last Will Testament

Photograph by} [ll^. andD. Dozvttey.

T h e R i g h t H o n . C e c i l J o h n R h o d e s .

T H E

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

OF

CECIL JOHN RHODES

W I T H E L U C I D A T O R Y N O T E S

TO WHICH ARE ADDED

S O M E C H A P T E R S D E S C R I B I N G T H E

POLITICAL A N D RELIGIOUS IDEAS

OF THE TESTATOR

E D I T E D B Y VV. T . S T E A D

L O N D O N

" R E V I E W O F R E V I E W S " O F F I C E

N O R F O L K STREET, W.C.

1902

LONDON : PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,

DUKE STREET, STAMFOKD STREET, S.E., AND GREAT WINDMILL STREET,

P R E F A T O R Y N O T E .

T H E interest excited by the publication in the

daily papers of the last W i l l and Testament of

Cecil John Rhodes justifies and explains the

appearance of this volume.

For the marginal and foot notes, as well as

for the chapters describing the political and

religious ideas of Mr . Rhodes, no one is

responsible but

T H E E D I T O R .

June 4?/i, 1902.

C O N T E N T S .

FRONTISPIECE : T H E R I G H T H O N . C E C I L J O H N RHODES.

PREFATORY N O T E . P A G E

PART I . — T H E L A S T W I L L A N D T E S T A M E N T . . 3

PART I I . — T H E P O L I T I C A L A N D RELIGIOUS IDEAS O F

M R . RHODES . . . . . 5 1

C H A P T E R I . — H i s W R I T I N G S . . 55

„ I I . — H i s CONVERSATIONS . . 79

„ I I I . — H I S CORRESPONDENCE. . 117

., I V . — H I S SPEECHES . . . 139

PART I I I . — T H E CLOSING SCENE . . . - 1 7 7

I N D E X . . . . . . . . . 193

L I S T O F I L L U S T R A T I O N S .

F R O N T I S P I E C E : T H E R I G H T H O N . C E C I L J O H N - R H O D E S .

P A R T I .

P A G E

M R . R H O D E S ' S B U R I A L P L A C E : T H E S U M M I T O F " W O R L D ' S

V I E W " 2

M R . R H O D E S ' S W E S T A C R E F A R M I N T H E M A T O P P O S . . . 6

T H E I N Y A N G A F A R M 8

G R O O T E S C H U U R . . . . . . . . . 1 0

A P P R O A C H T O G R O O T E S C H U U R . . . . . . 1 2

O T H E R V I E W S O F T H E R E S I D E N C E ' 4 ~ 3 7

P O R T R A I T O F M R . R H O D E S : B Y E . T E N N Y S O N - C O L E . . 2 6

O R I K I . C O L L E G E , O X F O R D . . . . . . . 3 1

P O R T R A I T O F M R . B . F . H A W K S E E Y 4 1

P O R T R A I T O F M R . W . T . S T E A D 4 2

D A I . H A M H A L L . 4 8

P A R T I I .

C E C I L R H O D E S ( A S K E T C H B Y T H E M A R C H I O N E S S O F G R A N I S Y ) . 5 0

P O R T R A I T O F L O R D R O S E B E R Y . . . . . . . 5 3

M R . R H O D E S S T U D Y I N G T H E MAr O K A F R I C A . . . . 5 4

C H A P T E R I . — P O R T R A I T O F L O R D M I L N E R . . . . 5 7

P O R T R A I T O F K A K I . G R E Y . . . . 6 0

P O R T R A I T O F M R . A . B E I T . . . . 6 5

P O R T R A I T O F M R . L . L . M I C H E L L . . . 6 7

P O R T R A I T O F D R . J A M E S O N . . . . 7 5

C H A P T E R I I . — P O R T R A I T O F M R . R H O D E S A S A BOY- . 7 8

H O U S E I N W H I C H M R . R H O D E S W A S B O R N . 8 7

P O R T R A I T S O F M R . A N D M R S . M A G U I R E . . 9 2

P O R T R A I T O F M R . F . E . G A R R E T T . . . 1 1 0

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

P A R T IF.—continued. I . A < ; K

C H A P T E R I I I . — P O R T R A I T O F M R . R H O D E S . . . . 1 1 6

P O R T R A I T O F M R . C . D . R U D D . . . 1 1 9

P O R T R A I T S O F D R . J A M E S O N A N D M R . B O Y D . 123

P O R T R A I T OF S I R H A R R Y J O H N S T O N . . 127

P O R T R A I T OF M R . R H O D E S IN 1899 . . . 13S

C H A P T E R I V . — A C H A R A C T E R I S T I C P O R T R A I T O F M R . R H O D E S 141

P O R T R A I T O F D R . R U T H E R F O O R D H A R R I S . 146

P O R T R A I T OF M R . HAY'S H A M M O N D . . . 156

F A R T I I I .

T H E L A S T P O R T R A I T O F M R . R H O D E S 176

T H E C O T T A G E A T M U I Z E N B E R G , W H E R E M R , R H O D E S D I E D . 179

T H E L Y I N G I N S T A T E 182

F U N E R A L P R O C E S S I O N S T A R T I N G FROM B U L A W A Y O . . 1S2

E X C A V A T I N G M R . R H O D E S ' S T O M B . . . 186

L O W E R I N G T H E C O F F I N I N T O T H E G R A V E . . . 191

Univ Calif - Digitized by Microsoft ®

T H E L A S T W I L L A N D T E S T A M E N T

O F C E C I L J O H N R H O D E S .

PART I .

T H E L A S T W I L L A N D T E S T A M E N T .

T H E sixth and last W i l l and Testament of Cecil John Rhodes is dated July ist, 1899. To this are appended various codicils, the last of which was dated March, 1902, when he was on his deathbed.

The full text of the W i l l and its Codicils wi l l only be published when the W i l l is proved in South Africa.

The following are the substantive passages of the W i l l so far as they have as yet been given to the public.

T h e W i l l begins :— I am a natural-born British subject and I now

declare that I have adopted and acquired and hereby adopt and acquire and intend to retain Rhodesia as my domicile {a).

(1.) His Burial Place in the Matoppos. I admire the grandeur and loneliness of the

Matoppos in Rhodesia and therefore I desire to

(a) Being thus domiciled in Rhodesia his estate is not subject to the death duties levied on those domiciled in England.

His last resting place.

4 THE WILL OF CECIL J. RHODES.

be buried in the Matoppos (b) on the hi l l which I used to visit and which 1 called the " View of the W o r l d " in a square to be cut in the rock on the top of the hil l covered with a plain brass plate with these words thereon—" Here lie the remains of Cecil John Rhodes " and accordingly I direct my Executors at the expense of my estate to take all steps and do all things necessary or proper to give effect to this my desire and afterwards to keep my grave in order at the expense of the Matoppos and Bulawayo Fund hereinafter mentioned.

I direct my Trustees on the hi l l aforesaid to erect or complete the monument to the men who fell in the first Matabele War at Shangani in Rhodesia the bas-reliefs for Avhich are being made by Mr. John Tweed and I desire the said

(/>) Mr. Bertram Mitford says : — " For grim, gloomy savagery of solitude it is probable that the stupendous rock wilderness known as the Matoppo Hi l l s is unsurpassed throughout earth's surface. Strictly speaking, the term ' h i l l s ' scarcely applies to this marvellous range, which is rather an expanse of granite rocks extending some seventy or eighty miles by forty or fifty, piled in titanic proportions and bizarre confusion, over what would otherwise be a gently undulating surface, forming a k ind of island as it were, surrounded by beautiful rolling country, green, smiling, and in parts thickly bushed. High on the outside ridge of this remarkable range, about twenty miles distant from Bulawayo, towards which it faces, there rises a pile of granite boulders, huge, solid, compact. It is a n i tura l structure • an imposing and dominating one withal, and appropriately so, for this is the sepulchre of the warrior K i n g Umzilikazi, founder and first monarch of the Matabele nation." Rhodesia says : — " It would appear, according to the discovery of a Native Commissioner, that the hi l l on the summit of which the remains of Cecil Rhodes have been laid is known in the vernacular as ' Malindidzimo.' The literal translation of this is given as ' The Home of the Spirit of My Forefathers,' or, without straining the meaning unduly, ' The Home of t i e Guardian Spirit.' It does not appear that Mr . Rhodes was aware of this rendering when he expressed a desire to be buried on that spot after his race was run."

THE SHANGANI MONUMENT.

HIS PROPERTY IN RHODESIA. 5

hil l to be preserved as a burial-place \c) but no person is to be buried there unless the Government for the time being" of Rhodesia unti l the various states of South Africa or any of them shall have been federated and after such federation the Federal Government by a vote of two-thirds of its governing body says that he or she has deserved well of his or her country.

(2.) His Property in Rhodesia. I give free of all duty whatsoever my landed

property near Bulawayo in Matabeleland Rhodesia and my landed property at or near Inyanga near Salisbury in Mashonaland Rhodesia to my Trustees hereinbefore named Upon trust that my Trustees shall in such manner as in their uncontrolled discretion they shall think fit cultivate the same respectively for the instruction of the people of Rhodesia.

I give free of all duty whatsoever to my Trustees hereinbefore named such a sum of money as they shall carefully ascertain and in their uncontrolled discretion consider ample and sufficient by its investments to yield income amounting to the sum of ,£4,000 sterling per annum and not less and I direct my Trustees to invest the same sum and the said sum and

(c) A lady writing over the initials " S. C. S." in the Westminster Gazette says:—"Very beautiful is a little story which I once heard told of Mr . Rhodes by Mr. G. Wyndham. Beautiful, because it contains the simple expression of a great thought, said quite simply, and without any desire to produce effect, in private to a friend. Mr . Wyndham told how, during his last visit to Africa, they rode together on to the summit of a hi l l in the Matoppos, which commanded a view of fifty miles in every direction. Circling his hands about the horizon, Mr. Rhodes said, ' Homes, more homes; that is what I work for.' "

THE BULAWAYO AND INYANGA ESTATES.

THE MATOPPOS AND BULAWAYO FUND.

6

HIS PROPERTY IN RHODESIA. 7 the investments for the time being representing it I hereinafter refer to as "the Matoppos and Bulavvayo fund" And I direct that my Trustees shall for ever apply in such manner as in their uncontrolled discretion they shall think fit the income of the Matoppos and Bulawayo Fund in preserving protecting maintaining adorning and beautifying the said burial-place and hill and their surroundings and shall for ever apply in such manner as in their uncontrolled discretion they shall think fit the balance of the income of the Matoppos and Bulawayo Fund and any rents and profits of my said landed properties near Bulawayo in the cultivation as aforesaid of such property And in particular I direct my Trustees that a portion of my Sauerdale property a part of my said landed property near Bulawayo be planted with every possible tree and be made and preserved and maintained as a Park for the people of Bulawayo and that they complete the dam (d) at my Westacre property if it is not

(d) A Daily Telegraph c o r r e s p o n d e n t , w r i t i n g f r o m B u l a w a y o o n O c t . 14, 1901, g i v e s t h e f o l l o w i n g a c c o u n t o f t h e d a m r e f e r r e d t o i n t h e w i l l : — " M r . R h o d e s ' s M a t o p p o D a m i s t o b e u s e d i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e i r r i g a t i o n o f a p o r t i o n o f h i s f a r m n e a r B u l a w a y o . T h i s f a r m i s s i t u a t e d o n t h e n o r t h e r n e d g e o f t h e M a t o p p o s , e i g h t e e n m i l e s f r o m B u l a w a y o , a n d t h r o u g h i t r u n s t h e v a l l e y o f a t r i b u t a r y f r o m t h e M a l i m a R i v e r . T h i s t r i b u t a r y i s d r y e i g h t m o n t h s i n t h e y e i r , a n d t h e l a n d a r o u n d c o n s e q u e n t l y p a r c h e d . M r . R h o d e s h a s b u i l t a h u g e e a r t h w o r k w a l l t o d a m t h e t r i b u t a r y . T h e w o r k w a s c o m m e n c e d i n M a y , 1899. I t w i l l r e n d e r p o s s i b l e t h e c u l t i v a t i o n o f s o m e 2,000 to 3,000 a c r e s o f t h e m o s t f e r t i l e s o i l . T h e t o t a l c o s t u p to d a t e h a s b e e n s o m e t h i n g u n d e r .£30,000. T h e t o t a l c a p a c i t y o f t h e r e s e r v o i r i s 900,000,000 g a l l o n s . A s m a l l b o d y o f w a t e r w a s c o n s e r v e d l a s t s e a s o n , a n d f i f t y a c r e s o f l u c e r n e p l a n t e d a s a c o m m e n c e m e n t . I t i s d o i n g e x t r e m e l y w e l l u n d e r i r r i g a t i o n . T h e s i t e o f t h e w o r k s , t h e n o r t h e r n •edge o f t h e M a t o p p o s , i s v e r y p i c t u r e s q u e . T h e g r e e n l u c e r n e m a k e s a d e l i g h t f u l c o n t r a s t a g a i n s t t h e d u l l a n d h a z y b r o w n s

B

Westacre Park, its trees and its dam.

8

HIS PROPERTY IN RHODESIA. 9

completed at my death and make a short railway line from Bulawayo to Westacre so that the people of Bulawayo may enjoy the glory of the Matoppos from Saturday to Monday.

I give free of all duty whatsoever to my Trustees hereinbefore named such a sum of money as they shall carefully ascertain and in their uncontrolled discretion consider ample and sufficient by its investments to yield income amounting to the sum of .£2 , 0 0 0 sterling per annum and not less and I direct my Trustees to invest the same sum and the said sum and the investments for the time being representing it I hereinafter refer to as "the Inyanga Fund." And I direct that my Trustees shall for ever apply in such manner as in their absolute discretion they shall think fit the income of the Inyanga Fund and any rents and profits of my said landed property at or near Inyanga (e) in

of the surrounding country which prevail during the dry season. An hotel has been built on some rising ground overlooking the dam, and it is expected that it wi l l be very popular as a holiday resort for the youth and beauty of Bulawayo—become, in fact, the African replica of the famous Star and Garter at Richmond."

(e) M r . Seymour Fort, writing in the Empire Review for May, 1902, says : — " A p a r t f r o m his position as managing director of the British South Africa Company, Mr. Rhodes is one of the chief pioneer agriculturists in Rhodesia, and has spared neither brain nor capital in endeavouring to develop the resources of its soil. In Manicaland he owns a block of farms on the high Inyanga plateau, some 80,000 acres in extent, where on the open grass country he is breeding cattle and horses, while a certain portion is fenced and placed under cultivation. Great things are expected from these horse-breeding experiments, as the Inyanga hills are so far free from the horse-sickness so prevalent in other parts of South Africa. This plateau forms a succession of downs at an elevation of some 6,000 feet above the sea. The soil is alluvial, of rich red colour and capable of growing every form of produce, and by

T h e I n y a n g a F u n d .

10

GROOTE SCHUUR.

the cultivation of such property and in particular I direct that with regard to such property irrigation should be the first object of my Trustees.

For the guidance of my Trustees I wish to record that in the cultivation of my said landed properties I include such things as experimental farming, forestry, market and other gardening and fruit farming, irrigation and the teaching of any of those things and establishing and maintaining an Agricultural College.

(3.) Groote Schuur. I give my property following that is to say

my residence known as " De Groote Schuur" {/)

merely scratching the surface ihe natives raise crops of mealies and other cereals superior to those grown elsewhere in Manica-land. It is an old saying in South Africa that you find no good veldt without finding Dutchmen, and several Transvaal Boers have settled in the neighbourhood. English fruit trees flourish, and M r . Rhodes has laid out orchards in which the orange, apple, and pear trees (now five years old) have borne well. Very interesting also are the evidences of an old and practically unknown civilisation—the ancient ruins, the malhe-matically constructed water-courses and old gold workings which are to be seen side by side with the trans-African telegraph to Blantyre and Cairo which runs through the property, and connects Tete with the Zambesi."

(J) M r . Garrett, writing in the Pail Mai? Magazine for May, 1902, says : — " If you would see Rhodes on his most winning side, you would seek it at Groote Schuur. It lies behind the Devil Peak, which is a flank buttressed by the great bastion of rock that is called Table Mountain. The house lies low', nestling cosily among oaks. It was built in accordance with Mr. Rhodes's orders to keep it simple—beams and whitewash. It was originally thatched, but it was burnt down at the end of 1896, and everything was gutted but one wing. From the deep-pillared window where M r . Rhodes mostly sat, and the l ittle formal garden, the view leads up to a grassy slope and over woodland away to the crest of the buttressed peak and the great purple precipices of Table Mountain. Through the open park land and wild wood koodoos, gnus, elands, and

I r r i g a t i o n .

A n A g r i c u l t u r a l C o l l e g e .

H o u s e a n d furniture.

12

GROOTE SCHUUR. 13

situate near Mowbray in the Cape Division in the said Colony together with all furniture plate and other articles contained therein at the time of my death and all other land belonging to me situated under Table Mountain including my property known as " Mosterts" to my Trustees hereinbefore named upon and subject to the conditions following (that is to say):—

(i.) The said property (excepting any furniture or like articles which have become useless) shall not nor shall any portion thereof at any time be sold let or otherwise alienated.

(ii.) No buildings for suburban residences shall at any time be erected on the said property and any buildings which may be erected thereon shall be used exclusively for public purposes and shall be in a style of architecture similar to or in harmony with my said residence.

(iii.) The said residence and its gardens and grounds shall be retained for a residence for the Prime Minister for the time being of the said Federal Government of the States

other African animals wander at wi l l . Only the savage beasts are confined in enclosures. No place of the kind is so freely, so recklessly shared with the public. The estate became the holiday resort of the Cape Town masses; but it is to be regretted that some of the visitors abused their privileges— maimed and butchered rare and valuable beasts, and careless picknickers have caused great havoc in the woods by fire. Sometimes the visitors treat the house itself as a free museum, and are found wandering into Mr . Rhodes's own rooms or composedly reading in his library. Brown people from the slums of Cape Town fill the pinafores of their children with flowers plucked in his garden, and wander round the house as if it were their own. The favourite rendezvous in the ground was the lion-house, a classical lion-pit in which the tawny form of the king of beasts could be caught sight of between marble columns."

M o s t e r t s ,

C o n d i t i o n s .

R e s i d e n c e o f F e d e r a l P r e m i e r .

»4

'5

i6 THE WILL OF CECIL J. RHODES.

of South Africa to which I have referred in clause 6 hereof my intention being to provide a suitable official residence for the First Minister in that Government befitting the dignity of his position and unti l there shall be such a Federal Government may be used as a park for the people (g).

(g) Writ ing in the Times on the artistic side of Mr. Rhodes, Mr . Herbert Baker, his architect, says:—" Artistic problems first presented themselves to his mind when, as Premier of Cape Colony, he made his home in the Cape Peninsula. His intense and genuine love of the big and beautiful in natural scenery prompted him to buy as much as he could of the forest slopes of Table Mountain, so that it might be saved for ever from the hands of the builder, and the people, attracted to it by gardens, wild animals, and stately architecture, might be educated and ennobled by the contemplation of what he •thought one of the finest views in the world. This love of mountain and distant view—the peaks of the South African plateaux are seen 100 miles away across the Cape fiats—was deep-seated in his nature, and he would sit or ride silently for hours at a time, dreaming and looking at the views he loved— a political poet.

But from these create he can Forms more real than living man, Nurslings of Immortality.

There are many stories of him telling worried and disputing politicians to turn from their " trouble of ants " to the Mountain for calm, and in the same spirit he placed the stone Phcenician hawk, found at Zimbabye, in the Cabinet Council-room, that the emblem of time might preside over their deliberations. The ennobling influence of natural scenery was present in his mind in connection with every site he chose and every building he contemplated ; such as a cottage he built, where poets or artists could live and look across to the blue mountain distance; a University, where young men could be surrounded with the best of nature and of a r t ; a lion-house, a feature of which was to have been a long open colonnade, where the people could at once see the king of beasts and the lordliest of mountains ; the Kimberley " Bath," with its white marble colonnades embedded in a green oasis of orange grove and vine trellis, looking to the north over illimitable desert. •Such things would perhaps occur to most men, but with him


GROOTE SCHUUR. 17

(iv.) The grave of the late Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr upon the said property shall be protected and access be permitted thereto at all reasonable times by any member of the Hofmeyr family for the purpose of inspection or maintenance.

I give to my Trustees hereinbefore named such a sum of money as they shall carefully ascertain and in their uncontrolled discretion consider to be ample and sufficient to yield income amounting to the sum of one thousand pounds sterling per annum and not less upon trust that such income shall be applied and expended for the purposes following (that is to say) —

(i.) On and for keeping and maintaining for the use of the Prime Minister for the time being of the said Federal Government of at least two carriage horses one or more carriages and sufficient stable servants.

(ii.) On and for keeping and maintaining in good order the flower and kitchen gardens appertaining to the said residence.

(iii.) On and for the payment of the wages or earnings including board and lodging of two competent men servants to be housed kept and employed in domestic service in the said residence.

(iv.) On and for the improvement repair renewal and insurance of the said residence furniture plate and other articles.

they were a passion, almost a religion. Of his more monumental architectural schemes few have been realised. For these his taste lay in the direction of the larger and simpler styles of Rome, Greece, and even Egypt, recognizing the similarity of the climate and natural scenery of South Africa to that of classic Southern Europe. He had the building ambition of a Pericles or a Hadrian, and in his untimely death architecture has the greatest cause to mourn."

The HOFMEYR GRAVE.

THE GROOTE SCHUUR FUND.

Its objects.

i8

'9


I direct that subject to the conditions and trusts hereinbefore contained the said Federal Government shall from the time it shall be constituted have the management administration and control of the said devise and legacy and that my Trustees shall as soon as may be thereafter vest and pay the devise and legacy given by the two last preceding clauses hereof in and to such Government if a corporate body capable of accepting and holding the same or if not then in some suitable corporate body so capable named by such Government and that in the meantime my Trustees shall in their uncontrolled discretion manage administer and control the said devise and legacy.

(4.) Bequests to Oriel College, Oxford. I give the sum of £ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 free of all duty

whatsoever to my old college Oriel College in the University of Oxford (Ji) and I direct that the

(h) In the list of the Masters of Arts of Oriel College, in the year 1881, occurs this entry : "Rhodes, Cecil John," to which a note is added, " late Premier of the Cape Colony."

Tradition says that Oriel was first founded by Edward I I . , who vowed as he fled from Bannockburn he would found a religious house in the Virgin's honour if only Our Lady would save from the pursuing Scot. Edward I I I . gave the University the mansion called Le Oriole which stood on the present site of the College.

A portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh hangs on the walls of the College Hal l .

The present income of the College is said to be not more than £ 7 , 5 0 0 per annum. The revenue of the twenty-one Colleges of Oxford is £ 2 0 6 , 1 0 2 , or less than £ 1 0 , 0 0 0 each.

The present Provost of Oriel is David Binning Monro : he is also Vice-Chancellor of the University. Among the hon. Fellows are Mr. Goldwin Smith, Lord Goschen, and Mr . Bryce.

Among the famous names associated with Oriel besides those of Raleigh and Rhodes are the following:—Archbishop

BEQUESTS TO ORIEL COLLEGE, OXFORD. 21

receipt of the Bursar or other proper officer of the College shall be a complete discharge for that legacy and inasmuch as I gather that the erection of an extension to H i g h Street of the College buildings would cost about ,£22,500 and that the loss to the College revenue caused by pulling down of houses to make room for the said new College buildings would be about ,£250 per annum I direct that the sum of £"40,000 part of the said sum of ,£100,000 shall be applied in the first place in the erection of the said new College buildings (i) and that the remainder of such sum of £40,000 shall be held as a fund by the income whereof the aforesaid loss to the. College revenue shall so lar as possible be made good.

A n d inasmuch as I gather that there is a deficiency in the College revenue of some £ 1 , 500 per annum whereby the Fellowships are impoverished and the status of the College is lowered I

Arundel, Cardinal Al len, Bishop Butler, Prynne, Langland, author of " Piers P l o w m a n " ; Barclay, author of " T h e Ship of Fools " ; Gilbert White, author of the " Natural History of Se lborne" ; Thomas Hughes, author of " T o m Brown's Schooldays"; Dr. Arnold , Bishop Wilberforce, Archbishop Whately, Cardinal Newman, Dr. Pusey, John Keble, Bishop Hampden.

(/) The extension of Oriel College cannot at present take place. St. Mary H a l l , which adjoins the College, belongs to the Principal (Dr. Chase), who was appointed to that position as far back as December, 1857. A statute made by the last Commission provided that upon his death St. Mary H a l l shall be merged into Oriel College. The College has always contemplated, sooner or later, an extension of its buildings to High Street. The H a l l runs close up to the houses facing the University Church, and the majority of these premises already belong to Oriel College. The northern side of the quadrangle of St. Mary Ha l l wil l ultimately be pulled down, together with the High Street shops, and the new buildings wil l face the main thoroughfare on the one hand and the quadrangle on the other.

RESIDENT FELLOWS.

FOR COLLEGE BUILDINGS.


The High Table.

REPAIR FUND.

Counsel to the childlike Dons.

the be

direct that the sum of .£40,000 further part of the said sum of ^100,000 shall be held as a fund by the income whereof the income of such of the resident Fellows of the College as work for honour and dignity of the College shall increased (/) .

A n d I further direct that the sum of ,£10,000 further part of the said sum of £"100,000 shall be held as a fund by the income whereof the dignity and comfort of the H i g h Table may be maintained by which means the dignity and comfort of the resident Fellows may be increased.

A n d I further direct that the sum of .£10,000 the remainder of the said sum of £r00,000 shall be held as a repair fund the income whereof shall be expended in maintaining and repairing the College buildings.

A n d finally as the College authorities live secluded from the world and so are like children {k) as to commercial matters I would advise them to

(J) A senior member of Oriel when interviewed on the subject of M r . Rhodes's bequests s a i d : — " T h e College revenues do not admit at present of their paying the Fellows as much as the Commission contemplated, and so far they had been at a disadvantage. Mr . Rhodes probably became aware of this fact, and wished to enable the College to reach the l imit set by the Commission, £,200 a year, as the maximum. The l imit imposed by the Commissioners wi l l not apply to Mr. Rhodes's bequest, it being a new endowment, so that not only may the emoluments of the Fellowships reach the figure specified by the Commissioners, but go beyond that. So far Oriel College has not been able to rise to the level which the Commissioners considered a proper amount. As to the amount set apart for the High Table, we do not want more comforts or luxuries, we are quite happy as we are. We have enough to eat, but st i l l , it was very k ind of Mr . Rhodes to think of us in that way."

(k) Possibly Cecil Rhodes was thinking when he spoke of the childlike and secluded Don of a story current in his day at Oriel—and current s t i l l—of John Keble, who was better at

THE SCHOLARSHIPS AT OXFORD. 23

consult my Trustees as to the investment of these various funds for they would receive great help and assistance from the advice of my Trustees in such matters and I direct that any investment made pursuant to such advice shall whatsoever it may be be an authorized investment for the money applied in making it .

(5.) The Scholarships at Oxford. Whereas I consider that the education of

young Colonists at one of the Universities in the United Kingdom is of great advantage to them for g iv ing breadth to their views for their instruction in life and manners (/) and for instilling into their minds the advantage to the Colonies as well as to the United Kingdom of the retention of the unity of the Empire.

Christian poetry than at worldly calculation. One day Keble, who was Bursar, discovered to his horror that the College accounts came out nearly two thousand pounds on the wrong side. The learned and pious men of Oriel tried to find the weak spot, but it was not unti l expert opinion was called that they found that Keble, casting up a column, had added the date of the year to Oriel's debts !

(/) Mr . Rhodes, speaking 10 M r . Iwan Miil ler on the subject of his scholarships, said : — " A lot of young Colonials go to Oxford and Cambridge, and come back with a certain anti-English feeling, imagining themselves to have been slighted because they were Colonials. That, of course, is all nonsense. I was a Colonial, and I knew everybody I wanted to know, and everybody who wanted to knew me. The explanation is that most of these youngsters go there on the strength of scholarships, and insufficient allowances, and are therefore practically confined to one set, that of men as poor as themselves, who use the University naturally and quite properly only as a stepping-stone to something else. They are quite right, but they don't get what I call a University Education, which is the education of rubbing shoulders with every kind of individual and class on absolutely equal terms ; therefore a very poor man can never get the full value of an Oxford training."

c

OBJECTS OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION.

THE WILL OF CECIL J. RHODES.

And whereas in the case of young Colonists studying at a University in the United Kingdom I attach very great importance to the University having a residential system such as is in force at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge for without it those students are at the most critical period of their lives left without any supervision.

And whereas there are at the present time 50 or more students from South Africa studying at the University of Edinburgh many of whom are attracted there by its excellent medical school and I should like to establish some of the Scholarships hereinafter mentioned in that University but owing to its not having such a residential system as aforesaid I feel obliged to refrain from doing-so. And whereas my own University the University of Oxford has such a system and I suggest that it should try and extend its scope so as if possible to make its medical school at least as good as that at the University of Edinburgh (m).

And whereas I also desire to encourage and foster an appreciation of the advantages which I

(m) " Mr . Rhodes," says " A Senior Member of Orie l , " " suggests that the University shall develop a medical school of the kind they have in Edinburgh. That might involve a considerable expense on the University which it is hardly in a position to bear, being very short of money as it is. The question of a medical school has been often discussed, and so far the conclusion arrived at has been adverse to the idea of the establishment of a medical school at Oxford. It has been considered that the infirmary at Oxford is not big enough, and the cases are not sufficiently numerous to provide practical experience for the students. The idea has been that they should get their general knowledge at Oxford, and then obtain practical hospital work elsewhere."

Commenting upon this, a distinguished Oxford Professor said : — " The opinion expressed by a senior member of Oriel College of the present position of the Medical School in

24

A d v a n t a g e s o f R e s i d e n c e .

E d i n b u r g h M e d i c a l S c h o o l .

T h e U n i o n of t h e E n g l i s h -s p e a k i n g P e o p l e s .

25

M a r b l e B a t h - r o o m , G r o o t e S c h u u r .

26

Coj-yright reserved.']

F r o m M r . T e n n y s o n - C o l e ' s P o r t r a i t o f M r . R h o d e s .

(Purchased by Oriel College, Oxford,')

THE SCHOLARSHIP AT OXFORD. 27

i m p l i c i t l y bel ieve w i l l result f rom the un ion of the Eng l i sh-speak ing peoples th roughou t the w o r l d and to encourage in the students f rom the U n i t e d States o f N o r t h A m e r i c a w h o w i l l benefit f rom the A m e r i c a n Scholarships to be established for the reason above g i ven a t the U n i v e r s i t y of O x f o r d under this my W i l l an a t tachment to the count ry f r o m w h i c h they have sp rung bu t w i t h o u t

Oxford is in the main correct, but contains one sentence which conveys an erroneous impression of the present attitude of the University in relation to medical teaching.

"A medical education comprises three kinds of study, each of which must be of first-rate quality. One of these is preliminary, and consists in the theoretical and practical study of general science. The second comprises anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and hygiene. The third is purely professional, and corresponds to what used to be called walking the hospitals.

" The subject of the first, namely, inorganic and organic chemistry, natural philosophy, and biology are now amply provided for in the University. We have laboratories which are well equipped for present needs, though no doubt they may require extension at a future per iod; and very complete collections for illustrating the instruction given in zoology and botany.

" Tne subjects of the second part are those which constitute the science of medicine as distinguished from its practice. A physiological department was established some fifteen years ago, the equipment of which wil l certainly bear comparison with any other in the country. More space is, however, required for the development of certain branches of the subject. The department of human anatomy has been completed for ten years.

" I t has a museum, a commodious dissecting-room with all modern improvements, and all other adjuncts that are required for the teaching of a subject so important to medicine. The pathological laboratory was opened by the Vice-Chancellor six months ago. It is more closely related to poetical medicine than the others, and constitutes a common ground between the University and the Radcliffe Infirmary. As regards the building and the internal arrangements, it is all that could be desired, but the funds available for its complete

T h e S h a n g a n i M o n u m e n t

These are small reproductions of two oj four bas-reliefs which are being made by Mr. John Tweed, the sculptor, for the monument to the men who fell in thefirst Matabele War at Shangani. (Seepage 4.)


I hope w i t h d r a w i n g them or the i r sympathies f r o m the l and o f the i r adopt ion or b i r t h .

N o w therefore I d irect my Trustees as soon as may be after my death and ei ther s imultaneously or g radua l l y as they shal l f ind convenient and i f g radua l l y then in such order as they shall t h i n k f i t to establish for male students the Scholarships hereinafter d i rec ted to be established each of w h i c h shal l be o f the year ly va lue o f ,£300 and be tenable at any Col lege in the U n i v e r s i t y of O x f o r d for three consecutive academical years (;/).

equipment are inadequate, nor has the University as yet been able to provide sufficient remuneration for the teaching staff.

" The only branches of medical science, for the teaching of which special departments have not yet been established, are pharmacology (action of drugs) and public health.

" As regards the third part of the medical curriculum, viz., instruction in the practice of medicine, the University had adopted the principle that the two or three years which its students must devote to their purely professional studies must be spent where the existence of great hospitals affords opportunities for seeing medical and surgical practice in all its branches.

" As regards medicine, Oxford has been for the last dozen years providing what it considers the besi possible education. The practical difficulty which prevents many from taking advantage of it is the long duration of the total period of study. The Oxford student of medicine must spend some six or seven years, reckoned from the date of matriculation to the completion of his hospital work. This time cannot be shortened with advantage. For those who come with the income to which Mr. Rhodes's munificent bequest affords this difficulty wi l l scarcely exist. The scholarship will abundantly provide for the years spent in Oxford and enable its holders to compete with advantage for the Hospital Scholarships which have been already mentioned."

(«) The Rev. W. Greswell, M.A. , wrote to the Times on Apr i l 9TH as follows : — " A scholarship foundation given during his lifetime by the Right Hon . C. J. Rhodes has already been in force at the Diocesan College, Rondebosch, near Cape Town. This year two members of the col lege—W. T. Yeoman and F. Reid—have been awarded ^175 per annum

THREE-YEAR

SCHOLARSHIPS.

3° THE WILL Ob CECIL J. RHODES.

I d irect my Trustees to establish certa in Scholarships and these Scholarships I some-

and £ 1 2 5 per annum respectively in order to help them to go to one of the colleges at Oxford and continue the studies they have begun at the Cape. Originally the endowment was of £ 2 5 0 per annum for a single scholarship, tenable for three years at Oxford ; but quite recently, by an additional act of generosity on the part of the donor, , £ 5 0 per annum was added to the value of the scholarship, bringing it up to £ 3 0 0 per annum. At the same time a discretionary power was given to the Diocesan College to apportion the whole sum, pro hac vice, between the first two competitors, if it seemed expedient to do so and if the parents were wil l ing and able to add something of their own. For M r . Rhodes always thought that a student coming to Oxford should have a thoroughly sufficient, if not good, allowance, in order that he might enter into every phase of University life without the ever-present thought of the 'res angusta domi. ' The scholars-elect are still continuing their studies at the college at Rondebosch unt i l such time as they are ready to proceed to Oxford in 1903. Mr . Rhodes made, in the case of the Diocesan College, somewhat the same stipulation as to tests and proficiency as in his subsequent magnificent endowments."

The Bursar of Christ Church being questioned as to the point whether the £ 3 0 0 a year would close the gates of Christ Church to the Rhodes scholars, Mr . Skene pointed out that it all depended on the question whether the . £ 3 0 0 a year was to keep the scholars the whole year through, both in term time at the University and in vacation elsewhere, or merely during the University years of six months. " If the latter," he said, " then £ 3 0 0 a year wi l l keep them comfortably enough at Christ Church, and wil l enable them to enter into the social and varied life of the House. But if this amount is also to serve for vacation expenses, the balance left for the University wi l l make it impossible, or, at any rate, inadvisable, for them to come to Christ Church."

A senior member of Oriel says Mr. Rhodes contemplated that the sum he provides shall be sufficient to maintain the recipients, together with their personal expenses, travelling, clothing, etc., and to enable them to mix freely in the society of the place and take a position amongst men who are well equipped in this world's goods. An ordinary young man at O x f o r d — I don't say at this college—would be comfortably off with an allowance of £ 2 5 0 a year, and many parents allow

THE SCHOLARSHIPS AT OXFORD. 3i

times hereinafter refer to as " the Colonial Scholarships." )̂ their sons that amount. Mr. Rhodes makes it , £ 3 0 0 — probably he took into consideration that people coming from abroad would have to face extra expenditure in the shape of travelling expenses.

(0) Mr . Stevenson, of Exeter College, says there already exists in Oxford a small Colonial club for occasional meetings and dinners and the supply of friendly information. But the Colonials whom I have known very readily merge in the surrounding mass of undergraduates. There are several Colonials and Americans, for example, at Balliol, and Corpus, and Lincoln, and St. John's. Morally they are strong men, and they are popular. Then they are good athletes. We had two Americans in the boat this year. If Mr . Rhodes's trust should be the means of our getting some gigantic Colonials— or even Boers, for he excludes no race—who can do great things, say, at putting the weight, we may be able to wipe out Cambridge altogether ! A l l Oxonians would agree that that would be a great achievement.


T h e C o l o n i a l S c h o l a r s h i p s .

The appropriation of the Colonial Scholarships and the numbers to be annually filled up shall be in accordance with the following table :—


I further direct my Trustees to establish A m e r i c a n

additional Scholarships sufficient in number for s h j p ° a r "

the appropriation in the next following clause hereof directed and those Scholarships I some-

( / ) T h e f o l l o w i n g i s a l i s t o f C o l o n i e s t o w h i c h n o

S c h o l a r s h i p s h a v e b e e n a p p r o p r i a t e d : — P O P U L A T I O N .

The following is the population of the Colonies to which scholarships have been allotted :—

Thus a population of 13,460,000 persons in the British Colonies is allotted 60 scholarships. A population of 76,000,000 in the United States is only allowed 100 scholarships. But a population of 7,405,000 persons, excluding India, Nigeria and Egypt, are allotted no scholarships at all. The average of scholarships to population is one in 760,000 in the United States, and one in 224,000 in the fifteen British Colonies to which they have been allotted. If the omitted British Colonies were dealt with 011 the same scale as the fifteen, 33 new scholarships would have to be founded.


times hereinafter refer to as " the American Scholarships."

I appropriate two of the American Scholarships to each of the present States and Territories of the United States of Nor th America, (cj) Pro-

(g) The following is a list of the States and Territories of the United States, with their population at the time of the last census:—

P O P U L A T I O N — U N I T E D STATES, 1900.

S T A T E . P O P U L A T I O N . S T A T E . P O P U L A T I O N .

Alabama 1,828,697 Rhode Island 428,556 Arkansas i , 3 I l : > 5 6 4 South Carolina . 1,340,316 California 1,485,053 South Dakota 401,570 Colorado 539.70 0 Tennessee 2,020,616 Connecticut. 908,35s Texas 3,048,710 Delaware i84,735 Utah . . . . 276,749 Florida . 5 2 8 ,S42 Vermont . 343,641 Georgia . 2,216,331 Virginia . 1,854,184 Idaho 161,772 Washington . 518,103

958,800 Il l inois . 4,821,550 West Virginia 518,103 958,800

Indiana . 2,516,462 Wisconsin 2,069,042 Iowa 2,231,853 Wyoming. 92,531 Kansas . i,47o,495 Kansas . i,47o,495 Kentucky . 2 , r47, i74 45 STATES. T O T A L 74,610,523 Louisiana 1,381,625 Maine . 694,466

TERRITORIES , ETC. Maryland 1,190,050 TERRITORIES , ETC.

Massachusetts . 2,805,346 Alaska . 63,44i Michigan 2.420,982 Arizona 122,931 Minnesota . I ,75 I >394 District o f C o l )

. .278,718 Mississippi . i , 5 5 r > 2 7 ° umbia . ) . .278,718

Missouri 3.106,665 Hawai i . i 5 4 , o o i Montana 243,329 Indian T e r r i - j 391,960 Nebraska 1,068,539 tory . . j

391,960

Nevada . 42,335 New Mexico . 195,310 New Hampshire 411,588 Oklahama . 398,245 New Jersey . 1,883,669 P E R S O N S I N I New York . 7,268,012 S E R V I C E I 84,400 North Carolina . 1,893,810 S T A T I O N E D |

84,400

North Dakota . 319,146 A B R O A D . Ohio . . . 4,157,545 5 Territories. Oregon . 413,536 Oregon . 413,536 Pennsylvania 6,302,115 U.S. T O T A L . . 76,299,529



v ided that i f any of the said Te r r i t o r i e s shal l in my l i fe t ime be admi t t ed as a State the Scholarships appropr i a ted to such T e r r i t o r y shal l be appropr ia ted to such State and tha t my Trustees may in the i r uncont ro l l ed discre t ion w i t h h o l d for such t ime as they shal l t h i n k f i t the appropr i a t ion of Scholarships to any T e r r i t o r y .

I direct tha t of the two Scholarships appropr i a ted to a State or T e r r i t o r y not more than one shal l be f i l led up in any year so tha t at no t ime shal l more than t w o Scholarships be he ld for the same State or T e r r i to ry , (r)

By Cod ic i l executed i n Sou th A f r i c a M r . Rhodes after s ta t ing tha t the Ge rman E m p e r o r had made ins t ruct ion in E n g l i s h compulsory in G e r m a n schools establishes f ifteen Scholarships at O x f o r d (five in each o f the first three years after his death) o f ,£250 each tenable for three years for students of German b i r t h to be n o m i nated by the G e r m a n E m p e r o r for " a good unders tanding between E n g l a n d Germany and the U n i t e d States o f Amer i c a w i l l secure the

(r) Mr . Stevenson, of Exeter College, told an interviewer recently a good story of an American who came to Oxford without a scholarship or other aid. He was a wild Westerner, and unceremoniously walked into a college one day and asked to see the Head. He then asked to be admitted on the books. He had no particular references, but clearly was a strong man. After some time he was admitted. He read hard and played hard. In the long vacation he returned to America and worked for his l iving—at one time as a foreman of bricklayers—and brought back enough money to go on with. In the Christmas " vac." he went to America and lectured on Oxford and England, and again brought back more money. A n d so he gradually kept his terms and eventually took double honours. " He was very well read : most interesting : most enthusiastic. We could do with many like h im. "

GERMAN SCHOLARSHIPS.


peace of the w o r l d and educat ional relat ions f o r m the strongest t i e . " (s)

My desire be ing that the students w h o shal l be elected to the Scholarships shal l not be mere ly bookworms I d i rect tha t in the elect ion of a s tudent to a Scholarship regard shal l be had to

( i . ) his l i t e r a ry and scholastic a t ta inments ( i i . ) his fondness of and success in m a n l y

ou tdoor sports such as c r icket footba l l and the l i k e

( i i i . ) his qual i t ies of manhood t r u t h courage devo t ion to d u t y s ympa thy for the pro tec t ion of the weak k indl iness unselfishness and fe l lowship

and ( iv . ) his e xh ib i t i on d u r i n g school days o f

mora l force of character and of inst incts to lead and to take an interest in his schoolmates for those la t ter a t t r ibutes w i l l be l i k e l y in after-l ife to gu ide h i m to esteem the performance of publ ic du t y as his highest a im.

(s) I am assured, says the Daily Telegraph Berlin correspondent, that Kaiser Wilhelm himself was much struck by the donor's generosity, and by the motives which actuated him in thinking of Germany in this way. His Majesty was specially touched by the attention shown to himself, and forthwith signified his intention to comply with the stipulation that candidates for the scholarships should be nominated by himself. In due time they will be so selected by the Kaiser.

Mr. W. G. Black, of Glasgow, writes to the Spectator :— " Mr . Rhodes seems to have been impressed by the German Emperor's direction that English should be taught in the schools of Germany. It may not be uninteresting to note that his Majesty's first action on receiving Heligoland from Great Britain was to prohibit the teaching of English in the island schools. That was in 1890. The prohibition was bitterly resented by the people, who had since 1810 been subjects of the British Crown, but they were, of course, powerless."

The selection of the scholars.

The four qualifications.

3« THE WILL OF CECIL J. RHODES.

As mere suggestions for the guidance of those w h o w i l l have the choice of students for the Scholarships I record tha t ( i . ) my ideal qual if ied student w o u l d combine these four qualif ications in the propor t ions of three-tenths for the f i r s t two- tenths for the second three-tenths for the t h i r d and two-tenths for the four th qual i f icat ion so tha t accord ing to my ideas i f the m a x i m u m number of marks for any Scholarship were 200 they w o u l d be appor t ioned as fol lows—60 to each of the f i r s t and t h i r d qual if icat ions and 40 to each of the second and fou r th qualif ications ( i i . ) the marks for the several qual if icat ions w o u l d be awarded independent l y as fol lows ( that is to say) the marks for the f i rs t qual i f icat ion by examina t ion for the second and t h i r d qualif icat ions respect ively by ba l lo t by the fel low-students of the candidates and for the fou r th qual i f icat ion by the head master of the candidate's school and ( i i i . ) the results of the awards ( tha t is to say the marks obta ined by each candidate for each qual i f icat ion) w o u l d be sent as soon as possible for considerat ion to the Trustees or to some person or persons appointed to receive the same and the person or persons so appo inted w o u l d ascertain by averag ing the marks in blocks of 20 marks each of a l l candidates the best ideal qua l i f i ed students, ( t )

(t) The following account of the discussion which took place when the proportion of marks was finally settled is quoted from the R E V I E W OF R E V I E W S , May, 1902, p. 480. The discussion is reported by Mr. Stead, who was present with Mr. Rhodes and M r . Hawksley :—

Then, later on, when Mr . Hawksley came in , we had a long discussion concerning the number of marks to be allotted under each of the heads.

Mr . Rhodes said : " I ' l l take a piece of paper. I have got my three things. You know the way 1 put them," he said

Apportionment of marks.


No student shall be qual if ied or disqual i f ied for e lect ion to a Scholarship on account of his race or re l ig ious opinions .

E x c e p t in the cases o f the four schools here inbefore ment ioned the elect ion to Scholarships shal l be by the Trus tees after such ( i f any) consu l t a t ion as they shal l t h i n k f i t w i t h the M i n i s t e r

laughing, as he wrote down the points. " First, there are the three qualities. You know I am all against letting the scholarships merely to people who swot over books, who have spent al l their time over Latin and Greek. But you must allow for that element which I call ' smug,' and which means scholarship. That is to stand for four-tenths. Then there is ' brutality,' which stands for two-tenths. Then there is tact and leadership, again two-tenths, and then there is ' unctuous rectitude,' two-tenths. That makes up the whole. You see how it works."

Then Mr . Hawksley read the draft clause, the idea of which was suggested by Lord Rosebery, I think. The scheme as drafted ran somewhat in this way :—

A scholarship tenable at Oxford for three years at . £ 3 0 0 a year is to be awarded to the scholars at some particular school in the Colony or State. The choice of the candidate ultimately rests with the trustees, who, on making their choice, must be governed by the following considerations. Taking one thousand marks as representing the total, four hundred should be allotted for an examination in scholarship, conducted in the ordinary manner on the ordinary subjects. Two hundred shall be awarded for proficiency in manly sports, for the purpose of securing physical excellence. Two hundred shall be awarded (and this is the most interesting clause of all) to those who, in their intercourse with their fellows, have displayed most of the qualities of tact and skill which go to the management of men, who have shown a public spirit in the affairs of their school or their class, who are foremost in the defence of the weak and the friendless, and who display those moral qualities which qualify them to be regarded as capable leaders of men. The remaining two hundred would be vested in the headmaster.

The marks in the first category would be awarded by competitive examination in the ordinary manner; in the second and third categories the candidate would be selected by the vote of his fellows in the school. The headmaster would of

D

NO RACIAL OR RELIGIOUS TESTS.

METHOD OF ELECTION.


h a v i n g the cont ro l of educat ion in such Colony , Prov ince , State or T e r r i t o r y .

A qual i f ied s tudent w h o has been elected as aforesaid shal l w i t h i n s ix calendar months after his e lect ion or as soon thereafter as he can be admi t t ed i n to residence or w i t h i n such ex tended t ime as my Trus tees shal l a l low commence

course vote alone. It is provided that the vote of the scholars should be taken by ba l lo t ; that the headmaster should nominate his candidate before the result of the competitive examination under ( i ) , or of the ballot under (2) and (3) was known, and the ballot would take place before the result of the competitive examination was known, so that the trustees would have before them the names of the first scholar judged by competitive examination, the first selected for physical excellence and for moral qualities, and the choice of the headmaster. The candidate under each head would be selected without any knowledge as to who would come out on top in the other categories. To this M r . Rhodes had objected on the ground that it gave " unctuous rectitude" a casting vote, and he said "unctuous rectitude" would always vote for " smug," and the physical and moral qualities would go by the board. To this I added the further objection that " smug" and " b r u t a l i t y " might tie, and "unctuous rectitude " might nominate a third person, who was selected neither by " smug" nor " unctuous rectitude," with the result that there would be a tie, and the trustees would have to choose without any information upon which to base their judgment. So I insisted, illustrating it by an imaginary voting paper, that the only possible way to avoid these difficulties was for the trustees or the returning officer to be furnished not merely with the single name which heads each of the four categories, but with the result of the ballot to five or even ten down, and that the headmaster should nominate in order of preference the same number. The marks for the first five or ten in the competitive examination would of course also be recorded, and in that case the choice would be automatic. The scholar selected would be the one who had the majority of marks, and it might easily happen that the successful candidate was one who was not top in any one of the categories. Mr . Rhodes strongly supported this view, and M r . Hawksley concurred, and a clause is to be prepared stating that all the votes rendered at any rate for the first five or ten should be notified to the trustees, and also the

TIME of COMMENCING RESIDENCE.

4 '


residence as an undergraduate at some college in the U n i v e r s i t y o f O x f o r d .

T h e scholarships shal l be payable to h i m f rom the t ime when he shall commence such residence.

I desire that the Scholars h o l d i n g the scholarships shal l be d i s t r ibu ted amongst the Colleges of the U n i v e r s i t y o f O x f o r d and not resort in undue numbers to one or more Colleges only .

order of precedence for five or ten to the headmaster. Mr. Rhodes then said he did not see why the trustees need have any responsibility in the matter, except in case of dispute, when their decision should be final. This I strongly supported, saying that provided the headmaster had to prepare his list before the result in the balloting or competition was known, he might be constituted returning officer, or, if need be, one of the head boys might be empowered to act with him, and then the award of the scholarship would be a simple sum in arithmetic. There would be no delay, and nothing would be done to weaken the interest. As soon as the papers were all in the marks could be counted up, and the scholarship proclaimed.

First I raised the question as to whether the masters should be allowed to vote. Mr . Rhodes said it did not matter. There would only be fourteen in a school of six hundred boys, and their votes would not count. I said that they would have a weight far exceeding their numerical strength, for if they were excluded from any voice they would not take the same interest that they would if they had a vote, while their judgment would be a rallying point for the judgment of the scholars. I protested against making the masters Outlanders, depriving them of votes, and treating them like political helots, at which Rhodes laughed. But he was worse than Kruger, and would not give them the franchise on any terms.

Then M r . Hawksley said he was chiefly interested in the third category—that is, moral qualities of leadership. I said yes, it was the best and the most distinctive character of M r . Rhodes's school; that I was an outside barbarian, never having been to a university or a public school, and therefore I spoke with all deference ; but speaking as an outside barbarian, and knowing Mr . Rhodes's strong feeling against giving too much preponderance to mere literary ability, I thought it would be much better to alter the proportion of marks to be awarded for " smug " and moral qualities respectively, that is to say, I would reduce the " smug " to 200 votes, and put 4op

Scholars to be distributed among Colleges.

44 THE WILL Of CECIL J. RHODES.

N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g a n y t h i n g hereinbefore conta ined my Trus tees may in the i r uncont ro l l ed d iscret ion suspend for such t ime as they shal l t h i n k f i t or remove any Scholar f rom his Scholarship.

In order that the Scholars past and present may have oppor tun i t i e s of mee t ing and discussing the i r experiences and prospects I desire tha t my Trus tees shal l annua l l y g ive a d inne r to the past and present Scholars able and w i l l i n g to a t t end at

on to moral qualities. Against this both Mr . Rhodes and M r . Hawksley protested, Mr. Rhodes objecting that in that case the vote of the scholars would be the deciding factor, and the " smug " and " unctuous rectitude " would be outvoted. If brutality and moral qualities united their votes they would poll 600, as against 400.

It was further objected, both Mr . Rhodes and Mr . Hawksley drawing upon their own reminiscences of school-days, that hero-worship prevailed to such an extent among schoolboys that a popular idol , the captain of an eleven, or the first in his boat, might be voted in although he had no moral qualities at all. Mr . Hawksley especially insisted upon the importance of having a good share of culture in knowledge of Greek and Roman and English history. Then I proposed as a compromise that we should equalise " smug " and moral qualities. Mr. Rhodes accepted this, Mr . Hawksley rather reproaching him for being always ready to make a deal. But Mr . Rhodes pointed out that he had resisted the enfranchisement of the masters, who were to be helots, and he had also refused to reduce " s m u g " to 200, and thought 300 was a fair compromise. So accordingly it was fixed that it had to be 300— 300 for " smug" and 300 for moral qualities, while " unctuous rectitude " and " brutality " are left with 200 each.

We all agreed that this should be done, half the marks are at the disposal of the voting of the scholars, the other half for competition and the headmaster. It also emphasises the importance of qualities entirely ignored in the ordinary competitive examinations, which was Mr. Rhodes's great idea. Mr Rhodes was evidently pleased with the change, for just as we were leaving the hotel he called Mr. Hawksley back and said, " Remember, three-tenths," so three-tenths it is to be.

Discipline.

The Annual Dinner.

THE DALHAM HALL ESTATE. 45

which I hope my Trustees or some of them w i l l be able to be present and to w h i c h they w i l l I hope f rom t ime to t ime inv i t e as guests persons w h o have shown sympa thy w i t h the views expressed by me i n this my W i l l .

(6.) The Dalham Hall Estate. T h e D a l h a m H a l l Es ta te (it) i s by Cod i c i l

da ted January 18th 1902 s t r i c t l y sett led on Colone l Franc i s Rhodes and his heirs male w i t h remainder to Capta in Erne s t F r ede r i ck Rhodes and his heirs male.

T h e Cod ic i l contains the f o l l o w i n g clause :— Whereas I feel tha t it is the essence of a proper

l ife that every man shou ld d u r i n g some substantial pe r iod thereof have some definite occupat ion and I object to an expectant heir deve lop ing in to wha t I call a " loafer."

A n d whereas the renta l o f the D a l h a m H a l l Es ta te is not more than sufficient for the ma in tenance of the estate and my experience is tha t one of the th ings m a k i n g for the s t rength of E n g l a n d is the ownersh ip of count ry estates w h i c h could ma inta in the d i g n i t y and comfort of the head of the f ami l y bu t tha t this pos i t ion has been absolu te l y ru ined by the practice of creat ing charges upon the estates e i ther for younger ch i ldren or for the payment of debts whereby the estates become insufficient to ma in t a in the head of the fami ly in d i g n i t y and comfort .

A n d whereas I h u m b l y bel ieve tha t one of the secrets of Eng land ' s s t r eng th has been the existence of a class t e rmed " the count ry l and-

"THE ESSENCE OF A PROPER LIFE."

ON ENCUMBERED ESTATES.

COUNTRY LANDLORDS THE STRENGTH OF ENGLAND.

(«) Dalham Hal l Estate was purchased by Mr . Rhodes the year before his death. It is situate in Suffolk, not far from Newmarket, and is 3,475 acres in extent.

4 6 THE WILL OF CECIL J. RHODES.

Conditions of tenure.

No encumbrance.

lords " w h o devote the i r efforts to the maintenance of those on the i r own property , (v) A n d whereas th is i s my o w n experience. N o w therefore I direct that i f any person w h o under the l im i t a t ions hereinbefore conta ined shall become ent i t l ed as tenant for l ife or as tenant in t a i l male by purchase to the possession or to the receipt of the rents and profi ts o f the D a l h a m H a l l Es ta te shal l a t t empt to assign charge or incumber his interest in the D a l h a m H a l l Es ta te o r any par t the reof or shall do or p e r m i t any act or t h i n g or any event shall happen by or in consequence of w h i c h he w o u l d cease to be ent i t l ed to such interest i f

(v) In the Fortnightly Review for May, 1902, Mr . Iwan-Mii l ler gives the following account of the reasons which M r . Rhodes gave him for preferring country landlords to manufacturers : — " He told me how during a recent visit to England he had stayed with an English country gentleman of very large estates.

" ' I went about with him, ' he said in effect, although I do not profess to be able to recall the exact wording of his sentences, ' and I discovered that he knew the history and personal circumstances of every man, woman, and child upon his property. He was as well instructed in their pedigrees as themselves, and could tell how long every tenant or even labourer had been connected with the estate, and what had happened to any of them in the course of their lives. From there T went on to a successful manufacturer, a man of high standing and benevolent disposition. He took me over his works, and explained the machinery and the different improvements that had been made, with perfect familiarity with his subject, but, except as to the heads of departments, foremen and the like, he absolutely knew nothing whatever about the lives and conditions of his " hands." Now,' he added, ' my manufacturing friend was a more progressive man, and probably a more capable man than my landlord friend. Yet the very necessities of the latter's position compelled him to discharge duties of the existence of which the other had no idea. The manufacturer built schools and endowed libraries, and received reports as to their management, but he never knew, or cared to know, what effect his philanthropy had upon the individual beneficiaries.' "

THE DALHAM HALL ESTATE. 47

the same were g i ven to h i m absolutely or i f any such person as aforesaid (except ing in this case my said brothers Francis Rhodes and Ernes t Freder i ck Rhodes) (i) shall not when he shall become so en t i t l ed as aforesaid have been for at least ten consecutive years engaged in some profession or business or (ii .) i f no t then engaged in some profession or business and (such profession or business not be ing that of the A r m y ) not then also a member of some m i l i t i a or vo lunteer corps shall not w i t h i n one year after becoming so ent i t l ed as aforesaid or (be ing an infant) w i t h i n one year after a t t a in ing the age of twenty-one years whichever shal l last happen unless in any case prevented by death become engaged in some profession or business and (such profession or business no t be ing that of the A r m y ) also become a member of some m i l i t i a or vo lunteer corps or ( i i i . ) shal l d iscont inue to be engaged in any profession or business before he shall have been engaged for ten consecutive years in some profession or business then and in every such case and f o r t h w i t h i f such person shall be tenant for l ife then his estate for l ife shal l absolutely determine and i f tenant in ta i l male then his estate in ta i l male shal l absolute ly de termine and the D a l h a m H a l l Estate shall bu t subject to estates i f any p r i o r to the estate of such person immedia te l y go to the person next in remainder under the l im i t a t ions hereinbefore conta ined in the same manner as if in the case of a person whose estate for l ife is so made to determine tha t person were dead or in the case o f a person whose estate in ta i l male is so made to determine were dead and there were a genera l fai lure of issue of that person inher i tab le to the estate wh i ch is so made to determine .

TEN YEARS' WORK.

SERVE IN MILITIA OR VOLUNTEERS.

FORFEITURE OF TITLE.

4 8

THE DALHAM HALL ESTATE. 4 9

Prov ided tha t the de te rmina t ion of an estate for life shall not pre judice or effect any con t in gen t remainders expectant thereon and that after such de te rmina t ion the D a l h a m H a l l Estate shall bu t subject to estates i f any p r i o r as aforesaid rema in to the use of the Trustees appo in ted by my said W i l l and the Cod i c i l thereto dated the i i t h day o f October 1901 d u r i n g the residue of the l ife of the person whose estate for life so determines upon t rus t d u r i n g the residue of the l i fe of tha t person to pay the rents and profits o f the D a l h a m H a l l Es ta te to or present the same to be received by the person or persons for the t ime be ing ent i t l ed under the l imi ta t ions hereinbefore conta ined to the f i rst vested estate in remainder expectant on the death of tha t person.

A f t e r var ious pr iva te disposit ions M r . Rhodes in his or ig ina l w i l l left the residue of his real and personal estate to the E a r l of Rosebery, E a r l Grey , A l f r e d Beit , W i l l i a m T h o m a s Stead, Lew i s L l o y d M i che l l and Bourch ie r Franc is H a w k s l e y absolute ly as j o i n t tenants.

T h e same persons were also appointed executors and trustees.

In a Cod ic i l dated January, 1901, M r . Rhodes d irected tha t the name o f W. T . Stead should be removed f rom the l ist of his executors.

In a second Cod ic i l dated October , 1901, M r . Rhodes added the name o f L o r d M i i n e r to the l ist of j o i n t tenants, executors and trustees.

In a t h i r d Codic i l , dated M a r c h , 1902, M r . Rhodes appo in ted D r . Jameson as one of his trustees, w i t h a l l the r i ghts of other trustees.

5 °

T h e R i g h t H o n . C e c i l J . R h o d e s .

(From a sketch by the Marchioness of Granbf.)

V

51

PART I I .

T H E P O L I T I C A L A N D R E L I G I O U S I D E A S O F M R . R H O D E S .

W H E N Mr. Rhodes died, the most conspicuous figure left in the English-speaking race since the death of Queen Victoria disappeared. Whether loved or feared, he towered aloft above all his contemporaries. There are many who hold that he would be entitled to a black statue in the Halls of Eblis. But even those who distrusted and disliked him most, pay reluctant homage to the portentous energy of a character which has affected the world so deeply for weal or for woe. Outside England none of our politicians, statesmen, or administrators impressed the imagination of the world half as deeply as Cecil Rhodes. For good or for evil he ranked among the dozen foremost men of his day. He was one of the few men neither royal nor noble by birth who rose by sheer force of character and wil l to real, although not to titular, Imperial rank. After the Pope, the Kaiser, the Tsar, there were few contemporary statesmen who commanded as much attention, who roused as much interest, as the man who has passed from our midst while still in his prime. The few who knew him loved him. The majority, to whom he was unknown, paid him their homage, some of their admiration, and others of their hate. A n d it must be admitted that the dread he inspired among those who disliked him was more widespread than the affection he commanded from those who came within the magic of his presence. He is gone, leaving a gap which no one at present can ever aspire to fill. The world has echoed words and deeds of his which wil l long reverberate in the dim corridors of time.

To those who, like myself, have to bear the poignant grief caused by the loss of a dearly loved friend, whose confidence and affection had stood the test even of the violent antagonism roused by extreme difference of opinion on the subject of the

52 POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

South African War, it is impossible to speak of Cecil Rhodes at this moment with judicial impartiality. I knew him too intimately and loved him too well to care to balance his faults against his virtues or to lay a critical finger upon the flaws in the diamond. For with all his faults the man was great, almost immeasurably great, when contrasted with the pigmies who pecked and twittered in his shade. To those who are inclined to dwell more upon the wide-wasting ruin in which his fatal blunder involved the country that he loved, it may be sufficient to remark that even the catastrophe which was wrought by his mistake may contribute more to the permanent welfare of the Empire than all the achievements of his earlier life.

M r . Rhodes's last W i l l and Testament reveals him to the world as the first distinguished British statesman whose Imperialism was that of Race and not that of Empire. The one specific object'defined in the W i l l as that to which his wealth is to be applied proclaims with the simple eloquence of a deed that Mr . Rhodes was colour-blind between the British Empire and the American Republic. His fatherland, like that of the poet Arndt , is coterminous with the use of the tongue of his native land. In his W i l l he aimed at making Oxford University the educational centre of the English-speaking race. He did this of set purpose, and in providing the funds necessary for the achievement of this great idea he specifically prescribed that every American State and Territory shall share with the British Colonies in his patriotic benefaction.

Once every year " Founder's D a y " wi l l be celebrated at Oxford; and not at Oxford only, but wherever on the broad world's surface half-a-dozen old " Rhodes scholars" come together they wi l l celebrate the great ideal of Cecil Rhodes— the first of modern statesmen to grasp the sublime conception of the essential unity of the race. Thirty years hereafter there wi l l be between two and three thousand men in the prime of life scattered all over the world, each one of whom wi l l have had impressed upon his mind in the most susceptible period of his life the dream of the Founder.

It is, therefore, well to put on record in accessible form all available evidence as to the nature of his dream.

What manner of man was this Cecil Rhodes who has made

Photograph by\ [Jerrard, Regent Street. T h e E a r l o f R o s e b e r y .

53


s u c h c a r e f u l p r o v i s i o n for p e r p e t u a t i n g t h e m e m o r y o f t h e

d r e a m s w h i c h h e d r e a m e d , i n o r d e r t h a t g e n e r a t i o n s y e t

u n b o r n m a y r e a l i s e t h e i d e a l s w h i c h f i r e d h i s i m a g i n a t i o n w h e n

a y o u t h a t O x f o r d , a n d w h i c h h e f o l l o w e d l i k e t h e f i e r y c l o u d y

p i l l a r t h r o u g h a l l h i s e a r t h l y p i l g r i m a g e ?

T o a n s w e r t h i s q u e s t i o n w e h a v e , f i r s t o f a l l , h i s o w n

w r i t i n g s ; s e c o n d l y , h i s p u b l i c s p e e c h e s ; a n d , l a s t l y , w e h a v e

c o n f i d e n t i a l c o m m u n i n g s w i t h t h e f r i e n d s w h o m h e l o v e d a n d

t r u s t e d .

M r . R h o d e s a t h o m e s t u d y i n g the M a p o f A f r i c a .

55

CHAPTER I.—HIS WRITINGS. I W I L L deal with them each in their order, taking his writings first—writings which were made known to the world for the first time after his death. Of his last W i l l and Testament, executed in 1899, printed in the first part of this volume, 1 need not speak. I confine myself in this part to his other writings.

Cecil Rhodes, in the current phrase of the hour, was an empire maker. He was much more than that. Empire makers are almost as common as empire breakers, and, indeed, as in his case, the two functions are often combined. But Cecil Rhodes stands on a pedestal of his own. He was a man apart. It was his distinction to be the first of the new Dynasty of Money Kings which has been evolved in these later days as the real rulers of the modern world. There have been many greater millionaires than he. His friend and ally, Mr . Beit, could probably put down a bank-note for every sovereign Mr . Rhodes possessed, and still be a ' mult i millionaire. As a rich man Mr. Rhodes was not in the running with Mr . Carnegie, Mr. Rockefeller, or M r . Astor. But although there have been many wealthier men, none of them, before Mr . Rhodes, recognised the opportunities of ruling the world which wealth affords its possessor. The great financiers of Europe have no doubt often used their powers to control questions of peace or war and to influence politics, but they always acted from a strictly financial motive. Their aims were primarily the shifting of the values of stocks. To effect that end they have often taken a leading hand in political deals. But Mr. Rhodes inverted the operation. With him political considerations were always paramount. If he used the market he did it in order to secure the means of achieving political ends. Hence it is no exaggeration to regard him as the first—he wil l not be the last—of the Millionaire Monarchs of the Modern World.

He was the founder of the latest of the dynasties which seems destined to wield the sceptre of sovereign power over the masses of mankind. He has fallen in mid-career. His

E


plans are but rudely sketched in outline, and much of the work which he had begun is threatened with destruction by his one fatal mistake. But he lived long enough to enable those who were nearest to him to realise his idea and to recognise the significance of his advent upon the stage in the present state of the evolution of human society.

Mr. Rhodes was more than the founder of a dynasty. He aspired to be the creator of one of those vast semi-religious, quasi-political associations which, like the Society of Jesus, have played so large a part in the history of the world. To be more strictly accurate, he wished to found an Order as the instrument of the wi l l of the Dynasty, and while he lived he dreamed of being both its Caesar and its Loyola. It was this far-reaching, world-wide aspiration of the man which rendered, to those who knew him, so absurdly inane the speculations of his critics as to his real motives. Their calculations as to his ultimate object are helpful only because they afford us some measure of the range of their horizon. When they told us that Mr . Rhodes was aiming at amassing a huge fortune, of becoming Prime Minister of the Cape, or even of being the President of the United States of South Africa, of obtaining a peerage and of becoming a Cabinet Minister, we could not repress a smile. They might as well have said he was coveting a new pair of pantaloons or a gilded epaulette. Mr. Rhodes was one of the rare minds whose aspirations are as wide as the world. Such aspirations are usually to be discovered among the founders of religions rather than among the founders of dynasties. It is this which constituted the unique, and to many the utterly incomprehensible, combination of almost incompatible elements in Mr . Rhodes's character. So utterly incomprehensible was the higher mystic side of Mr . Rhodes's character to those among whom it was his fate to live and work, that after a few vain efforts to explain his real drift he gave up the task in despair. It would have been easier to interpret colour to a man born bl ind, or melody to one stone-deaf from his birth, than to open the eyes of the understanding of the " bulls " and " bears " of the Stock Exchange to the far-reaching plans and lofty ambitions which lay behind the issue of Chartereds. So the real Rhodes dwelt apart in the sanctuary of his imagination, into which the profane were never admitted.

L o r d M U n e r , G . C . B . , G . C . M . G .

(From Mr. P. Tennyson-Cole's portrait in the Royal Academy.) E 2


But it was in that sphere that he really lived, breathing that mystic and exalted atmosphere which alone sustained his spiritual life.

When Mr. Rhodes had not yet completed his course at Oxford he drew up what he called " a draft of some of my ideas." It was when he was in Kimberley. He wrote i t , he said, in his letter to me of August, 1891, when he was about twenty-two years of age. When he promised to send this to me to read, he said, " You will see that I have not altered much as to my feelings." In reality he must have written it at the beginning of 1877, otherwise he could not have referred to the Russo-Turkish War, which began in that year. On inquiry among those who were associated with him in his college days, I find that, although he talked much about almost every subject under heaven, he was very reticent as to the political ideas which were fermenting in his brain in the long days and nights that he spent on the veldt, away from intellectual society, communing with his own soul, and meditating upon the world-movements which were taking place around him. This document may be regarded as the first draft of the Rhodesian idea. It begins in characteristic fashion thus, with the exception of some passages omitted or summarised :—

" It often str ikes a man to inqu i re wha t is the chief good in l ife ; to one the t h o u g h t comes tha t it is a happy marr iage, to another great wea l th , and as each seizes on the idea, for tha t he more or less work s for the rest of his existence. To myself, t h i n k i n g over the same quest ion, the wish came to me to render myse l f useful to my country . I then asked the quest ion, H o w could I ?" He then discusses the quest ion, and lays d o w n the f o l l o w i n g dicta . " I contend tha t we are the first race in the w o r l d , and tha t the more of the w o r l d we inhab i t the better i t is for the human race. I contend tha t every acre added to our t e r r i t o r y means the b i r t h o f more o f the E n g l i s h race w h o otherwise w o u l d not be b rough t in to existence.

HIS WRITINGS. 59

A d d e d to this, the absorpt ion of the greater po r t i on of the w o r l d under our rule s imply means the end of a l l wars ." He then asks h imse l f wha t are the objects for w h i c h he should work , and answers his quest ion as fol lows : " T h e furtherance o f the B r i t i sh E m p i r e , for the b r i n g i n g o f the whole unciv i l i sed w o r l d under B r i t i sh rule, for the recovery of the U n i t e d States, for the m a k i n g the A n g l o - S a x o n race but one E m p i r e . W h a t a dream ! but yet i t is probable . It is possible."

" I once heard it argued—so low have we fa l l en—in my o w n college, I am sorry to o w n i t , by Eng l i shmen , that i t was a good t h i n g for us tha t we have lost the U n i t e d States. T h e r e are some subjects on wh i ch there can be no argument , and to an E n g l i s h m a n this i s one of them. B u t even f rom an Amer ican ' s po in t of v i ew jus t p ic ture w h a t they have lost A l l this we have lost and that count ry has lost o w i n g to w h o m ? O w i n g to two or three ignorant , p i g headed statesmen in the last century . At the i r door is the blame. Do you ever feel mad, do you ever feel murderous ? I t h i n k I do w i t h these men . "

T h e rest of his paper is devoted to a discussion as to the best means of a t t a in ing these objects.

A f t e r reca l l ing h o w the R o m a n C h u r c h utilises enthusiasm, he suggests the format ion of a k i n d of secular Church for the extension of B r i t i s h E m p i r e w h i c h should have its members i n every par t o f the B r i t i s h E m p i r e w o r k i n g w i t h one object and one idea, w h o should have its members placed at our universit ies and our schools, and should wa tch the E n g l i s h y o u t h passing t h r o u g h the i r hands. M r . Rhodes then proceeded to sketch the k i n d of men upon whose

6o

HIS WRITINGS. 61

help such a Church could depend, how they should be recrui ted, and h o w they w o u l d w o r k to " advocate the closer un ion of E n g l a n d and her colonies, to crush a l l d i s loya l t y and every movement for the severance o f our E m p i r e . " He conc ludes : " I t h i n k that there are thousands now ex i s t ing w h o w o u l d eager ly grasp a t the o p p o r t u n i t y . "

Even at this early date, it wi l l be perceived, the primary idea which found its final embodiment in the will of 1899 had been sufficiently crystallised in his mind to be committed to paper. It was later in the same year of 1877 that he drew up his first wil l . This document he deposited with me at the same time that he gave me his "po l i t i ca l wil l and testament." It was in a sealed envelope, and on the cover was written a direction that it should not be opened unti l after his death. That wi l l remained in my possession, unopened, unt i l March 27th, 1902, when I opened it in the presence of M r . Hawksley. It was dated Kimberley, September 19th, 1877. It was written throughout in his own handwriting. It opened with a formal statement that he gave, devised, and bequeathed all his estates and effects of every k ind , wherever they might be, to the Secretary of State for the Colonies for the time being, and to Sidney Godolphin Alexander Shippard (who died almost immediately after Mr . Rhodes; M r . Shippard was then Attorney-General for the province of Griqualand West), giving them full authority to use the same for the purposes of extending British rule throughout the world, for the perfecting of a system of emigration from the United Kingdom to all lands where the means of livelihood are attainable by energy, labour, and enterprise, the consolidation of the Empire, the restoration of the Anglo-Saxon unity destroyed by the schism of the eighteenth century, the representation of the colonies in Parliament, " and finally, the foundation of so great a Power as to hereafter render wars impossible and to promote the best interests of humanity."

This first wi l l contains the master thought of Rhodes's life, the thought to which he clung with invincible tenacity to his


dying day. The way in which he expressed it in these first writings which we have from his hand was " the furtherance of the British rule " ; but in after years his ideas were broadened, especially in one direction—viz., the substitution of the ideal of the unity of the English-speaking race for the extension of the British Empire throughout the world. To the undergraduate dreamer in the diamond diggings it was natural that the rapidly growing power of the United States and the ascendency which it was destined to have as the predominant partner in the English-speaking world was not as clear as it became to him when greater experience and a wider outlook enabled him to take a juster measure of the relative forces with which,he had to deal.

This first wil l was, however, speedily revoked. Mr . Rhodes seems to have soon discovered that the Colonial Secretary for the time being was of all persons the last to whom such a trust should be committed. He then executed his second w i l l , which was a very informal document indeed. It was written on a single sheet of notepaper, and dated 1882. It left all his property to M r . N. E. Pickering, a young man employed by the De Beers Company at Kimberley. M r . Rhodes was much attached to him, and nursed him through his last illness. How much or how little he confided to M r . Pickering about his ultimate aims I do not know, nor is there any means of ascertaining the truth, for Mr . Pickering has long been dead, and his secrets perished with him. M r . Rhodes, in making the w i l l in his favour, wrote him a note, saying the conditions were very curious, " and can only be carried out by a trustworthy person, and I consider you one."

After the death of Mr. Pickering Mr . Rhodes executed a third wi l l in 1888, in which, after making provision for his brothers and sisters, he left the whole of the residue of his fortune to a financial friend, whom I will call " X . , " in like manner expressing to him informally his desires and aspirations. This wi l l was in existence when I first made the acquaintance of Mr . Rhodes.

A l l these wills were framed under the influence of the idea which dominated Mr. Rhodes's imagination. He aimed at the foundation of a Society composed of men of strong

HIS WRITINGS. 63

convictions and of great wealth, which would do for the unity of the English-speaking race what the Society of Jesus did for the Catholic Church immediately after the Reformation.

The English-speaking race stood to Mr . Rhodes for all that the Catholic Church stood to Ignatius Loyola. Mr. Rhodes saw in the English-speaking race the greatest instrument yet evolved for the progress and elevation of mankind— shattered by internal dissensions and reft in twain by the declaration of American Independence, just as the unity of the Church was destroyed by the Protestant Reformation. Unlike Loyola, who saw that between Protestants and Catholics no union was possible, and who therefore devoted all his energies to enable the Catholics to extirpate their adversaries, Mr . Rhodes believed that it was possible to secure the reunion of the race. Loyola was an out-and-out Romanist. He took sides unhesitatingly with the Pope against the Reformers. The attitude of Mr . Rhodes was altogether different. He was' devoted to the old flag, but in his ideas he was American, and in his later years he expressed to me his unhesitating readiness to accept the reunion of the race under the Stars and Stripes if it could not be obtained in any other way. Although he had no objection to the Monarchy, he unhesitatingly preferred the American to the British Constitution, and the text-book which he laid down for the guidance of his novitiates was a copy of the American Constitution.

Imagine the soul of an Erasmus in the skin of a Loyola ready to purchase the unity of Christendom by imposing upon the Pope the theses which Luther nailed upon the church door at Wittenberg, and you have some idea of the standpoint of Mr. Rhodes

He was for securing union, if necessary, by means which at first sight were little calculated to promote unity. If the American Constitution was his political text-book, his one favourite expedient for inducing Americans to recognise the need for unity was the declaration of a tariff war waged by means of differential duties upon imports from those English-speaking commonwealths which clapped heavy duties on British goods.

Finding that I sympathised with his ideas about English-speaking reunion and his Society—although I did not see eye


t o e y e w i t h h i m a b o u t t h e t a r i f f w a r — M r . R h o d e s s u p e r s e d e d

t h e w i l l , w h i c h h e h a d m a d e i n 1888, o n a s h e e t o f n o t e p a p e r ,

w h i c h left h i s f o r t u n e t o " X . , " b y a f o r m a l w i l l , i n w h i c h t h e

w h o l e o f h i s r e a l a n d p e r s o n a l e s t a t e w a s left t o " X . " a n d t o

" W . S t e a d , o f t h e R E V I E W O F R E V I E W S . " T h i s w i l l , t h e

f o u r t h i n o r d e r , w a s s i g n e d i n M a r c h , 1891.

O n b i d d i n g m e g o o d - b y e , a f t e r h a v i n g a n n o u n c e d t h e

c o m p l e t i o n o f t h i s a r r a n g e m e n t , M r . R h o d e s s t a t e d t h a t w h e n

h e g o t t o A f r i c a h e w o u l d w r i t e o u t h i s i d e a s , a n d s e n d

t h e m t o m e . I t w a s i n f u l f i l m e n t o f t h i s p r o m i s e t h a t

h e s e n t m e t h e l e t t e r d a t e d A u g u s t 19th a n d S e p t e m b e r 3RD,

1891. I t w a s w r i t t e n b y h i m a t h i s o w n s u g g e s t i o n i n

o r d e r t h a t I m i g h t p u b l i s h i t i n l i t e r a r y d r e s s i n h i s n a m e

a s a n e x p r e s s i o n o f h i s v i e w s . I c a r r i e d o u t h i s i n s t r u c

t i o n s , a n d p u b l i s h e d t h e s u b s t a n c e o f t h i s l e t t e r , w i t h

v e r y s l i g h t m o d i f i c a t i o n s n e c e s s a r y t o g i v e i t t h e c l o t h i n g

t h a t h e d e s i r e d , a s a m a n i f e s t o t o t h e e l e c t o r s a t t h e G e n e r a l

E l e c t i o n o f 1895. M r . R h o d e s ' s p e r s o n a l i t y , h o w e v e r , a t t h a t

t i m e h a d n o t l o o m e d s u f f i c i e n t l y l a r g e b e f o r e t h e m i n d o f t h e

B r i t i s h p u b l i c f o r t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f h i s o p i n i o n s t o e x c i t e t h e

i n t e r e s t a n d a t t e n t i o n o f t h e w o r l d . B u t w h e n I p u b l i s h e d

t h e o r i g i n a l d r a f t a f t e r h i s d e a t h i t w a s r e c e i v e d e v e r y

w h e r e a s t h r o w i n g a l t o g e t h e r n e w l i g h t u p o n M r . R h o d e s ' s

c h a r a c t e r .

M r . R h o d e s ' s p o l i t i c a l i d e a s w e r e t h u s w r i t t e n o u t b y

h i m i n o n e o f t h e v e r y few l o n g l e t t e r s w h i c h h e e v e r w r o t e

t o a n y o n e , j u s t b e f o r e h i s d e p a r t u r e f r o m K i t n b e r l e y t o

M a s h o n a l a n d i n t h e a u t u m n o f 1891. T h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n

t a k e s t h e s h a p e o f a resume o f a l o n g c o n v e r s a t i o n w h i c h I h a d

h a d w i t h h i m j u s t b e f o r e h e l e f t L o n d o n for t h e C a p e . D e s p i t e

a p a s s a g e w h i c h s u g g e s t s t h a t I s h o u l d s u b - e d i t i t a n d d r e s s u p

h i s i d e a s , I t h i n k t h e p u b l i c w i l l p r e f e r t o h a v e t h e s e r o u g h ,

h u r r i e d , a n d s o m e t i m e s u n g r a m m a t i c a l n o t e s e x a c t l y a s

M r . R h o d e s s c r a w l e d t h e m off r a t h e r t h a n t o h a v e t h e m

s u p p l i e d w i t h " l i t e r a r y c l o t h i n g " b y a n y o n e e l s e : —

Please remember the key of my idea discussed wi th you is a Society, copied from the Jesuits as to organisation, the practical solution a differential rate and a copy of the United States

65


Constitution, for that is Home Rule or Federation, and an organisation to work this out, working in the House of Commons for decentralisation, remembering that an Assembly that is responsible for a fifth of the world has no time to discuss the questions raised by Dr . Tanner or the important matter of Mr . O'Brien's breeches, and that the labour question is an important matter, but that deeper than the labour question is the question of the market for the products of labour, and that, as the local consumption (production) of England can only support about six millions, the balance depends on the trade of the world.

T h a t the world with America in the forefront is devising tariffs to boycott your manufactures, and that this is the supreme question, for I believe that England with fair play should manufacture for the world, and, being a Free Trader, I believe unti l the world comes to its senses you should declare w a r — I mean a commercial war with those who are trying to boycott your manufactures— that is my programme. You might finish the war by union with America and universal peace, I mean after one hundred years, and a secret society organised like Loyola's, supported by the accumulated wealth of those whose aspiration is a desire to do something, and a hideous annoyance created by the difficult question daily placed before their minds as to which of their incompetent relations they should leave their wealth to. You would furnish them wi th the solution, greatly relieving their minds and turning their ill-gotten or inherited gains to some advantage.

I am a bad writer, but through my ill-connected sentences you can trace the lay of my ideas, and you can give my idea the literary clothing

V

67

Photograph by] H. Mills.

M r . L . L . M i c h e l l .

•68 POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

that is necessary. I write so fully because I am off to Mashonaland, and I can trust you to respect my confidence. It is a fearful thought to feel that you possess a patent, and to doubt whether your life wi l l last you through the circumlocution of the forms of the Patent Office. I have that inner conviction that if I can live I have thought out something that is worthy of being registered at the Patent Office; the fear is, shall I have the time and the opportunity? A n d I believe, with a l l the enthusiasm bred in the soul of an inventor, it is not self-glorification I desire, but the wish to live to register my patent for the benefit of those who, I think, are the greatest people the world has ever seen, but whose fault is that they do not know their strength, their greatness, and their destiny, and who are wasting their time on their minor local matters, but being asleep do not know that through the invention of steam and electricity, and in view of their enormous increase, they must now be trained to view the world as a whole, and not only consider the social questions of the British Isles. Even a Labouchere who possesses no sentiment should be taught that the labour ot England is dependent on the outside world, and that as far as I can see the outside world, if he does not look out, wi l l boycott the results of English labour. They are calling the new country Rhodesia, that is from the Transvaal to the southern end of Tanganyika; the other name is Zambesia. I find I am human and should like to be l iving after my death ; sti l l , perhaps, if that name is coupled with the object of England everywhere, and united, the name may convey the discovery of an idea which ultimately led to the cessation of all wars and one language throughout the world, the patent being the gradual absorption

6 9

F A C S I M I L E P A G E S O F O N E O F M R . R H O D E S ' S L E T T E R S

T O W . T . S T E A D .

70

7 '

HIS WRITINGS. 73

of wealth and human minds of the higher order to the object.*

W h a t an awful thought it isL-that if we had not lost America, or if even now we could arrange with the present members of the United States Assembly and our House of Commons, the peace of the world is secured for all eternity! We could hold your federal parliament five years at Washington and five at London. The only thing feasible to carry this idea out is a secret one (society) gradually absorbing the wealth of the world to be devoted to such an object. There is Hirsch with twenty millions, very soon to cross the unknown border, and struggling in the dark to know what to do with his money; and so one might go on ad infinitum.

Fancy the charm to young America, just coming on and dissatisfied—for they have filled

* Mr. Sidney Low, formerly editor of the St. James's Gazette, writing in the Nineteenth Century for May, 1902, thus summarises the cardinal doctrines which formed the staple of Mr. Rhodes's conversation with him :—" First, that insular England was quite insufficient to maintain, or even to protect, itself without the assistance of the Anglo-Saxon peoples beyond the seas of Europe. Secondly, that the first and greatest aim of British statesmanship should be to find new areas of settlement, and new markets for the products that would, in due course, be penalised in the territories and dependencies of all our rivals by discriminating tariffs. Thirdly, that the largest tracts of unoccupied or undeveloped lands remaining on the globe were in Africa, and therefore that the most strenuous efforts should be made to keep open a great part of that continent to British commerce and colonisation. Fourthly, that as the key to the African position lay in the various Anglo-Dutch States and provinces, it was imperative to convert the whole region into a united, self-governing federation, exempt from meddlesome interference by the home authorities, but loyal to the Empire, and welcoming British enterprise and progress. Fifthly, that the world was made for the service of man, and more particularly of civilised, white, European men, who were most capable of utilising the crude resources of Nature for the promotion of wealth and prosperity. And, finally, that the British Constitution was an absurd anachronism, and that it should be remodelled on the lines of the American Union, with federal self-governing Colonies as the constituent States.

F 2



up their own country and do not know what to tackle next—to share in a scheme to take the government of the whole world ! Their present president is dimly seeing it , but his horizon is l imited to the New W o r l d north and south, and so he would intrigue in Canada, Argentina, and Brazil, to the exclusion of England. Such a brain wants but l itt le to see the true solution ; he is still groping in the dark, but is very near the discovery. For the American has been taught the lesson of Home Rule and the success of leaving the management of the local pump to the parish beadle. He does not burden his House of Commons with the responsibility of cleansing the parish drains. The present position in the English House is ridiculous. You might as well expect Napoleon to have found time to have personally counted his dirty linen before he sent it to the wash, and re-counted it upon its return. It would have been better for Europe if he had carried out his idea of Universal Monarchy; he might have succeeded if he had hit on the idea of granting self-government to the component parts. St i l l , I wi l l own -tradition, race, and diverse languages acted against his dream ; all these do not exist as to the present English-speaking world, and apart from this union is the sacred duty of taking the responsibility of the still uncivilised parts of the world. The trial of these countries who have been found wanting—such as Portugal, Persia, even Spain—and the judgment that they must depart, and, of course, the whole of the South American Republics. W h a t a scope and what a horizon of work, at any rate, for the next two centuries, the best energies of the best people in the world ; perfectly feasible, but needing an organisation, for it is impossible for one human

75

Photograph by\ D r . J a m e s o n .

IE. 11. Mills.



atom to complete anything, much less such an idea as this requiring the devotion of the best souls of the next 200 years. There are three essentials : — ( 1 ) The plan duly weighed and agreed to. (2) The first organisation. (3) The seizure of the wealth necessary.

I note with satisfaction that the committee appointed to inquire into the M c K i n l e y Tar i f f report that in certain articles our trade has fallen off 50 per cent., and yet the fools do not see that if they do not look out they wi l l have England shut out and isolated w i t h ninety millions to feed and capable internally of supporting about six millions. If they had had statesmen they would at the present moment be commercially at war with the United States, and they would have boycotted the raw products of the United States unti l she came to her senses. A n d I say this because I am a Free Trader. But why go on wr i t ing ? Your people do not know their greatness ; they possess a fifth of the world and do not know that it is slipping from them, and they spend their time on discussing Parnell and D r . Tanner, the character of Sir C. Dilke, the question of compensation for beer-houses, and omne hoc genus. Your supreme question at the present moment is the seizure of the labour vote at the next election. Read the Attstralian Bulletin (New South Wales), and see where undue pandering to the labour vote may lead you ; but at any rate the eight-hour question is not possible without a union of the English-speaking world, otherwise you drive your manufactures to Belgium, Holland, and Germany, just as you have placed a great deal of cheap shipping trade in the hands of Italy by your stringent shipping regulations which they do not possess, and so carry goods at lower rates.

HIS WRITINGS. 77

H e r e t h i s p o l i t i c a l W i l l a n d T e s t a m e n t a b r u p t l y b r e a k s off.

I t i s r o u g h , i n c h o a t e , a l m o s t a s u n c o u t h a s o n e o f C r o m w e l l ' s

s p e e c h e s , b u t t h e c e n t r a l i d e a g l o w s l u m i n o u s t h r o u g h o u t .

M r . R h o d e s h a s n e v e r t o m y k n o w l e d g e s a i d a w o r d , n o r h a s

h e e v e r w r i t t e n a s y l l a b l e , t h a t j u s t i f i e d t h e s u g g e s t i o n t h a t h e

s u r r e n d e r e d t h e a s p i r a t i o n s w h i c h w e r e e x p r e s s e d i n t h i s l e t t e r

o f 1891. S o far f r o m t h i s b e i n g t h e c a s e , i n t h e l o n g d i s

c u s s i o n s w h i c h t o o k p l a c e b e t w e e n u s i n t h e l a s t y e a r s o f h i s

l i fe , h e r e - a f f i r m e d a s e m p h a t i c a l l y a s a t first h i s u n s h a k e n

c o n v i c t i o n a s t o t h e d r e a m — i f y o u l i k e t o c a l l i t s o — - o r v i s i o n ,

w h i c h h a d e v e r b e e n t h e g u i d i n g s t a r o f h i s l i fe . H o w p a t h e t i c

t o r e a d t o - d a y t h e t h r i c e e x p r e s s e d f o r e b o d i n g t h a t l i fe w o u l d

n o t b e s p a r e d h i m t o c a r r y o u t h i s g r e a t i d e a l . B u t i t m a y b e

a s L o w e l l s a n g o f L a m a r t i n e : — •

T o c a r v e t h y fullest t h o u g h t , w h a t t h o u g h

T i m e w a s n o t g r a n ' e d ? A y e i n h i s t o r y ,

L i k e t h a t D a w n ' s face w h i c h baffled A n g e l o ,

L e f t s h a p e l e s s , g r a n d e r for its m y s t e r y ,

T h y g r e a t D e s i g n s h a l l s t a n d , a n d d a y

F l o o d its b l i n d front f r o m O r i e n t s far a w a y .

78

C e c i l R h o d e s a s a boy.

(By kind permission of Win. Blackwood and Sons.)

79

CHAPTER II.—HIS CONVERSATIONS. S I N C E M r . R h o d e s ' s d e a t h I h a v e h a d o p p o r t u n i t i e s o f

m a k i n g a c l o s e i n q u i r y a m o n g t h o s e w h o h a v e b e e n m o s t

i n t i m a t e l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h h i m f r o m h i s c o l l e g e d a y s u n t i l h i s

d e a t h , w i t h t h i s r e s u l t . I f o u n d t h a t t o n o n e o f t h e m h a d

M r . R h o d e s s p o k e n a s f u l l y , a s i n t i m a t e l y , a n d a s f r e q u e n t l y

a s h e t a l k e d t o m e c o n c e r n i n g h i s a i m s a n d t h e p u r p o s e s t o

w h i c h h e w i s h e d h i s w e a l t h t o b e d e v o t e d a f t e r h i s d e a t h .

T h i s i s n o t v e r y s u r p r i s i n g , b e c a u s e f r o m t h e y e a r 1891

t i l l t h e y e a r 1899 I w a s d e s i g n a t e d b y M r . R h o d e s i n

t h e w i l l s w h i c h p r e c e d e d t h a t o f 1899 a s t h e p e r s o n

w h o w a s c h a r g e d w i t h t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e w h o l e o f

h i s f o r t u n e . F r o m 1891-3 I w a s o n e o f t w o , f r o m 1893

t o 1899 o n e ° f t h r e e , t o w h o m h i s m o n e y w a s l e f t ; b u t

I w a s s p e c i f i c a l l y a p p o i n t e d b y h i m t o d i r e c t t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f

h i s p r o p e r t y for t h e p r o m o t i o n o f t h e i d e a s w h i c h w e s h a r e d

i n c o m m o n .

I f i r s t m a d e t h e a c q u a i n t a n c e o f M r . R h o d e s i n 1889.

A l t h o u g h t h a t w a s t h e f irst o c c a s i o n o n w h i c h I m e t h i m , o r w a s

a w a r e o f t h e i d e a s w h i c h h e e n t e r t a i n e d , h e h a d a l r e a d y for s o m e

y e a r s b e e n o n e o f t h e m o s t e n t h u s i a s t i c o f m y r e a d e r s — i n d e e d ,

e v e r s i n c e I s u c c e e d e d to t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e Pall Mall Gazette ( w h e n M r . M o r l e y e n t e r e d P a r l i a m e n t i n t h e y e a r 1883), a n d

b e g a n t h e a d v o c a c y o f w h a t I c a l l e d t h e I m p e r i a l i s m o f r e

s p o n s i b i l i t y a s o p p o s e d t o J i n g o i s m , w h i c h h a s b e e n t h e n o t e

o f e v e r y t h i n g t h a t I h a v e s a i d o r w r i t t e n e v e r s i n c e . I t w a s i n

t h e Pall Mall Gazette t h a t I p u b l i s h e d a n a r t i c l e o n A n g l o -

A m e r i c a n r e u n i o n w h i c h b r o u g h t m e a m u c h - p r i z e d l e t t e r f r o m

R u s s e l l L o w e l l , i n w h i c h h e s a i d : " I t i s a b e a u t i f u l d r e a m ,

b u t i t ' s n o n e t h e w o r s e o n t h a t a c c o u n t . A l m o s t a l l t h e b e s t

t h i n g s t h a t w e h a v e i n t h e w o r l d t o - d a y b e g a n b y b e i n g

d r e a m s . " I t w a s i n t h e Pall Mall Gazette i n t h o s e d a y s t h a t I

c o n d u c t e d a c o n t i n u o u s a n d p a s s i o n a t e a p o s t o l a t e i n f a v o u r o f

a c l o s e r u n i o n w i t h t h e C o l o n i e s . I t i s a m u s i n g t o l o o k b a c k

a t t h e o l d p a g e s , a n d t o f i n d h o w t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n o f t h e t r a d e

r o u t e f r o m t h e C a p e t o t h e Z a m b e s i w a s s t o u t l y c o n t e n d e d f o r

8o POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

i n t h e Pall Mall Gazette, a n d c y n i c a l l y t r e a t e d b y t h e Times. T h e i d e a l o f a s s o c i a t i n g t h e C o l o n i e s w i t h u s i n t h e d u t y o f

I m p e r i a l D e f e n c e w a s a n o t h e r o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a l d o c t r i n e s o f

w h a t w e c a l l e d i n t h o s e d a y s " t h e G o s p e l a c c o r d i n g t o t h e

Pall Mall Gazette." I t w a s i n t h e Pall Mall t h a t w e p u b l i s h e d

" T h e T r u t h a b o u t t h e N a v y , " a n d t h e Pall Mall, m o r e t h a n

a n y o t h e r p a p e r , w a s c l o s e l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e h e r o i c t r a g e d y

o f G e n e r a l G o r d o n ' s m i s s i o n t o K h a r t o u m .

C e c i l R h o d e s , b r o o d i n g i n i n t e l l e c t u a l s o l i t u d e i n t h e

m i d s t o f t h e d i a m o n d d i g g e r s o f K i m b e r l e y , w e l c o m e d w i t h

e n t h u s i a s m t h e Pall Mall Gazette. H e f o u n d i n i t t h e c r u d e

i d e a s w h i c h h e h a d e m b o d i e d i n h i s f irst w i l l e x p r e s s e d f r o m

d a y t o d a y w i t h a s g r e a t a n e n t h u s i a s m a s h i s o w n , a n d w i t h

a m u c h c l o s e r a p p l i c a t i o n t o t h e g r e a t m o v e m e n t s w h i c h w e r e

m o u l d i n g t h e c o n t e m p o r a r y h i s t o r y o f t h e w o r l d . I t i s

p r o b a b l e ( a l t h o u g h h e n e v e r m e n t i o n e d t h i s ) t h a t t h e c l o s e

p e r s o n a l f r i e n d s h i p w h i c h e x i s t e d b e t w e e n G e n e r a l G o r d o n

a n d h i m s e l f c o n s t i t u t e d a s t i l l c l o s e r t ie b e t w e e n h i m a n d t h e

e d i t o r o f t h e j o u r n a l w h o s e i n t e r v i e w h a d b e e n i n s t r u m e n t a l i n

s e n d i n g G o r d o n t o K h a r t o u m , a n d w h o t h r o u g h a l l t h e d a r k

a n d d r e a r y s i e g e w a s t h e e x p o n e n t o f t h e i d e a s a n d t h e

c h a m p i c n o f t h e c a u s e o f t h a t l a s t o f t h e P a l a d i n s . W h a t e v e r

c o n t r i b u t o r y c a u s e s t h e r e m a y h a v e b e e n , M r . R h o d e s a l w a y s

a s s e r t e d t h a t h i s o w n i d e a s h a d b e e n p r o f o u n d l y m o d i f i e d a n d

m o u l d e d b y t h e Pall Mall Gazette.

B u t , a s I s a i d , i t w a s n o t u n t i l 1889 t h a t I w a s first i n t r o

d u c e d t o h i m . A s I h a d b e e n i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e e x p a n s i o n

o f B r i t i s h p o w e r i n A f r i c a a n d i n t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n o f t h e

t r a d e r o u t e w h i c h r e n d e r e d t h e n o r t h e r n e x p a n s i o n p o s s i b l e , I

b a d c o n s t a n t l y e x e r t e d m y s e l f i n s u p p o r t o f t h e i d e a s o f M r .

M a c k e n z i e , w h o w a s i n m o r e o r l e s s p e r s o n a l a n t a g o n i s m t o t h e

i d e a s o f M r . R h o d e s . M r . M a c k e n z i e a n d M r . R h o d e s b o t h

w i s h e d t o s e c u r e t h e n o r t h e r n t e r r i t o r y . M r . R h o d e s b e l i e v e d

i n t h r u s t i n g t h e a u t h o r i t y o f C a p e C o l o n y n o r t h w a r d , a n d M r .

M a c k e n z i e w a s e q u a l l y e m p h a t i c a b o u t p l a c i n g B e c h u a n a l a n d

u n d e r t h e d i r e c t a u t h o r i t y o f t h e C r o w n . T h i s d i f f e r e n c e o f

m e t h o d , a l t h o u g h i t p r o d u c e d m u c h p e r s o n a l e s t r a n g e m e n t , i n

n o w a y a f f e c t e d t h e i r d e v o t i o n t o t h e i r c o m m o n i d e a l . A s I

w a s o n M r . M a c k e n z i e ' s s i d e , I h a d n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h M r .

R h o d e s ; a n d w h e n S i r C h a r l e s M i l l s ( t h e n C a p e A g e n t -

V

HIS CONVERSATIONS. SR

G e n e r a l ) f irst p r o p o s e d t h a t I s h o u l d m e e t h i m , I w a s s o f a r

f r o m r e a l i s i n g w h a t i t m e a n t t h a t I r e f u s e d . S i r C h a r l e s M i l l s

r e p e a t e d h i s i n v i t a t i o n w i t h a p e r s i s t e n c y a n d a n e a r n e s t n e s s

w h i c h o v e r c a m e m y r e l u c t a n c e ; I a b a n d o n e d a p r e v i o u s

e n g a g e m e n t , a n d a c c e p t e d h i s i n v i t a t i o n t o l u n c h , f o r t h e

p u r p o s e o f m e e t i n g M r . R h o d e s .

M r . R h o d e s , s a i d S i r C h a r l e s M i l l s , w i s h e d t o m a k e m y

a c q u a i n t a n c e b e f o r e h e r e t u r n e d t o A f r i c a . I m e t M r . R h o d e s

a t t h e C a p e A g e n c y , a n d w a s i n t r o d u c e d t o h i m b y S i r C h a r l e s

M i l l s o n A p r i l 4th, 1889. A f t e r l u n c h , S i r C h a r l e s l e f t u s

a l o n e , a n d I h a d a t h r e e h o u r s ' t a l k w i t h M r . R h o d e s . T o s a y

t h a t I w a s a s t o n i s h e d b y w h a t h e s a i d t o m e i s t o s a y l i t t l e .

I h a d e x p e c t e d n o t h i n g — w a s i n d e e d r a t h e r b o r e d a t t h e i d e a

o f h a v i n g t o m e e t h i m — a n d v e x e d a t h a v i n g t o g i v e u p m y

p r e v i o u s e n g a g e m e n t . B u t n o s o o n e r h a d S i r C h a r l e s M i l l s

left t h e r o o m t h a n M r . R h o d e s f i x e d m y a t t e n t i o n b y p o u r i n g

o u t t h e l o n g d a m m e d - u p f l o o d o f h i s i d e a s . I m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r

I left h i m I w r o t e : —

" I h a v e n e v e r m e t a m a n w h o , u p o n b r o a d I m p e r i a l

m a t t e r s , w a s s o e n t i r e l y o f m y w a y o f t h i n k i n g . "

O n m y e x p r e s s i n g m y s u r p r i s e t h a t w e s h o u l d b e i n s u c h

a g r e e m e n t , h e l a u g h e d a n d s a i d —

" I t i s n o t t o b e w o n d e r e d a t , b e c a u s e I h a v e t a k e n m y

i d e a s f r o m t h e Pail Mall Gazette." T h e p a p e r p e r m e a t e d S o u t h A f r i c a , h e s a i d , a n d h e h a d m e t

i t e v e r y w h e r e . H e t h e n t o l d m e w h a t s u r p r i s e d , m e n o t a l i t t l e ,

a n d w h a t w i l l p r o b a b l y c o m e t o m a n y o f t h o s e w h o a d m i r e h i m

t o - d a y w i t h a c e r t a i n s h o c k .

H e s a i d t h a t a l t h o u g h h e h a d r e a d r e g u l a r l y t h e Pall Mall Gazette i n S o u t h A f r i c a , i t w a s n o t u n t i l t h e y e a r 18S5 t h a t h e

h a d r e a l i s e d t h a t t h e e d i t o r o f t h e p a p e r , w h o s e i d e a s h e h a d

a s s i m i l a t e d s o e a g e r l y , w a s a p e r s o n w h o w a s c a p a b l e o f

d e f e n d i n g h i s p r i n c i p l e s r e g a r d l e s s o f c o n s i d e r a t i o n s o f h i s

o w n e a s e a n d s a f e t y . B u t w h e n i n 1885 I p u b l i s h e d " T h e

M a i d e n T r i b u t e " a n d w e n t t o g a o l for w h a t I h a d d o n e , h e

felt , ' ' H e r e i s t h e m a n I w a n t — o n e w h o h a s n o t o n l y t h e

r i g h t p r i n c i p l e s , b u t i s m o r e a n x i o u s t o p r o m o t e t h e m t h a n t o

s a v e h i s o w n s k i n . " H e t r i e d t o s e e m e , d r o v e u p t o H o l l o -

w a y G a o l a n d a s k e d t o b e a d m i t t e d , w a s r e f u s e d , a n d d r o v e

a w a y i n a p r e t t y f u m e . L o r d R u s s e l l o f K i l l o w e n h a d t h e


s a m e e x p e r i e n c e , w i t h t h e s a m e r e s u l t . N o o n e c a n s e e a

p r i s o n e r w i t h o u t a n o r d e r f r o m t h e H o m e O f f i c e .

M r . R h o d e s d i d n o t t e l l m e w h a t I l e a r n e d o n l y s i n c e h i s

d e a t h , f r o m M r . M a g u i r e , t h a t t h e s o l i t a r y o c c a s i o n o n w h i c h

h e e v e r e n t e r e d E x e t e r H a l l w a s w h e n , t o g e t h e r w i t h

M r . M a g u i r e , h e a t t e n d e d a n i n d i g n a t i o n m e e t i n g , c a l l e d t o

p r o t e s t a g a i n s t m y i m p r i s o n m e n t , w h i c h w a s a d d r e s s e d , a m o n g

o t h e r s , b y M r s . J o s e p h i n e B u t l e r a n d M r s . F a w c e t t .

H e left f o r A f r i c a w i t h o u t s e e i n g m e ; b u t o n h i s r e t u r n i n

1889 h e s a i d h e w o u l d n o t s a i l u n t i l h e h a d m e t m e a n d t o l d

m e a l l h i s p l a n s . H e n c e h e h a d m a d e S i r C h a r l e s M i l l s

a r r a n g e t h i s i n t e r v i e w i n o r d e r t o t a l k t o m e a b o u t t h e m a l l ,

a n d s p e c i a l l y t o d i s c u s s h o w h e c o u l d h e l p m e t o s t r e n g t h e n

a n d e x t e n d m y i n f l u e n c e a s e d i t o r .

W r i t i n g t o m y w i f e i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r I h a d l e f t h i m , I

s a i d : —

" M r . R h o d e s i s m y m a n .

" I h a v e j u s t h a d t h r e e h o u r s ' t a l k w i t h h i m .

" H e i s ful l o f a far m o r e g o r g e o u s i d e a i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h

t h e p a p e r t h a n e v e n I h a v e h a d . I c a n n o t t e l l y o u h i s s c h e m e ,

b e c a u s e i t i s t o o s e c r e t . B u t i t i n v o l v e s m i l l i o n s . . . . H e

e x p e c t s t o o w n , b e f o r e h e d i e s , f o u r o r f i v e m i l l i o n s , a l l o f

w h i c h h e w i l l l e a v e t o c a r r y o u t t h e s c h e m e o f w h i c h t h e p a p e r

i s a n i n t e g r a l p a r t . . . . H i s i d e a s a r e f e d e r a t i o n , e x p a n s i o n ,

a n d c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f t h e E m p i r e .

" H e i s . . . . a b o u t t h i r t y - f i v e , f u l l o f i d e a s , a n d r e g a r d i n g

m o n e y o n l y a s a m e a n s t o w o r k h i s i d e a s . H e b e l i e v e s m o r e

i n w e a l t h a n d e n d o w m e n t s t h a n I d o . H e i s n o t r e l i g i o u s i n

t h e o r d i n a r y s e n s e , b u t h a s a d e e p l y r e l i g i o u s c o n c e p t i o n o f

h i s d u t y t o t h e w o r l d , a n d t h i n k s h e c a n b e s t s e r v e i t b y w o r k

i n g for E n g l a n d . H e t o o k t o m e ; t o l d m e t h i n g s h e h a s t o l d

t o n o o t h e r m a n , s a v e X . . . . I t s e e m s a l l l i k e a f a i r y d r e a m . "

I t i s n o t v e r y s u r p r i s i n g t h a t i t h a d t h a t a p p e a r a n c e . N e v e r

b e f o r e o r s i n c e h a d I m e t a m i l l i o n a i r e w h o c a l m l y d e c l a r e d

h i s i n t e n t i o n t o d e v o t e a l l h i s m i l l i o n s t o c a r r y o u t t h e i d e a s

w h i c h I h a d d e v o t e d m y l i fe t o p r o p a g a t e .

M r . R h o d e s w a s i n t e n s e l y s y m p a t h e t i c , a n d l i k e m o s t

s y m p a t h e t i c p e o p l e h e w o u l d s h u t u p l i k e a n o y s t e r w h e n h e

f o u n d t h a t h i s i d e a s o n " d e e p t h i n g s " w h i c h w e r e n e a r t o h i s

h e a r l m o v e d l i s t e n e r s t o c y n i c i s m o r t o s n e e r s .

v

HIS CONVERSATIONS. 83

H e w a s a l m o s t a p o l o g e t i c a b o u t h i s s u g g e s t i o n t h a t h i s

w e a l t h m i g h t b e u s e f u l . " D o n ' t d e s p i s e m o n e y , " h e s a i d .

" Y o u r i d e a s a r e a l l r i g h t , b u t w i t h o u t m o n e y y o u c a n d o

n o t h i n g . " " T h e t w e l v e a p o s t l e s d i d n o t f i n d i t s o , " I s a i d ;

a n d s o t h e t a l k w e n t o n . H e e x p o u n d e d t o m e h i s i d e a s

a b o u t u n d e r p i n n i n g t h e E m p i r e b y a S o c i e t y w h i c h w o u l d b e

t o t h e E m p i r e w h a t t h e S o c i e t y o f J e s u s w a s t o t h e P a p a c y ,

a n d w e t a l k e d o n a n d o n , u p o n v e r y d e e p t h i n g s i n d e e d .

B e f o r e w e p a r t e d w e h a d s t r u c k u p a f i r m f r i e n d s h i p w h i c h

s t o o d t h e s t r a i n e v e n o f t h e R a i d a n d t h e W a r o n h i s p a r t a n d

o f " S h a l l I S l a y m y B r o t h e r B o e r ? " a n d " H e l l L e t L o o s e "

o n m i n e . F r o m t h a t m o m e n t I felt I u n d e r s t o o d R h o d e s . I ,

a l m o s t a l o n e , h a d t h e k e y t o t h e r e a l R h o d e s , a n d I felt t h a t

f r o m t h a t d a y i t w a s m y d u t y a n d m y p r i v i l e g e t o e n d e a v o u r

t o t h e b e s t o f m y a b i l i t y t o i n t e r p r e t h i m t o t h e w o r l d .

I t w a s i n 1889, a t o u r f i r s t i n t e r v i e w , t h a t h e e x p o u n d e d t o

m e t h e b a s i s o f h i s c r e e d . I d i d n o t p u b l i s h i t t i l l N o v e m b e r ,

1899. A l t h o u g h i t w a s i s s u e d d u r i n g h i s l i f e t i m e , i t p r o v o k e d

f r o m h i m n e i t h e r p u b l i c l y n o r p r i v a t e l y a n y p r o t e s t , c r i t i c i s m ,

o r c o r r e c t i o n .

I t h e r e f o r e t h i n k t h a t m y r e a d e r s w i l l b e g l a d t o b e a f f o r d e d

a n o p p o r t u n i t y o f s e e i n g w h a t I w r o t e i n O c t o b e r , 1899, w h i c h

P r e p r i n t e x a c t l y a s i t w a s p u b l i s h e d .

H i s R E L I G I O N .

M r . R h o d e s ' s c o n c e p t i o n o f h i s d u t i e s t o h i s f e l l o w - m e n

r e s t s u p o n a f o u n d a t i o n a s d i s t i n c t l y e t h i c a l a n d t h e i s t i c a s t h a t

o f t h e o l d P u r i t a n s . I f y o u c o u l d i m a g i n e a n e m p e r o r o f o l d

R o m e c r o s s e d w i t h o n e o f C r o m w e l l ' s I r o n s i d e s , a n d t h e r e s u l t

b r o u g h t u p a t t h e feet o f I g n a t i u s L o y o l a , y o u w o u l d h a v e a n

a m a l g a m n o t u n l i k e t h a t w h i c h m e n c a l l C e c i l R h o d e s . T h e

i d e a o f t h e S t a t e , t h e E m p i r e , a n d t h e s u p r e m e a l l e g i a n c e

w h i c h i t h a s a r i g h t t o c l a i m f r o m a l l i t s s u b j e c t s , i s a s f u l l y

d e v e l o p e d i n h i m a s i n A u g u s t u s o r i n T r a j a n . B u t d e e p

u n d e r l y i n g a l l t h i s t h e r e i s t h e s t r o n g , e a r n e s t , r e l i g i o u s c o n

c e p t i o n o f t h e P u r i t a n . M r . R h o d e s i s n o t , i n t h e o r d i n a r y

s e n s e o f t h e w o r d , a r e l i g i o u s m a n . H e w a s b o r n i n a r e c t o r y ,

a n d , l i k e m a n y o t h e r c l e r g y m e n ' s s o n s , h e i s n o g r e a t C h u r c h

m a n . H e h a s a n e x a g g e r a t e d i d e a o f t h e e x t e n t t o w h i c h

m o d e r n r e s e a r c h h a s p u l v e r i s e d t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e B i b l e ;

S4 POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

a n d , s t r a n g e t h o u g h i t m a y a p p e a r t o t h o s e w h o o n l y k n o w h i m

a s t h e d e s t r o y e r o f L o b e n g u l a , h i s m o r a l s e n s e r e v o l t s a g a i n s t

a c c e p t i n g t h e D i v i n e o r i g i n o f t h e H e b r e w w r i t i n g s w h i c h

e x u l t o v e r t h e m a s s a c r e o f t h e A m a l e k i t e s . I n t h e d o c t r i n e

o f e t e r n a l t o r m e n t h e i s a n o u t - a n d - o u t . u n b e l i e v e r . . U p o n

m a n y q u e s t i o n s r e l a t i n g t o t h e o t h e r w o r l d h i s o n e w o r d i s

A g n o s t i c — " I d o n o t k n o w . " B u t o n t h e q u e s t i o n o f H e l l h e

i s q u i t e s u r e h e k n o w s , a n d h e k n o w s t h a t i t i s n o t t r u e .

I n d e e d , i t i s h i s o n e n e g a t i v e d o g m a , w h i c h h e h o l d s w i t h

a s t o n i s h i n g v i g o u r a n d c e r t i t u d e . I t c o n f l i c t s w i t h h i s f u n d a

m e n t a l c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e n a t u r e o f t h i n g s . W h a t e v e r m a y b e

o r m a y n o t b e , t h a t c a n n o t b e .

H I S MEDITATIONS.

I t m a y a p p e a r s t r a n g e t o t h o s e w h o o n l y r e a l i s e M r . R h o d e s

a s a s u c c e s s f u l e m p i r e - b u i l d e r , o r a m o d e r n M i d a s , a t w h o s e

t o u c h e v e r y t h i n g t u r n s t o g o l d , t o h e a r t h a t t h e g r e a t A f r i

k a n d e r i s m u c h g i v e n t o p o n d e r i n g s e r i o u s l y q u e s t i o n s w h i c h ,

i n t h e r u s h a n d h u r r y o f m o d e r n l i f e , m o s t m e n s e l d o m g i v e

t h e m s e l v e s t i m e t o a s k , m u c h l e s s t o a n s w e r . B u t a s

M o h a m m e d s p e n t m u c h t i m e i n t h e s o l i t u d e o f h i s c a v e b e f o r e

h e e m e r g e d t o a s t o n i s h t h e w o r l d w i t h t h e r e v e l a t i o n o f t h e

K o r a n , s o C e c i l R h o d e s m e d i t a t e d m u c h i n t h e y e a r s w h i l e

h e w a s w a s h i n g d i r t f o r d i a m o n d s u n d e r t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n

s t a r s . H e i s s t i l l a m a n m u c h g i v e n t o t h i n k i n g o v e r t h i n g s .

H e u s u a l l y k e e p s t h r e e o r f o u r s u b j e c t s g o i n g a t o n e t i m e ,

a n d h e s t i c k s t o t h e m . A t p r e s e n t h e h a s o n h i s m i n d t h e

d e v e l o p m e n t o f R h o d e s i a , t h e l a y i n g o f t h e t e l e g r a p h l i n e t o

T a n g a n y i k a , t h e C a p e t o C a i r o r a i l w a y , a n d t h e u l t i m a t e

f e d e r a t i o n o f S o u t h A f r i c a . T h e s e f o u r o b j e c t s p r e o c c u p y

h i m . H e d o e s n o t a l l o w h i m s e l f t o b e t r o u b l e d w i t h c o r r e

s p o n d e n c e . H e r e c e i v e s l e t t e r s a n d l o s e s t h e m s o m e t i m e s , b u t

a n s w e r s t h e m n e v e r .

I n t h e e a r l i e r d a y s , b e f o r e h e w a s k n o w n , h e k e p t h i s

t h o u g h t s t o h i m s e l f . B u t h e t h o u g h t m u c h ; a n d t h e o u t c o m e

o f h i s t h i n k i n g i s m a k i n g i t s e l f felt m o r e a n d m o r e e v e r y d a y i n

.the d e v e l o p m e n t o f A f r i c a .

T H E SEARCH FOR T H E SUPREME I D E A L .

W h e n M r . R h o d e s w a s a n u n d e r g r a d u a t e a t O x f o r d , h e

w a s p r o f o u n d l y i m p r e s s e d b y a s a y i n g o f A r i s t o t l e a s t o


t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f h a v i n g a n a i m i n l i fe s u f f i c i e n t l y l o f t y t o

j u s t i f y y o u r s p e n d i n g y o u r l i fe i n e n d e a v o u r i n g t o r e a c h i t .

H e w e n t b a c k t o A f r i c a w o n d e r i n g w h a t h i s a i m i n l i fe s h o u l d

b e , k n o w i n g o n l y o n e t h i n g : t h a t w h a t e v e r i t w a s , h e h a d n o t

f o u n d it . F o r h i m t h a t s u p r e m e i d e a l w a s s t i l l t o s e e k . S o

h e f e l l a - t h i n k i n g . T h e o b j e c t t o w h i c h m o s t o f t h o s e w h o

s u r r o u n d e d h i m e a g e r l y d e d i c a t e d t h e i r l i v e s w a s t h e p u r s u i t

o f w e a l t h . F o r t h a t t h e y w e r e r e a d y t o s a c r i f i c e a l l . W a s i t

w o r t h i t ? D i d t h e e n d , e v e n w h e n a t t a i n e d , j u s t i f y t h e

e x p e n d i t u r e o f o n e ' s l i fe ? T o a n s w e r t h a t q u e s t i o n h e l o o k e d

a t t h e m e n w h o h a d s u c c e e d e d , w h o h a d m a d e t h e i r p i l e , w h o

h a d a t t a i n e d t h e g o a l w h i c h h e w a s p r o p o s i n g h e s h o u l d m a k e

h i s o w n . W h a t h e s a w w a s m e n w h o , w i t h h a r d l y a a e x c e p

t i o n , d i d n o t k n o w w h a t u s e t o m a k e o f t h e w e a l t h t h e y h a d

s p e n t t h e i r l i v e s i n a c q u i r i n g . T h e y h a d e n c u m b e r e d t h e m

s e l v e s w i t h m o n e y - b a g s , a n d t h e y s p e n t a l l t h e i r t i m e i n t a k i n g

c a r e o f t h e m . O t h e r o b j e c t i n l i fe t h e y s e e m e d t o h a v e n o n e .

W e a l t h , f o r w h i c h t h e y h a d g i v e n t h e b e s t y e a r s o f t h e i r l i f e ,

w a s o n l y a c a r e , n o t a j o y — a s o u r c e o f a n x i e t y , n o t a s c e p t r e

o f p o w e r . " I f t h a t i s a l l , i t i s n o t g o o d e n o u g h , " t h o u g h t

R h o d e s .

I N POLITICS.

T h e n h i s t h o u g h t s t u r n e d t o p o l i t i c s . W h y n o t d e v o t e h i s

l i fe t o t h e a c h i e v e m e n t o f a p o l i t i c a l c a r e e r ? H e m i g h t s u c

c e e d i f h e t r i e d . R h o d e s s e l d o m d o u b t s h i s c a p a c i t y t o

s u c c e e d w h e n h e t r i e s . A g a i n h e l o o k e d a t t h e u l t i m a t e . I n

S o u t h A f r i c a t h e t o p o f t h e t r e e w a s r e p r e s e n t e d b y t h e C a p e

P r e m i e r s h i p . W h a t k i n d o f m e n a r e C a p e P r e m i e r s ? H e h a d

k n o w n s o m e o f t h e m . T h e y w e r e m e n w h o h a d a l t e r n a t e

s p e l l s o f office a n d o p p o s i t i o n . M o s t o f t h e m w e r e m e d i o

c r i t i e s ; few o f t h e m h a d p o w e r , e v e n w h e n t h e y h e l d p l a c e .

T h e y w e r e d e p e n d e n t f o r t h e i r p o l i t i c a l e x i s t e n c e u p o n t h e

g o o d w i l l o f f o l l o w e r s w h o m t h e y h a d t o w h e e d l e o r c a j o l e .

T h e p o s i t i o n d i d n o t s e e m e n v i a b l e ; s o o n c e m o r e R h o d e s

d e c i d e d " i t w a s n o t g o o d e n o u g h . " T h e t r u e g o a l w a s s t i l l

t o s e e k .

I N T H E CHURCHES.

H i s m i n d t u r n e d t o r e l i g i o n . W a s t h e r e t o b e f o u n d i n

t h e C h u r c h e s a g o a l w o r t h t h e d e v o t i o n o f a l i fe ? P e r h a p s — i f


i t w e r e t r u e . B u t w h a t i f i t w e r e n o t ? H e t h o u g h t m u c h o f

t h e m a r v e l l o u s c a r e e r o f L o y o l a , t h e m a n w h o u n d e r p i n n e d

t h e t o t t e r i n g f o u n d a t i o n s o f t h e C a t h o l i c C h u r c h , a n d r e - e s t a b

l i s h e d t h e m u p o n t h e r o c k o f S t . P e t e r , w h i c h h a d b e e n s h a k e n

b y t h e s p i r i t u a l d y n a m i t e o f t h e R e f o r m a t i o n . T h e r e w a s a

w o r k w o r t h y t h e b e s t m a n ' s l i f e . B u t n o w a d a y s w h o c o u l d

b e l i e v e i n t h e R o m a n , o r e v e n i n t h e C h r i s t i a n , c r e e d ? *

E v e r y d a y s o m e e x p l o r e r d u g u p i n P a l e s t i n e s o m e o l d i n s c r i p

t i o n w h i c h m a d e h a v o c w i t h a B i b l e t e x t — a c o n c l u s i o n w h i c h

t h e r e p o r t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n e E x p l o r a t i o n F u n d c e r t a i n l y d o n o t

b e a r o u t , b u t t h a t n e e d n o t b e d i s c u s s e d h e r e . M r . R h o d e s

w a s a D a r w i n i a n r a t h e r t h a n a C h r i s t i a n . H e k n e w t h e r e w a s

n o H e l l . H o w c o u l d h e d e v o t e h i m s e l f t o t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e

* M r . R h o d e s , i n l a y i n g t h e f o u n d a t i o n s t o n e o f a P r e s b y t e r i a n c h a p e l a t W o o d s t o c k , n e a r C a p e T o w n , i n 1900, e x p r e s s e d h i m s e l f a s follows : — " Y o u h a v e a s k e d m e t o c o m e h e r e b e c a u s e y o u r e c o g n i s e t h a t m y life h a s b e e n w o r k . O f c o u r s e I m u s t s a y f r a n k l y t h a t I d o not h a p p e n t o b e l o n g t o y o u r p a r t i c u l a r s e c t i n r e l i g i o n . W e a l l h a v e m a n y i d e a l s , b u t I m a y s a y t h a t w h e n w c c o m e a b r o a d w e a l l b r o a d e n . W c b r o a d e n i m m e n s e l y , a n d e s p e c i a l l y i n this-spot, b e c a u s e w c a r e a l w a y s l o o k i n g o n t h a t m o u n t a i n , a n d t h e r e i s i m m e n s e b r e a d t h i n it. T h a t g i v e s u s , w h i l e w e r e t a i n o u r i n d i v i d u a l d o g m a s , i m m e n s e b r e a d t h o f f e e l i n g a n d c o n s i d e r a t i o n for a l l t h o s e w h o a r e s t r i v i n g t o d o g o o d w o r k , a n d p e r h a p s i m p r o v e t h e c o n d i t i o n of h u m a n i t y in g e n e r a l . . . . T h e fact i s , i f I m a y t a k e y o u i n t o m y c o n f i d e n c e , t h a t I d o n o t c a r e t o g o t o a p a r t i c u l a r c h u r c h e v e n o n o n e d a y i n t h e y e a r w h e n I u s e m y o w n c h a p e l a t a l l other t i m e s . I f ind t h a t u p t h e m o u n t a i n o n e g e t s t h o u g h t s , w h a t y o u m i g h t t e r m r e l i g i o u s t h o u g h t s , b e c a u s e t h e y a r c t h o u g h t s for t h e b e t t e r m e n t o f h u m a n i t y , a n d I b e l i e v e t h a t i s the b e s t d e s c r i p t i o n o f r e l i g i o n , t o w o r k for t h e b e t t e r m e n t o f t h e h u m a n b e i n g s w h o s u r r o u n d u s . T h i s s t o n e I h a v e l a i d w i l l s u b s e q u e n t l y r e p r e s e n t a b u i l d i n g , a n d i n t h a t b u i l d i n g t h o u g h t s w i l l b e g i v e n t o t h e p e o p l e w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n o f r a i s i n g t h e i r m i n d s a n d m a k i n g t h e m b e t t e r c i t i z e n s . T h a t i s the i n t e n t i o n o f t h e l a y i n g o f t h i s s t o n e . 1 w i l l c h a l l e n g e a n y m a n o r a n y w o m a n , h o w e v e r b r o a d t h e i r i d e a s m a y b e , w h o o b j e c t t o g o t o c h u r c h o r c h a p e l , t o s a y t h e y w o u l d not s o m e t i m e s b e b e t t e r for a n h o u r o r a n h o u r a n d a h a l f i n c h u r c h . I b e l i e v e t h e y w o u l d get t h e r e s o m e i d e a s c o n v e y e d t o t h e m t h a t w o u l d m a k e t h e m b e t t e r h u m a n b e i n g s . T h e r e a r e t h o s e w h o , t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d , h a v e set t h e m s e l v e s the t a s k o f e l e v a t i n g t h e i r f e l l o w - b e i n g s , a n d h a v e a b a n d o n e d p e r s o n a l a m b i t i o n , t h e a c c u m u l a t i o n o f w e a l t h , p e r h a p s t h e p u r s u i t o f a r t , a n d m a n y o f t h o s e t h i n g s t h a t a r e d e e m e d m o s t v a l u a b l e . W h a t i s left t o t h e m ? T h e y h a v e c h o s e n t o d o w h a t ? T o d e v o t e t h e i r w h o l e m i n d t o m a k e o t h e r h u m a n b e i n g s better , b r a v e r , k i n d l i e r , m o r e thoughtful , a n d m o r e u n s e l f i s h , for w h i c h t h e y d e s e r v e t h e p r a i s e o f a l l m e n . "

87

T h e H o u s e i n w h i c h C e c i l R h o d e s w a s b o r n .

(By kind permission of IVm. Blackwood and Sons.)


C a t h o l i c C h u r c h ? A s t o t h e o t h e r s , t h e s e w e r e m e r e l y v u l g a r

f r a c t i o n s o f a f r a c t i o n . H e r e s p e c t e d t h e m a l l w i t h t h e w i d e

t o l e r a n c e o f a R o m a n p h i l o s o p h e r , b u t t h e y n e i t h e r k i n d l e d h i s

e n t h u s i a s m n o r c o m m a n d e d h i s d e v o t i o n . T h e o l d f a i t h s w e r e

d y i n g o u t . I f h i s l i fe w e r e t o h a v e a w o r t h y g o a l , i t m u s t b e

a m o n g t h e l i v i n g , n o t a m o n g t h e d e a d , w i t h t h e f u t u r e r a t h e r

t h a n t h e p a s t .

A D A R W I N I A N IN SEARCH OF GOD.

S o h e w e n t o n d i g g i n g f o r d i a m o n d s , a n d m u s i n g , a s h e

d i g g e d , o n t h e e t e r n a l v e r i t i e s , t h e t r u t h w h i c h u n d e r l i e s a l l

p h e n o m e n a . H e w a s a D a r w i n i a n ; h e b e l i e v e d i n e v o l u t i o n .

B u t w a s i t r e a s o n a b l e t o b e l i e v e t h a t t h e c h a i n o f s e n t i e n t

e x i s t e n c e s w h i c h s t r e t c h e d u n b r o k e n f r o m t h e m a r i n e A s c i d e a n

t o m a n , s t o p p e d a b r u p t l y w i t h t h e h u m a n r a c e ? " W a s i t n o t

a t l e a s t t h i n k a b l e t h a t t h e r e a r e I n t e l l i g e n c e s i n t h e u n i v e r s e a s

m u c h m y s u p e r i o r i n i n t e l l e c t a s I a m s u p e r i o r t o t h e d o g ? "

" W h y s h o u l d m a n b e t h e t e r m i n u s o f t h e p r o c e s s o f e v o l u

t i o n ? " S o h e r e a s o n e d , a s a l l s e r i o u s s o u l s h a v e r e a s o n e d l o n g

b e f o r e D a r w i n w a s h e a r d of.

R e i n c a r n a t i o n , t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f a n e x i s t e n c e p r i o r t o t h i s

m o r t a l l i f e , d i d n o t i n t e r e s t h i m . " L i f e i s t o o s h o r t , a f t e r a l l , "

h e u s e d t o s a y , " t o w o r r y a b o u t p r e v i o u s l i v e s . F r o m t h e

c r a d l e t o t h e g r a v e — w h a t i s i t ? T h r e e d a y s a t t h e s e a s i d e .

J u s t t h a t a n d n o t h i n g m o r e . B u t a l t h o u g h i t i s o n l y t h r e e d a y s ,

w e m u s t b e d o i n g s o m e t h i n g . I c a n n o t s p e n d m y t i m e t h r o w

i n g s t o n e s i n t o t h e w a t e r . B u t w h a t i s w o r t h w h i l e d o i n g ? "

T h e n u p o n h i m t h e r e g r e w m o r e a n d m o r e p a l p a b l y r e a l , a t

l e a s t a s a p o s s i b i l i t y , t h a t t h e t e a c h i n g s o f a l l t h e s e e r s , o f a l l

t h e r e l i g i o n s , w e r e b a s e d o n s o l i d f a c t , a n d t h a t a f t e r a l l t h e r e

w a s a G o d w h o r e i g n e d o v e r a l l t h e c h i l d r e n o f m e n , a n d w h o ,

m o r e o v e r , w o u l d e x a c t , a s t r i c t a c c o u n t for a l l t h e d e e d s w h i c h

t h e y d i d i n t h e b o d y . H e c o m b a t e d t h e n o t i o n ; b u t t h e

b a l a n c e o f a u t h o r i t y w a s a g a i n s t h i m . A l l r e l i g i o n s , i n air-

t i m e s — s u r e l y t h e u n i v e r s a l i n s t i n c t o f t h e r a c e h a d s o m e t h i n g

t o j u s t i f y i t !

A FIFTY PER CENT. CHANCE.

M r . R h o d e s a r g u e d t h e m a t t e r o u t i n h i s c o o l , p r a c t i c a l

w a y , a n d d e c i d e d t h e q u e s t i o n for h i m s e l f o n c e f o r a l l . H e

V


d i d n o t s u r r e n d e r h i s a g n o s t i c p o s i t i o n , b u t h e d e c i d e d t h a t i t

w a s a t l e a s t a n e v e n c h a n c e t h a t t h e r e m i g h t b e a G o d .

F u r t h e r t h a n t h a t h e d i d n o t g o . A f i f t y - p e r - c e n t . c h a n c e

t h a t t h e r e i s a G o d A l m i g h t y i s v e r y far r e m o v e d f r o m t h e

c o n f i d e n t c e r t a i n t y o f " I k n o w t h a t m y R e d e e m e r l i v e t h . "

B u t a f i f t y - p e r - c e n t . c h a n c e G o d f u l l y b e l i e v e d i n i s w o r t h m o r e

a s a f a c t o r i n l i fe t h a n a f o r t y - p e r - c e n t f a i t h i n t h e w h o l e

C h r i s t i a n c r e e d .

" W H A T WCULDST T H O U HAVE M E T O D O ? "

M r . R h o d e s h a d n o s o o n e r , c i p h e r e d o u t h i s f i f t y - p e r - c e n t .

c h a n c e t h a n h e w a s c o n f r o n t e d w i t h t h e r e f l e c t i o n , " I f t h e r e

b e a G o d , o f w h i c h t h e r e i s a n e v e n c h a n c e , w h a t d o e s H e w a n t

m e t o d o , i f s o b e t h a t H e c a r e s a n y t h i n g a b o u t w h a t I d o ? "

F o r s o t h e t r a i n o f t h o u g h t w e n t o n . " I f t h e r e b e a G o d , a n d

i f H e d o c a r e , t h e n t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i n t h e w o r l d for

m e i s t o f i n d o u t w h a t H e w a n t s m e t o d o , a n d t h e n g o a n d d o

i t . " * B u t h o w w a s h e t o f i n d i t o u t ? I t i s a p r o b l e m w h i c h

* I h a v e b e e n s o m e w h a t s e v e r e l y t a k e n t o t a s k b y M r . B r a m w e l l B o o t h for w h a t h e r e g a r d s a s m y fai lure t o d o full j u s t i c e t o t h e r e l i g i o u s s i d e o f M r . R h o d e s ' s c h a r a c t e r . B y w a y o f m a k i n g a m e n d s , 1 quote t h e f o l l o w i n g e x t r a c t s f r o m the r e m a r k s m a d e b y t h e G e n e r a l a n d b y M r . W . B r a m w e l l B o o t h h i m s e l f after M r . R h o d e s ' s d e a t h . G e n e r a l B o o t h , w r i t i n g i n t h e War Cry o f A p r i l 5TH, 1902, s a i d :—

I n t h e c o u r s e o f m y w a n d e r i n g s I h a v e b e e n p r i v i l e g e d t o m e e t w i t h m a n y o f t h e c l a s s o f i n d i v i d u a l s w h o a r e s a i d t o b e the m o v i n g s p i r i t s o f t h e w o r l d , b u t v e r y few o u t s i d e t h e p a l e o f C h r i s t i a n a n d p h i l a n t h r o p i c c i r c l e s h a v e i m p r e s s e d a n d i n t e r e s t e d m e m o r e t h a n d i d C e c i l R h o d e s .

T h e f i r s t t i m e w e m e t w a s o n the o c c a s i o n o f m y f i r s t v i s i t t o S o u t h A f r i c a . M r . R h o d e s w a s t h e n P r e m i e r o f C a p e C o l o n y . T h a t w a s i n t h e y e a r 1891. H e r e c e i v e d m e a t t h e P a r l i a m e n t B u i l d i n g s .

W e u n d e r s t o o d one a n o t h e r a t o n c e , a n d p l u n g e d i n t o a d i s c u s s i o n o f m y p r o p o s a l for t h e f o u n d i n g o f " A n O v e r - t h e - S e a C o l o n y . " " O u r o b j e c t s , y o u s e e , differ," s a i d h e . " Y o u a r e set o n f i l l i n g the w o r l d w i t h t h e k n o w l e d g e o f t h e G o s p e l . M y r u l i n g p u r p o s e i s t h e e x t e n s i o n o f the B r i t i s h E m p i r e . " T h e n , l a y i n g h i s l i n g e r o n a g r e a t p i e c e o f the m a p s h o w i n g t h e c o u n t r y , p a r t o f w h i c h w a s t h e n k n o w n a s M a s h o n a l a n d , but w h i c h i s n o w c a l l e d after h i s n a m e , h e w e n t o n t o s a y , " I f t h i s p a r t o f S o u t h A f r i c a w o u l d suit y o u , I c a n g i v e y o u w h a t e v e r extent o f l a n d y o u m a y r e q u i r e . "

Y e a r s p a s s e d a w a y . I n 1895 I w a s o n c e m o r e i n S o u t h A f r i c a . " I f , " s a i d M r . R h o d e s , " t h e g o l d t u r n s out t o b e a s u c c e s s , the

G 2

oo POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

p u z z l e d t h e a n c i e n t s . " C a n s t t h o u b y s e a r c h i n g f i n d o u t

G o d ? " A r e n o t H i s w a y s p a s t f i n d i n g o u t ? P e r h a p s y e s ;

p e r h a p s n o . T h e y " d i d n o t k n o w e v e r y t h i n g d o w n i n J u d e e . "

A n y h o w , M r . R h o d e s w a s m u c h t o o p r a c t i c a l a n d t h o r o u g h -

m a r k e t s w i l l b e a l l r i g h t for t h e c o r n a n d v e g e t a b l e s a n d fruit w h i c h y o u a n d y o u r c o l o n y w i l l p r o d u c e . A n d i f y o u t h i n k the l o c a l i t y w i l l b e s u i t a b l e , y o u h a d b e t t e r s e n d s o m e c a p a b l e officers t o s u r v e y t h e c o u n t r y . T h e y c a n s e l e c t the d i s t r i c t m o s t l i k e l y t o a n s w e r y o u r p u r p o s e s , a n d y o u s h a l l h a v e w h a t l a n d i s n e c e s s a r y . "

T h i s offer M r . R h o d e s m a d e i n t h e m o s t d e l i b e r a t e m a n n e r t w i c e o v e r . O f c o u r s e , h e k n e w w h a t I w a n t e d t o d o . I w a n t e d t h e c o u n t r y for t h e people , a n d h e w a n t e d t h e p e o p l e for t h e c o u n t r y . S o far, w e w e r e o n e , p e r h a p s not m u c h further.

A s t h e i n t e r v i e w c l o s e d , s o m e t h i n g w a s s a i d b y m e b e a r i n g o n h i s s p i r i t u a l i n t e r e s t s . I forget w h a t I s a i d , b u t i t w a s s o m e t h i n g s t r a i g h t , p e r s o n a l , a n d i t w a s u n d e r s t o o d b y h i m a t o n c e . W h i l e h e d i d n o t a s s e n t t o m y r e m a r k s b y a n y p a s s i n g p r e t e n s i o n s t o r e l i g i o n , h e w a s s e r i o u s a n d t h o u g h t f u l , a n d w h e n I s a i d I s h o u l d p r a y for h i m , h e r e s p o n d e d , " Y e s , t h a t w a s g o o d . " P r a y e r , h e c o n s i d e r e d , w a s useful , a c t i n g a s a s o r t o f t i m e - t a b l e , b r i n g i n g before t h e m i n d t h e d u t i e s o f t h e d a y , a n d p u l l i n g one u p t o f a c e t h e o b l i g a t i o n s for t h e i r d i s c h a r g e . A l itt le i n c i d e n t t h a t o c c u r r e d s o m e y e a r s a f t e r w a r d s s h o w e d t h a t m y r e m a r k s m a d e a n i n d e l i b l e i m p r e s s i o n o n h i s m i n d .

O u r n e x t m e e t i n g w a s i n E n g l a n d . I n c o m p a n y w i t h L o r d L o c h h e w a n t e d t o see the H a d l e i g h F a r m C o l o n y , a n d a n a p p o i n t m e n t w a s m a d e for a v i s i t . H e s p e c i a l l y d e s i r e d t h a t I s h o u l d a c c o m p a n y h i m , a n d , o f c o u r s e , I g l a d l y a g r e e d . M y s o n (the c h i e f o f t h e staff) w a s w i t h u s . W e w e n t d o w n t o g e t h e r .

A f t e r the j o u r n e y d o w n w e l u n c h e d t o g e t h e r , a n d w a n d e r e d o v e r t h e c o l o n y a n d d i s c u s s e d its p r i n c i p a l features . M r . R h o d e s w a s i n t e r e s t e d i n e v e r y t h i n g . N o t h i n g s t r u c k m e m o r e t h a n h i s i n q u i r i n g s p i r i t . " W h a t i s t h i s ? " a n d " W h a t i s i t for ? " a n d " H o w d o e s i t a n s w e r ? " o r " W h o i s t h i s ? " " W h e r e d o e s h e c o m e f r o m ? " " W h a t i s h e d o i n g ? " " W h a t a r e y o u g o i n g t o d o w i t h h i m ? " w e r e t h e q u e s t i o n s c o n s t a n t l y o n h i s l i p s , a n d t o s a y t h a t h e w a s i n t e r e s t e d i s s a y i n g v e r y l itt le. T h e w h o l e t h i n g e v i d e n t l y t o o k a s t r o n g h o l d o f h i m .

T h a t n i g h t C o l o n e l B a r k e r a c c o m p a n i e d h i m t o h i s h o t e l , w h e r e h e a g a i n t a l k e d o v e r t h e t h i n g s h e h a d s e e n , a n d a s s u r e d the C o l o n e l t h a t h e w o u l d s e e a l l t h e s o c i a l w o r k w c h a d i n t h e w a y o f s h e l t e r s a n d e l e v a t o r s , a n d h o m e s , a n d e v e r y t h i n g else o f t h e k i n d before h e r e t u r n e d t o A f r i c a .

I n 1 8 9 9 M r . R h o d e s m a d e a s p e e c h a t t h e M a n s i o n H o u s e i n s u p p o r t o f the a r m y . H e s a i d : " T h e w o r k o f y o u r o r g a n i s a t i o n i s a p r a c t i c a l o n e . ( L o u d a p p l a u s e ) . T h e C a b i n e t , o f w h i c h I w a s a m e m b e r , w a s a p p e a l e d to for a c o n t r i b u t i o n for t h e a r m y in t h a t p a r t o f t h e w o r l d . S t a t i s t i c s w e r e c a l l e d for, a n d w e g a t h e r e d t h a t y o u offered h o m e s for w a i f s a n d s t r a y s , a n d t h o s e , p e r h a p s , w h o h a d f a l l e n i n t h e c o l o n y , a n d w h o , w h e n r e l e a s e d f r o m p r i s o n , h a d

HIS CON VERS A TIONS. 91

g o i n g a m a n n o t t o s e t h i m s e l f t o t h e t a s k o f a s c e r t a i n i n g t h e

w i l l o f G o d t o w a r d s u s — i f s o b e t h a t t h e r e b e a G o d , o f w h i c h ,

a s a f o r e s a i d , t h e R h o d e s i a n c a l c u l a t i o n i s t h a t t h e c h a n c e s a r e

e v e n , for o r a g a i n s t .

a n o t h e r c h a n c e i n life t h r o u g h t h e m e d i u m o f y o u r o r g a n i s a t i o n . W e l e a r n t t h a t t h e y w e r e p r o v i d e d w i t h a h o m e w h e n t h e y left t h e p r i s o n , a n d o b t a i n e d a fresh s t a r t i n life. T h e p r a c t i c a l v i e w w h i c h P a r l i a m e n t took o f t h a t w o r k w a s t o v o t e a g r a n t i n t h e i r f a v o u r , a n d t h a t v o t e h a s b e e n c o n t i n u e d e v e r s i n c e .

" I h a v e b e e n t o l d b y M r . B r a m w e l l B o o t h t h a t y o u m e e t h e r e a t t i m e s w i t h o p p o s i t i o n . I h a v e e v e n b e e n t o l d b y m e m b e r s o f o t h e r o r g a n i s a t i o n s t h a t t h e y o b j e c t t o the d e t a i l s o f y o u r m e t h o d s . 1 h a v e b e e n t o l d t h a t o b j e c t i o n h a s b e e n t a k e n t o t h e u s e o f the b a n d s , a n d m i l i t a r y t i t l e s o f y o u r officers, b u t I d o k n o w t h i s , t h a t i n m y o w n C h u r c h there a r e m a n y d i s p u t e s a s t o d e t a i l s — ( a l a u g h ) — d i s p u t e s a s t o t h e u s e o f i n c e n s e , t h e u s e o f the c o n f e s s i o n a l , the l i g h t i n g a n d n o n - l i g h t i n g o f c a n d l e s , a n d a s t o t h e w e a r i n g o f e m b r o i d e r e d g a r m e n t s — ( l a u g h t e r ) — b u t , after a l l ( a n d M r . R h o d e s w a v e d h i s h a n d a s t o e m p h a s i s e h i s c o n t e m p t for t h e s e n a r r o w -m i n d e d o b j e c t o r s ) , let u s put t h e s e d e t a i l s a s i d e . ( L o u d a p p l a u s e . )

" W h a t d o w e r e c o g n i s e ? W e r e c o g n i s e t h i s , t h a t t h e y a r e not d o i n g t h e w o r k o f t h e o r d i n a r y h u m a n b e i n g . B e h e a n officer o f t h i s o r g a n i s a t i o n , a m i n i s t e r o f m y C h u r c h , o r a p r i e s t o f t h e R o m a n C a t h o l i c C h u r c h , t h e y a l l h a v e a h i g h e r o b j e c t . T h e y g i v e t h e i r w h o l e l i v e s for the b e t t e r i n g o f h u m a n i t y . I c a n s i m p l y g i v e y o u m y w o r d t h a t , l i v i n g i n a r e m o t e p o r t i o n o f H e r M a j e s t y ' s d o m i n i o n s , I g l a d l y g i v e m y t e s t i m o n y t o the g o o d a n d p r a c t i c a l w o r k w h i c h

y o u d o i n t h a t p a r t o f t h e w o r l d t h a t I h a v e a d o p t e d a s m y h o m e . " ( L o u d a n d c o n t i n u e d a p p l a u s e . )

M r . W . B r a m w e l l B o o t h , w r i t i n g i n t h e War Cry, a d d s h i s t e s t i m o n y a s fol lows : —

B u t i t w a s d u r i n g t h a t d a y on the c o l o n y t h a t I r e a l l y got a g l i m p s e o f t h e t r u e m a n . H e w a s d o w n w i t h u s a t t h e G e n e r a l ' s i n v i t a t i o n . T h e y h a d m e t before i n S o u t h A f r i c a , a n d M r . R h o d e s w a s e v i d e n t l y m u c h t a k e n w i t h t h e G e n e r a l . I h a v e h e a r d i t s a i d t h a t h e w a s a s i l e n t , t a c i t u r n m a n , c o l d , stiff, a n d difficult t o t a l k to. I s a w n o t h i n g of t h e s o r t . B e f o r e we h a d b e e n s e a t e d for five m i n u t e s i n t h e r a i l w a y c a r r i a g e o n t h e o u t w a r d j o u r n e y , h e a n d t h e G e n e r a l w e r e t a l k i n g a s h a r d a s t h e y c o u l d g o a b o u t t h e p o o r a n d t h e m i s e r a b l e o f t h e w o r l d , a b o u t S o u t h A f r i c a a n d t h e n a t i v e r a c e s , a b o u t t h e p r o s p e c t s o f o u r w o r k i n R h o d e s i a — i t w a s before t h i s awful w a r — a n d the c h a n c e s o f o u r g e t t i n g h e l p t o d o s o m e t h i n g for t h e peoples o n the Z a m b e s i . M r . R h o d e s s e e m e d t o e n t e r fully into t h e G e n e r a l ' s i d e a s a s t o t h e v a l u e o f t h e p e o p l e t o t h e c o u n t r y before a l l e lse , a n d t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f c a r i n g for t h e i r m o r a l a n d s p i r i t u a l , a s w e l l a s t h e i r m a t e r i a l w e l l - b e i n g . A f t e r a w h i l e , t h e G e n e r a l p r o p o s e d p r a y e r , a n d , k n e e l i n g d o w n i n the c o m p a r t m e n t , s o u g h t G o d ' s b l e s s i n g o n o u r v i s i t o r . M r . R h o d e s b o w e d h i s h e a d , a n d c l o s e d h i s e y e s w i t h m u c h r e v e r e n c e ; a n d w h e n the

9 2

Photograph by] V<- H. Mills.

M r . a n d M r s . M a g u i r e .


W H A T IS HE D O I N G ?

M r . R h o d e s , a s I h a v e s a i d , i s a D a r w i n i a n . H e b e l i e v e s

i n t h e g o s p e l o f e v o l u t i o n , o f t h e s u r v i v a l o f t h e f ittest , o f

p r o g r e s s b y n a t u r a l s e l e c t i o n . W i t h s u c h outfit a s t h i s , h e s e t

h i m s e l f i n h i s d i a m o n d - h o l e t o a t t e m p t t h e s o l u t i o n o f t h e

o l d e s t o f a l l p r o b l e m s . " I f t h e r e b e a G o d , a n d i f H e c a r e s

a n y t h i n g a b o u t w h a t I d o , t h e n , " s a i d R h o d e s t o h i m s e l f , " I

t h i n k I s h a l l n o t b e far w r o n g i n c o n c l u d i n g t h a t H e w o u l d

l i k e m e t o d o p r e t t y m u c h a s H e i s d o i n g — t o w o r k o n t h e

s a m e l i n e s t o w a r d s t h e s a m e e n d . T h e r e f o r e , t h e first t h i n g

f o r m e t o d o i s t o t r y t o f i n d o u t w h a t G o d — i f t h e r e b e a G o d

— i s d o i n g i n t h i s w o r l d ; w h a t a r e H i s i n s t r u m e n t s , w h a t l i n e s

i s H e g o i n g o n , a n d w h a t i s H e a i m i n g a t . T h e n e x t t h i n g ,

t h e n , f o r m e t o d o i s t o d o t h e s a m e t h i n g , u s e t h e s a m e i n s t r u

m e n t s , f o l l o w t h e s a m e l i n e s , a n d a i m a t t h e s a m e m a r k t o t h e

b e s t o f m y a b i l i t y . "

H a v i n g t h u s c l e a r e d t h e w a y , M r . R h o d e s p u t o n h i s

t h i n k i n g c a p a n d e n d e a v o u r e d t o p u z z l e o u t a n s w e r s t o t h e s e

q u e s t i o n s . I t s o u n d s s o m e w h a t p r o f a n e , t h e w a y i n w h i c h

h e p u t s i t ; b u t i n its e s s e n c e , i s i t n o t t h e w a y i n w h i c h

G e n e r a l t o o k h i s s e a t a g a i n , h e l d out h i s h a n d t o h i m i n t h e m i d s t o f a s i l e n c e , w h i c h t o m e s e e m e d e l o q u e n t o f t h o u g h t s too d e e p for w o r d s . L a t e r i n t h e d a y I h a d a c l o s e t a l k w i t h h i m a b o u t e t e r n a l t h i n g s . I h a v e n o i d e a w h a t r e l i g i o u s t r a i n i n g o r e x p e r i e n c e h e m a y h a v e h a d i n t h e p a s t , b u t one t h i n g w a s q u i t e c l e a r t o m e , h e h a d a lofty c o n c e p t i o n o f d u t y , a n d w h i l e c o n s c i o u s o f h i s g r e a t i n f l u e n c e , k n e w t h a t i t w a s b e s t o w e d o n h i m i n t h e p r o v i d e n c e o f G o d , t o W h o m h e w a s a c c o u n t a b l e for a l l .

M r . R h o d e s w a s d e l i g h t e d w i t h h i s d a y a t H a d l e i g h , a n d s a i d s o . H e w e n t e v e r y w h e r e , s a w e v e r y t h i n g , a s k e d i n n u m e r a b l e q u e s t i o n s , i n t e r v i e w e d officers a n d c o l o n i s t s , t a s t e d t h e s o u p , c h a l l e n g e d t h e p r i c e o f t h e c o a l , offered h i s a d v i c e o n t h e v a l u e o f c e r t a i n fruit t r e e s , a n d chaffed m e u n m e r c i f u l l y a b o u t a n o l d p o r t a b l e e n g i n e w h i c h o u g h t , n o d o u b t , t o h a v e b e e n d i s o o s e d o f l o n g a g o , but w h i c h o u r p o v e r t y h a d i n d u c e d u s t o k e e p g o i n g . H e w a s m u c h i m p r e s s e d b y s o m e o f t h e c o l o n i s t s , a n d c o u l d not b e l i e v e a t first t h a t t h e s e fine b r a w n y fellows c o u l d e v e r h a v e b e e n w h a t , a l a s ! w e k n e w o n l y too w e l l t o h a v e b e e n t h e c a s e . T h e G e n e r a l r e q u e s t e d h i m t o s p e a k t o o n e o r t w o , a n d h e w a s d e l i g h t e d , a n d s h o w e d i t i n t h e m o s t unaffected m a n n e r .

W h e n w e w e r e s e p a r a t i n g t h a t n i g h t a t L i v e r p o o l S t r e e t S t a t i o n , h e s a i d t o m e , " A h ! Y o u a n d the G e n e r a l a r e r i g h t ; y o u h a v e the b e s t of m e after a l l . / am trying to make new countries j you arc making new men."

9+ POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

a l l e a r n e s t s o u l s , e a c h a c c o r d i n g t o h i s o w n l i g h t , h a v e

e n d e a v o u r e d t o p r o b e t h e m y s t e r y o f t h e u n i v e r s e ? I s n o t

t h e s u p r e m e p r o f a n i t y n o t t h e u s e o f m u n d a n e d i a l e c t t o

d e s c r i b e t h e p r o c e s s , b u t r a t h e r t h e f a i l u r e t o p u t t h e q u e s t i o n

a t a l l ?

( l ) T H E D I V I N E A R E A O F A C T I O N .

T h e f i r s t t h i n g t h a t i m p r e s s e d M r . R h o d e s , a s t h e r e s u l t o f

a s u r v e y o f t h e w a y s o f G o d t o m a n , i s t h a t t h e D e i t y m u s t

l o o k a t t h i n g s o n a c o m p r e h e n s i v e s c a l e . I f M r . R h o d e s

t h i n k s i n c o n t i n e n t s , h i s M a k e r m u s t a t l e a s t t h i n k i n p l a n e t s .

I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e D i v i n e p l a n m u s t b e a t l e a s t c o - e x t e n s i v e

w i t h t h e h u m a n r a c e . I f t h e r e b e a G o d a t a l l w h o c a r e s

a b o u t u s , H e c a r e s for t h e w h o l e o f u s , n o t for a n e l e c t f e w i n

a c o r n e r . W h a t e v e r i n s t r u m e n t H e u s e s m u s t b e o n e t h a t i s

c a p a b l e o f i n f l u e n c i n g t h e w h o l e r a c e . H e n c e t h e r a n g e o f

t h e i n s t r u m e n t , o r , a s a P a p i s t w o u l d s a y , t h e c a t h o l i c i t y o f t h e

C h u r c h , i s o n e o f t h e f i r s t c r e d e n t i a l s o f i t s D i v i n e o r i g i n a n d

a u t h o r i t y . H o l e - a n d - c o r n e r p l a n s o f s a l v a t i o n , t h e o l o g i c a l o r

p o l i t i c a l , a r e o u t o f c o u r t . I f w e c a n d i s c o v e r t h e t r a c e s o f

t h e D i v i n e p l a n , i t m u s t b e u n i v e r s a l , a n d t h a t a g e n c y o r

c o n s t i t u t i o n w h i c h m o s t n e a r l y a p p r o x i m a t e s t o i t i n t h e

u n i v e r s a l i t y o f i t s i n f l u e n c e b e a r s t h e D i v i n e t r a d e - m a r k .

( 2 ) T H E D I V I N E M E T H O D .

T h i s c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e D i v i n e c r e d e n t i a l s s e e m e d t o

M r . R h o d e s t o b e i m m e d i a t e l y f a t a l t o t h e p r e t e n s i o n s o f a l l

t h e C h u r c h e s . T h e y m a y b e a l l v e r y g o o d i n t h e i r w a y , *

* M r . R h o d e s w a s e m p h a t i c a l l y o f o p i n i o n t h a t t h e y w e r e a l l g o o d i n t h e i r w a y . T h e R e v . A . P . L o x l e y , w r i t i n g t o the Times, s a y s : — " W h e n s o m u c h i s b e i n g s a i d a s t o M r . R h o d e s ' s a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s r e l i g i o n i t i s w o r t h r e m e m b e r i n g w h a t h e d i d a n d s a i d w i t h r e g a r d t o e d u c a t i o n i n R h o d e s i a . H i s p l a n w a s ( a n d i t h a d t h e B i s h o p ' s full a p p r o v a l ) t h a t for h a l f a n h o u r e v e r y m o r n i n g t h e m i n i s t e r s o f e a c h C h u r c h o r d e n o m i n a t i o n s h o u l d c o m e a n d t e a c h t h e i r s p e c i a l d o g m a s t o t h e c h i l d r e n o f the m e m b e r s o f t h e i r c o n g r e g a t i o n . P r e s i d i n g a t t h e p r i z e - g i v i n g o f S t . J o h n ' s , B u l a w a y o , l a s t a u t u m n , h e s a i d : — ' I n E n g l a n d a B o a r d s c h o o l i s not b o u n d to h a v e a n y r e l i g i o n . I t h i n k it is a m i s t a k e , j u s t as I t h i n k it is a m i s t a k e i n A u s t r a l i a t h a t t h e y h a v e e x c l u d e d h i s t o r y a n d r e l i g i o n f r o m t h e i r s c h o o l s . I t h i n k i t i s a n a b s o l u t e m i s t a k e , b e c a u s e , after a l l , t h e c h i l d a t s c h o o l i s a t t h a t p e r i o d o f i ts life w h e n i t i s m o s t p l i a b l e t o t h o u g h t s , a n d i f y o u r e m o v e from i t a l l t h o u g h t o f r e l i g i o n I d o not t h i n k y o u m a k e i t a better h u m a n b e i n g . T h e r e

HIS CON VERS A TIONS. 95

b u t o n e a n d a l l a r e s e c t i o n a l . T h e n o t e o f c a t h o l i c i t y i s

e v e r y w h e r e l a c k i n g . E v e n t h e R o m a n C a t h o l i c b u t t o u c h e s

a d e c i m a l o f t h e r a c e . B e s i d e s , a l l t h e C h u r c h e s a r e b u t o f

y e s t e r d a y . T h e y b e l o n g t o t h e l a t e s t p h a s e o f h u m a n e v o l u

t i o n . W h a t M r . R h o d e s w a s a f t e r w a s s o m e t h i n g o l d e r a n d

m o r e u n i v e r s a l . H e f o u n d i t i n t h e d o c t r i n e o f e v o l u t i o n .

H e r e , a t l e a s t , w a s a l a w o r u n i f o r m m e t h o d o f D i v i n e

p r o c e d u r e w h i c h i n p o i n t o f v i e w o f a n t i q u i t y left n o t h i n g t o

b e d e s i r e d , a n d w h i c h a t t h i s p r e s e n t m o m e n t i s u n i v e r s a l l y

a c t i v e a m o n g a l l s e n t i e n t b e i n g s . W h a t i s t h e d i s t i n c t i v e

f e a t u r e o f t h a t d o c t r i n e ? T h e p e r f e c t i o n o f t h e s p e c i e s ,

a t t a i n e d b y t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f t h e u n f i t ; t h e f a v o u r a b l e

h a n d i c a p p i n g o f t h e f i t . T h e m o s t c a p a b l e s p e c i e s s u r v i v e s ,

t h e l e a s t c a p a b l e g o e s t o t h e w a l l . T h e p e r f e c t i n g o f t h e

f i t t e s t s p e c i e s a m o n g t h e a n i m a l s , o r o f r a c e s a m o n g m e n , a n d

t h e n t h e c o n f e r r i n g u p o n t h e p e r f e c t e d s p e c i e s o r r a c e t h e

t i t l e - d e e d s o f t h e f u t u r e ; t h a t s e e m e d t o M r . R h o d e s , t h r o u g h

h i s D a r w i n i a n s p e c t a c l e s , t h e w a y i n w h i c h G o d i s g o v e r n i n g

H i s w o r l d , h a s g o v e r n e d i t , a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o g o v e r n i t , s o

far a s w e c a n f o r e s e e t h e f u t u r e .

(3) T H E D I V I N E INSTRUMENT.

T h e p l a n e t b e i n g p o s t u l a t e d a s t h e a r e a o f t h e D i v i n e

a c t i v i t y , a n d t h e p e r f e c t i n g o f t h e r a c e b y p r o c e s s o f n a t u r a l

s e l e c t i o n , a n d t h e s t r u g g l e for e x i s t e n c e b e i n g r e c o g n i s e d a s t h e

f a v o u r i t e i n s t r u m e n t s o f t h e D i v i n e R u l e r , t h e q u e s t i o n i m m e

d i a t e l y a r o s e a s t o w h i c h r a c e a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e s e e m s m o s t

l i k e l y t o b e t h e D i v i n e i n s t r u m e n t i n c a r r y i n g o u t t h e D i v i n e

i d e a o v e r t h e w h o l e o f t h i s p l a n e t . T h e a n s w e r m a y s e e m t o

C h a u v i n i s t s o b v i o u s e n o u g h . B u t M r . R h o d e s i s n o t a

C h a u v i n i s t . H e w a s c o n d u c t i n g a s e r i o u s e x a m i n a t i o n i n t o a

s u p r e m e l y i m p o r t a n t q u e s t i o n , a n d h e w o u l d t a k e n o t h i n g for

g r a n t e d . T h e r e a r e v a r i o u s r a c e s o f m a n k i n d — t h e Y e l l o w , t h e

i s n o d o u b t but t h a t i t i s d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d o f y o u t h t h a t y o u get t h o s e i m p r e s s i o n s w h i c h a f t e r w a r d s d o m i n a t e y o u r w h o l e l ife. I a m q u i t e c l e a r t h a t a c h i l d b r o u g h t u p w i t h r e l i g i o u s t h o u g h t s m a k e s a better h u m a n b e i n g . 1 a m q u i t e s u r e t o c o u p l e t h e o r d i n a r y s c h o o l t e a c h i n g w i t h s o m e t h o u g h t s o f r e l i g i o n i s b e t t e r t h a n d i s m i s s i n g r e l i g i o n f r o m w i t h i n the w a l l s o f t h e s c h o o l . ' " — Natal Diocesan Magazine.


B l a c k , t h e B r o w n , a n d t h e W h i t e . I f t h e t e s t b e n u m e r i c a l ,

t h e Y e l l o w r a c e c o m e s f i r s t . B u t i f t h e t e s t b e t h e a r e a o f t h e

w o r l d a n d t h e p o w e r t o c o n t r o l i t s d e s t i n i e s , t h e p r i m a c y o f t h e

W h i t e r a c e i s i n d i s p u t a b l e . T h e Y e l l o w r a c e i s m a s s e d t h i c k

o n o n e h a l f o f a s i n g l e c o n t i n e n t : t h e W h i t e e x c l u s i v e l y o c c u p i e s

E u r o p e , p r a c t i c a l l y o c c u p i e s t h e A m e r i c a s , i s c o l o n i s i n g

A u s t r a l i a , a n d i s d o m i n a t i n g A s i a . I n t h e s t r u g g l e for e x i s t

e n c e t h e W h i t e r a c e h a d u n q u e s t i o n a b l y c o m e o u t o n t o p .

T h e W h i t e r a c e b e i n g t h u s f a v o u r a b l y h a n d i c a p p e d b y t h e

s u p r e m e H a n d i c a p p e r , t h e n e x t q u e s t i o n w a s w h i c h o f t h e

W h i t e r a c e s i s n a t u r a l l y s e l e c t e d for s u r v i v a l — w h i c h i s p r o v i n g

i t s e l f m o s t f i t i n t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f i t s e n v i r o n m e n t t o d e f e a t

a d v e r s e i n f l u e n c e s a n d t o p r e s e r v e p e r s i s t e n t l y i t s d i s t i n c t i v e

t y p e ?

(4) T H E D I V I N E I D E A L .

A t t h i s p o i n t i n t h e a n a l y s i s M r . R h o d e s d r o p p e d for t h e

m o m e n t t h e f i r s t l i n e o f i n q u i r y t o t a k e u p a n o t h e r , w h i c h

m i g h t l e a d h i m m o r e d i r e c t l y t o h i s g o a l . W h a t i s i t t h a t G o d

— i f t h e r e b e a G o d — i s a i m i n g a t ? W h a t i s t h e u l t i m a t e a i m

o f a l l t h i s p r o c e s s o f e v o l u t i o n ? W h a t i s t h e D i v i n e i d e a l

t o w a r d s w h i c h a l l c r e a t i o n p r e s s e s , c o n s c i o u s l y o r u n c o n

s c i o u s l y ? T o f i n d o u t t h e u l t i m a t e d e s t i n a t i o n o f s e n t i e n t

c r e a t u r e s m a y b e d i f f i c u l t o r e v e n i m p o s s i b l e ; b u t t h e o n l y

c l u e w h i c h w e h a v e t o t h e d r i f t o f t h e D i v i n e a c t i o n i s t o n o t e

t h e r o a d b y w h i c h H e h a s l e d u s h i t h e r t o , t o s e e h o w far w e

h a v e g o t a l r e a d y . T h e n w e m a y b e i n a p o s i t i o n t o i n f e r ,

w i t h s o m e d e g r e e o f p r o b a b i l i t y , t h e r o u t e t h a t h a s s t i l l t o b e

t r a v e l l e d . I f , t h e r e f o r e , w e w i s h t o s e e w h e r e w e a r e t e n d i n g ,

t h e f i r s t t h i n g t o d o i s t o e x a m i n e t h o s e w h o a r e i n a d v a n c e .

W e d o n o t g o b a c k t o t h e a p e , t h e B u s h m a n , o r t h e P i g m y t o

s e e t h e t r e n d o f e v o l u t i o n . W e g o r a t h e r t o t h e f o r e m o s t o f

m a n k i n d , t h e m o s t c u l t u r e d s p e c i m e n s o f t h e c i v i l i s e d r a c e ,

t h e b e s t m e n , i n s h o r t , o f w h o m w e h a v e a n y r e c o r d s o r

k n o w l e d g e s i n c e h i s t o r y b e g a n . W h a t t h e s e e x c e p t i o n a l l y

— i t m a y b e p r e m a t u r e l y — e v o l v e d i n d i v i d u a l s h a v e a t t a i n e d i s

a p r o p h e c y o f w h a t t h e w h o l e p h a l a n x o f h u m a n i t y m a y b e

d e s t i n e d t o r e a c h . T h e y a r e t h e h i g h w a t e r m a r k o f t h e r a c e

u p t i l l n o w . P r o g r e s s w i l l c o n s i s t i n b r i n g i n g m a n k i n d u p t o

t h e i r l e v e l .


T H E THREEFOLD TEST : JUSTICE—LIBERTY PEACE.

P r o c e e d i n g f u r t h e r i n h i s e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e f o r e m o s t a n d

m o s t h i g h l y e v o l v e d s p e c i m e n s o f t h e r a c e , M r . R h o d e s

f o u n d t h e m d i s t i n g u i s h e d a m o n g t h e i r f e l l o w s b y c e r t a i n m o r a l

q u a l i t i e s w h i c h e n a b l e u s t o f o r m s o m e g e n e r a l c o n c e p t i o n a s

t o t h e t r e n d o f e v o l u t i o n . C o n t e m p l a t i n g t h e h i g h e s t r e a l i s e d

s t a n d a r d o f h u m a n p e r f e c t i o n , M r . R h o d e s f o r m e d t h e i d e a

t h a t t h e c u e t o t h e D i v i n e p u r p o s e w a s t o d i s c o v e r t h e r a c e

w h i c h w o u l d b e m o s t l i k e l y t o u n i v e r s a l i s e c e r t a i n b r o a d

g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s . " W h a t , " a s k e d M r . R h o d e s , " i s t h e

h i g h e s t t h i n g i n t h e w o r l d ? I s i t n o t t h e i d e a o f J u s t i c e ?

I k n o w n o n e h i g h e r . J u s t i c e b e t w e e n m a n a n d m a n — e q u a l ,

a b s o l u t e , i m p a r t i a l , fair p l a y t o a l l ; t h a t s u r e l y m u s t b e t h e

first n o t e o f a p e r f e c t e d s o c i e t y . B u t , s e c o n d l y , t h e r e m u s t b e

L i b e r t y , for w i t h o u t f r e e d o m t h e r e c a n b e n o j u s t i c e . S l a v e r y

i n a n y f o r m w h i c h d e n i e s a m a n a r i g h t t o b e h i m s e l f , a n d t o

u s e a l l h i s f a c u l t i e s t o t h e i r b e s t a d v a n t a g e , i s , a n d m u s t

a l w a y s b e , u n j u s t . A n d t h e t h i r d n o t e o f t h e u l t i m a t e t o w a r d s

w h i c h o u r r a c e i s b e n d i n g m u s t s u r e l y b e t h a t o f P e a c e , o f t h e

i n d u s t r i a l c o m m o n w e a l t h a s o p p o s e d t o t h e m i l i t a r y c l a n o r

f i g h t i n g E m p i r e . " A n y h o w , t h e s e t h r e e s e e m e d t o M r . R h o d e s

s u f f i c i e n t t o f u r n i s h h i m w i t h a m e t e w a n d w h e r e w i t h t o m e a s u r e

t h e c l a i m s o f t h e v a r i o u s r a c e s o f t h e w o r l d t o b e r e g a r d e d a s

t h e D i v i n e i n s t r u m e n t o f f u t u r e e v o l u t i o n . J u s t i c e , L i b e r t y ,

a n d P e a c e — t h e s e t h r e e . W h i c h r a c e i n t h e w o r l d m o s t

p r o m o t e s , o v e r t h e w i d e s t p o s s i b l e a r e a , a s t a t e o f s o c i e t y

h a v i n g t h e s e t h r e e a s c o r n e r - s t o n e s ?

W h o i s t o d e c i d e t h e q u e s t i o n ? L e t a l l t h e r a c e s v o t e a n d

s e e w h a t t h e y w i l l s a y . E a c h r a c e w i l l n o d o u b t v o t e for i t s e l f ,

b u t w h o r e c e i v e s e v e r y s e c o n d v o t e ? M r . R h o d e s h a d n o

h e s i t a t i o n i n a r r i v i n g a t t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e E n g l i s h r a c e

— t h e E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g m a n , w h e t h e r B r i t i s h , A m e r i c a n ,

A u s t r a l i a n , o r S o u t h A f r i c a n — i s t h e t y p e o f t h e r a c e w h i c h

d o e s n o w , a n d i s l i k e l y t o c o n t i n u e t o d o i n t h e f u t u r e , t h e m o s t

p r a c t i c a l , e f f e c t i v e w o r k t o e s t a b l i s h j u s t i c e , t o p r o m o t e l i b e r t y ,

a n d t o e n s u r e p e a c e o v e r t h e w i d e s t p o s s i b l e a r e a o f t h e p l a n e t .

QUOD ERAT DEMONSTRANDUM !

" T h e r e f o r e , " s a i d M r . R h o d e s t o h i m s e l f i n h i s c u r i o u s

w a y , " i f t h e r e b e a G o d , a n d H e c a r e s a n y t h i n g a b o u t w h a t I


d o , I t h i n k i t i s c l e a r t h a t H e w o u l d l i k e m e t o d o w h a t H e i s

d o i n g H i m s e l f . A n d a s H e i s m a n i f e s t l y f a s h i o n i n g t h e E n g l i s h -

s p e a k i n g r a c e a s t h e c h o s e n i n s t r u m e n t b y w h i c h H e w i l l b r i n g

i n a s t a t e o f s o c i e t y b a s e d u p o n J u s t i c e , L i b e r t y a n d P e a c e ,

H e m u s t o b v i o u s l y w i s h m e t o d o w h a t I c a n t o g i v e a s m u c h

s c o p e a n d p o w e r t o t h a t r a c e a s p o s s i b l e . H e n c e , " s o h e

c o n c l u d e s t h i s l o n g a r g u m e n t , " i f t h e r e b e a G o d , I t h i n k t h a t

w h a t H e w o u l d l i k e m e t o d o i s t o p a i n t a s m u c h o f t h e m a p

o f A f r i c a B r i t i s h r e d a s p o s s i b l e , a n d t o d o w h a t I c a n

e l s e w h e r e t o p r o m o t e t h e u n i t y a n d e x t e n d t h e i n f l u e n c e o f t h e

E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g r a c e . "

M r . R h o d e s h a d f o u n d h i s l o n g e d - f o r i d e a l , n o r h a s h e

e v e r s i n c e t h e n h a d r e a s o n t o c o m p l a i n t h a t i t w a s n o t

s u f f i c i e n t l y e l e v a t e d o r s u f f i c i e n t l y n o b l e t o b e w o r t h t h e

d e v o t i o n o f h i s w h o l e l i f e .

T h e p a s s a g e i n A r i s t o t l e w h i c h e x e r c i s e d s o m u c h i n f l u e n c e

u p o n t h e O x f o r d u n d e r g r a d u a t e w a s h i s d e f i n i t i o n o f v i r t u e ,

" V i r t u e i s t h e h i g h e s t a c t i v i t y o f t h e s o u l l i v i n g for t h e h i g h e s t

o b j e c t i n a p e r f e c t l i f e . " T h a t , h e s a i d , h a d a l w a y s s e e m e d

t o h i m t h e n o b l e s t r u l e t o f o l l o w , a n d h e m a d e i t h i s r u l e f r o m

t h e f i r s t . I k e p t n o w r i t t e n n o t e s o f t h a t m e m o r a b l e c o n v e r

s a t i o n . B u t t h e s p i r i t a n d d r i f t o f o u r t a l k t h e f o l l o w i n g

e x t r a c t f r o m a l e t t e r w h i c h I w r o t e t o M r . R h o d e s t h r e e

m o n t h s l a t e r m a y suff ice t o i l l u s t r a t e : —

" I h a v e b e e n t h i n k i n g a g r e a t d e a l s i n c e I f i r s t s a w y o u

a b o u t y o u r g r e a t i d e a " ( t h a t o f t h e S o c i e t y , w h i c h h e c e r t a i n l y

d i d n o t t a k e f r o m t h e Pall Mall Gazette), " a n d t h e m o r e I t h i n k t h e m o r e i t p o s s e s s e s m e , a n d t h e m o r e I a m s h u t u p t o

t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e b e s t w a y i n w h i c h I c a n h e l p t o w a r d s

i t s r e a l i s a t i o n i s , a s y o u s a i d i n a l e t t e r t o m e l a s t m o n t h , b y

w o r k i n g t o w a r d s t h e p a p e r . . . . I f , a s i t s e e m s t o m e , y o u r

i d e a a n d m i n e i s i n i t s e s s e n c e t h e u n d e r t a k i n g a c c o r d i n g t o

o u r l i g h t s t o r e b u i l d t h e C i t y o f G o d a n d r e c o n s t i t u t e i n t h e

n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y s o m e m o d e r n e q u i v a l e n t e q u i p p e d w i t h

m o d e m a p p l i a n c e s o f t h e M e d i a e v a l C h u r c h o f t h e n i n t h c e n

t u r y o n a f o u n d a t i o n a s b r o a d a s H u m a n i t y , t h e n s o m e p r e

l i m i n a r y i n s p e c t i o n o f t h e p l a n e t w o u l d s e e m a l m o s t i n d i s

p e n s a b l e . "

A n y i m m e d i a t e a c t i o n i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , h o w e v e r , w a s p o s t

p o n e d u n t i l h e m a d e a s u c c e s s o f M a s h o n a l a n d . H e w r o t e ,

V

HIS CONVERSA TIONS. 99

" I f w e m a d e a s u c c e s s o f t h i s , i t w o u l d b e d o u b l y e a s y t o c a r r y

o u t t h e p r o g r a m m e w h i c h I s k e t c h e d o u t t o y o u , a p a r t o f w h i c h

w o u l d b e t h e p a p e r . "

S o h e w r o t e f r o m L i s b o n o n h i s w a y o u t . A y e a r l a t e r

( N o v e m b e r 25th, 1890) h e w r o t e : —

" M y d e a r S t e a d , — I a m g e t t i n g o n a l l r i g h t , a n d y o u m u s t

r e m e m b e r t h a t I a m g o i n g o n w i t h t h e s a m e i d e a s a s w e d i s

c u s s e d a f t e r l u n c h a t S i r C h a r l e s M i l l s ' . . . . I a m s o r r y I

n e v e r m e t B o o t h . I u n d e r s t a n d w h a t h e i s e x a c t l y . . . . W h e n

I c o m e h o m e a g a i n I m u s t m e e t C a r d i n a l M a n n i n g , b u t I a m

w a i t i n g u n t i l I m a k e m y C h a r t e r a s u c c e s s b e f o r e w e a t t e m p t

o u r S o c i e t y — y o u c a n u n d e r s t a n d . "

B y t h e t i m e t h i s l e t t e r r e a c h e d m e I w a s l e a v i n g t h e Pall Mall Gazette a n d p r e p a r i n g for t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e first

n u m b e r o f t h e R E V I E W O F REVIEWS . I t w a s a n e n t e r p r i s e i n

w h i c h M r . R h o d e s t o o k t h e k e e n e s t i n t e r e s t . T h e first n u m b e r

w a s i s s u e d o n J a n u a r y 15th, 1891. H e r e g a r d e d i t a s a p r a c

t i c a l s t e p t o w a r d s t h e r e a l i s a t i o n o f h i s g r e a t i d e a , t h e r e u n i o n

o f t h e E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g w o r l d t h r o u g h t h e a g e n c y o f a c e n t r a l

o r g a n s e r v e d i n e v e r y p a r t o f t h e w o r l d b y a f f i l i a t e d H e l p e r s .

T h i s i n t e r e s t h e p r e s e r v e d t o t h e l a s t . H e t o l d m e w i t h

g r e a t g l e e w h e n l a s t i n E n g l a n d h o w h e h a d h i s c o p y s m u g g l e d

i n t o K i m b e r l e y d u r i n g t h e s i e g e a t a t i m e w h e n m a r t i a l l a w for

b a d e i t s c i r c u l a t i o n , a n d a l t h o u g h h e m a d e w r y f a c e s o v e r s o m e

o f m y a r t i c l e s , h e w a s t o t h e e n d k e e n l y i n t e r e s t e d i n i t s s u c c e s s .

A f t e r t h i s e x p l a n a t i o n I v e n t u r e t o i n f l i c t u p o n m y r e a d e r s

s o m e e x t r a c t s f r o m t h e o p e n i n g a d d r e s s " T o a l l E n g l i s h -

s p e a k i n g F o l k , " w h i c h a p p e a r e d i n t h e f i r s t n u m b e r o f t h e

R E V I E W O F REVIEWS . P o s s i b l y t h e y m a y r e a d i t t o - d a y w i t h

m o r e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f i t s s i g n i f i c a n c e , a n d o f w h a t l a y b e h i n d

i n t h e t h o u g h t o f t h e w r i t e r . M r . R h o d e s r e g a r d e d i t , h e

u s e d t o s a y , a s " a n a t t e m p t t o r e a l i s e o u r i d e a s , " for a f t e r t h e

f i r s t t a l k w i t h h i m w h e n h e t o u c h e d u p o n t h e s e " d e e p t h i n g s , "

i t w a s n e v e r " m y i d e a s " o r " y o u r i d e a s , " b u t a l w a y s " o u r

i d e a s . " B e a r i n g t h a t i n m i n d , g l a n c e o v e r a few b r i e f e x t r a c t s

f r o m t h e m a n i f e s t o w i t h w h i c h t h i s p e r i o d i c a l w a s l a u n c h e d

i n t o t h e w o r l d : —

T o A L L E X G L I S H - S P K A K I N G F O L K .

There exists at this moment no institution which even aspires to be to the English-speaking world what the Catholic Church in its prime was to

i o o POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

the intelligence of Christendom. To call attention to the need for such an institution, adjusted, of course, to the altered circumstances of the New Era. to enlist the co-operation of all those who w i l l work towards the ereation of some such common centre for the inter-communication of ideas, and the universal diffusion of the ascertained results of human experience in a form accessible to all men, are the ultimate objects for which this R E V I E W has been established.

We shall be independent of party, because, having a very clear and intelligible faith, we survey the struggles of contending parties from the standpoint of a consistent body of doctrine, and steadily seek to use all parties for the realisation of our ideals.

These ideals are unmistakably indicated by the upward trend of human progress and our position in the existing economy of the world. Among all the agencies for the shaping of the future of the human race none seem so potent now and still more hereafter as the English-speaking man. Already he begins to dominate the world. The Empire and the Republic comprise within their limits almost all the territory that remains empty for the overflow of the world. Their citizens, wi th all their faults, are leading the van of civilisation, and if any great improvements are to be made in the condition of mankind, they w i l l necessarily be leading instruments in the work. Hence our first starting-point w i l l be a deep and almost awestruck regard for the destinies of the English-speaking man. To use Milton's famous phrase, faith in "God's Englishmen" w i l l be our inspiring principle. To make the Englishman worthy of his immense vocation, and, at the same time, to help to hold together and strengthen the political ties which at present link all English-speaking communities save one in a union which banishes all dread of internecine war, to promote by every means a fraternal union with the American Republic, to work for the Empire, to seek to strengthen i t , to develop i t , and, when necessary, to extend i t , these w i l l be our plainest duties.

Imperialism within limits defined by common sense and the Ten Commandments is a very different thing from the blatant Jingoism which some years ago made the very name of empire stink in the nostrils of all decent people. The sobering sense of the immense responsibilities of our Imperial position is the best prophylactic for the frenzies of Jingoism. And in like manner the sense of the lamentable deficiencies and imperfections of " God's Englishmen," which results from a strenuous attempt to make them worthy of their destinies, is the best preservative against that odious combination of cant and arrogance which made Heine declare that the Englishman was the most odious handiwork of the Creatdr. To interpret to the English-speaking race the best thought of the other peoples is one among the many services which we would seek to render to the Empire.

We believe in God, in England, and in Humanity. The English-speaking race is one of the chief of God's chosen agents for executing coming improvements in the lot of mankind. If all those who see that could be brought into hearty union to help all that tends to make that race more fit to fulfil its providential mission, and to combat al l that hinders or impairs that work, such an association or secular order would

HIS CONVERSATIONS. lor.

constitute a nucleus or rallying point for all that is most vital in the English world, the ultimate influence of which it would be difficult to overrate.

This is the highest of all the functions to which we aspire. Our supreme duty is the winnowing out by a process of natural selection, and enlisting for hearty service for the commonweal al l those who possess within their hearts the sacred fire of patriotic devotion to their country.

Who is there among the people who has truth in him, who is no self-seeker, who is no coward, and who is capable of honest, painstaking effort to help his-country ? For such men we would search as for hid treasures. They are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and it is the duty and the privilege of the wise man to see that they are like cities set on the h i l l which cannot be hid.

The great word which has now to be spoken in the ears of the world is that the time has come when men and women must work for the salvation of the State with as much zeal and self-sacrifice as they now work for the salvation of the individual. To save the country from the grasp of demons innumerable, to prevent this Empire or this Republic becoming an incarnate demon of lawless ambition and cruel love of gold, how many men or women are wi l l ing to spend even one hour a month or a year? The religious side of politics has not yet entered the minds of men.

What is wanted is a revival of civic faith, a quickening of spiritual life in the political sphere, the inspiring of men and women with the conception of what may be done towards the salvation of the world, if they w i l l but bring to bear upon public affairs the same spirit of self-sacrificing labour that so many thousands manifest in the ordinary drudgery of parochial and evangelistic work. It may, no doubt, seem an impossible dream.

That which we really wish to found among our readers is in very truth a civic church, every member of which should zealously—as much as it lay within him—preach the true faith, and endeavour to make it operative in the hearts and heads of its neighbours. Were such a church founded it would be as a great voice sounding out over sea and land the summons to all men to think seriously and soberly of the public life in which they are called to fill a part. Visible in many ways is the decadence of the Press. The mentor of the young democracy has abandoned philosophy, and stuffs the ears of its Telemachus with descriptions of Calypso's petticoats and the latest scandals from the Court. A l l the more need, then, that there should be a voice which, like that of the muezzin from the Eastern minaret, would summon the faithful to the duties imposed by their belief.

This, it may be said, involves a religious idea, and when religion is introduced harmonious co-operation is impossible. That was so once; it w i l l not always be the case.

To establish a periodical circulating throughout the English-speaking world, with its affiliates or associates in every town, and its correspondents in every village, read as men used to read their Bibles, not to waste an idle hour, but to discover the w i l l of God and their duty to man, whose staff and readers alike are bound together by a common faith and a readiness to


do common service for a common end—that, indeed, is an object for which it is worth while to make some sacrifice. Such a publication so supported would be at once an education and an inspiration; and who can say, looking at the present condition of England and of America, that it is not needed ?

T h a t w a s m y i d e a a s I e x p r e s s e d i t . T h a t w a s M r .

R h o d e s ' s i d e a a l s o . I t w a s " o u r i d e a " — h i s i d e a o f t h e s e c r e t

s o c i e t y — b r o a d e n e d a n d m a d e p r e s e n t a b l e t o t h e p u b l i c

w i t h o u t i n a n y w a y r e v e a l i n g t h e e s o t e r i c t r u t h t h a t l a y

b e h i n d . M r . R h o d e s r e c o g n i s e d t h i s a n d e a g e r l y w e l

c o m e d it .

M r . R h o d e s r e t u r n e d t o E n g l a n d i n 1891, a n d t h e d a y

a f t e r h i s a r r i v a l h e c a m e r o u n d t o M o w b r a y H o u s e a n d t a l k e d

for t h r e e h o u r s c o n c e r n i n g h i s p l a n s , h i s h o p e s , a n d h i s i d e a s .

F o r t u n a t e l y , i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r h e left I d i c t a t e d t o m y s e c r e t a r y

a ful l r e p o r t o f t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n , w h i c h , a s u s u a l , w a s v e r y

d i s c u r s i v e a n d r a n g e d o v e r a g r e a t n u m b e r o f s u b j e c t s o f t h e

d a y . I t w a s i n t h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n , a f t e r a c l o s e a n d p r o l o n g e d

a r g u m e n t , t h a t h e e x p r e s s e d h i s r e a d i n e s s t o a d o p t t h e c o u r s e

f r o m w h i c h h e h a d a t f i r s t r e c o i l e d — v i z . , t h a t o f s e c u r i n g t h e

u n i t y o f t h e E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g r a c e b y c o n s e n t i n g t o t h e

a b s o r p t i o n o f t h e B r i t i s h E m p i r e i n t h e A m e r i c a n U n i o n i f i t

c o u l d n o t b e s e c u r e d i n a n y o t h e r w a y . I n h i s f i r s t d r e a m h e

c l u n g p a s s i o n a t e l y t o t h e i d e a o f B r i t i s h a s c e n d e n c y — t h i s w a s

i n 1877—in t h e E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g u n i o n o f w h i c h h e t h e n

t h o u g h t J o h n B u l l w a s t o b e t h e p r e d o m i n a n t p a r t n e r . B u t i n

1891, a b a n d o n i n g i n n o w h i t h i s d e v o t i o n t o h i s o w n c o u n t r y ,

h e e x p r e s s e d h i s d e l i b e r a t e c o n v i c t i o n t h a t E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g

r e u n i o n w a s s o g r e a t a n e n d i n i t s e l f a s t o j u s t i f y e v e n t h e

s a c r i f i c e o f t h e m o n a r c h i c a l f e a t u r e s a n d i s o l a t e d e x i s t e n c e

o f t h e B r i t i s h E m p i r e . A t o u r f i r s t c o n v e r s a t i o n i n 1889 h e

h a d s o m e w h a t d e m u r r e d t o t h i s f r a n k a n d l o g i c a l a c c e p t a n c e o f

t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f h i s o w n p r i n c i p l e s ; b u t i n 1891 a l l

h e s i t a t i o n d i s a p p e a r e d , a n d f r o m t h a t m o m e n t t h e i d e a l o f

E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g r e u n i o n a s s u m e d i t s n a t u r a l a n d f i n a l p l a c e

a s t h e c e n t r e o f h i s p o l i t i c a l a s p i r a t i o n s . H e r e s u m e d v e r y

e a g e r l y h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n a s t o t h e r e a l i s a t i o n o f h i s p r o j e c t s .

H e w a s i n h i g h s p i r i t s , a n d e x p r e s s e d h i m s e l f a s d e l i g h t e d w i t h

t h e w o r k w h i c h I h a d d o n e i n f o u n d i n g t h e R E V I E W o f

REVIEWS , a n d e s p e c i a l l y w i t h t h e effort w h i c h w a s m a d e t o

HIS CONVERSATIONS.

s e c u r e t h e c o - o p e r a t i o n o f t h e m o r e p u b l i c - s p i r i t e d p e r s o n s o f

o u r w a y o f t h i n k i n g i n e v e r y c o n s t i t u e n c y i n t h e c o u n t r y ,

w h i c h f o r m e d t h e i n s p i r a t i o n o f t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f H e l p e r s .

" Y o u h a v e b e g u n , " s a i d h e , " t o r e a l i s e m y i d e a . I n t h e

R E V I E W a n d t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f H e l p e r s y o u h a v e m a d e t h e

b e g i n n i n g w h i c h i s c a p a b l e a f t e r w a r d s o f b e i n g e x t e n d e d s o a s

t o c a r r y o u t o u r i d e a . "

W e t h e n d i s c u s s e d t h e p e r s o n s w h o s h o u l d b e t a k e n i n t o

o u r c o n f i d e n c e . A t t h a t t i m e h e a s s u r e d m e h e h a d s p o k e n o f

i t t o n o o n e , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f m y s e l f a n d t w o o t h e r s .

H e a u t h o r i s e d m e t o c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h t w o f r i e n d s , n o w

m e m b e r s o f t h e U p p e r H o u s e , w h o w e r e t h o r o u g h l y i n

s y m p a t h y w i t h t h e g o s p e l a c c o r d i n g t o t h e Pall Mall Gazette, a n d w h o h a d b e e n a s m y r i g h t a n d left h a n d s d u r i n g m y

e d i t o r s h i p o f t h a t p a p e r .

H e e n t e r e d a t c o n s i d e r a b l e l e n g t h i n t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e

d i s p o s i t i o n o f h i s f o r t u n e a f t e r h i s d e a t h . H e s a i d t h a t i f h e

w e r e t o d i e t h e n t h e w h o l e o f h i s m o n e y w a s left a b s o l u t e l y a t

t h e d i s p o s i t i o n o f " X . "

" B u t , " h e s a i d , " t h e t h o u g h t t o r m e n t s m e s o m e t i m e s

w h e n I w a k e a t n i g h t t h a t i f I d i e a l l m y m o n e y w i l l p a s s i n t o

t h e h a n d s o f a m a n w h o , h o w e v e r w e l l - d i s p o s e d , i s a b s o l u t e l y

i n c a p a b l e o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g m y i d e a s . I h a v e e n d e a v o u r e d t o

e x p l a i n t h e m t o h i m , b u t I c o u l d s e e f r o m t h e l o o k o n h i s f a c e

t h a t i t m a d e n o i m p r e s s i o n , t h a t t h e i d e a s d i d n o t e n t e r h i s

m i n d , a n d t h a t I w a s s i m p l y w a s t i n g m y t i m e . "

M r . R h o d e s w e n t o n t o s a y t h a t h i s f r i e n d ' s s o n w a s e v e n

l e s s s y m p a t h e t i c t h a n t h e f a t h e r , a n d h e s p o k e w i t h p a t h o s o f

t h e t h o u g h t o f h i s r e t u r n i n g t o t h e w o r l d a f t e r h e w a s d e a d

a n d s e e i n g n o n e o f h i s m o n e y a p p l i e d t o t h e u s e s f o r t h e s a k e

o f w h i c h h e h a d m a d e h i s f o r t u n e .

T h e r e f o r e , h e w e n t o n t o s a y , h e p r o p o s e d t o a d d m y n a m e

t o t h a t o f " X . , " a n d t o l e a v e a t t h e s a m e t i m e a l e t t e r w h i c h

w o u l d g i v e " X . " t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e m o n e y w a s t o b e d i s

p o s e d o f b y m e , i n t h e a s s u r e d c o n v i c t i o n t h a t I s h o u l d e m p l o y

e v e r y p e n n y o f h i s m i l l i o n s i n p r o m o t i n g t h e i d e a s t o w h i c h

w e h a d b o t h d e d i c a t e d o u r l i v e s .

I w a s s o m e w h a t s t a r t l e d a t t h i s , a n d r e m a r k e d t h a t " X . "

w o u l d b e c o n s i d e r a b l y a m a z e d w h e n h e f o u n d h i m s e l f s a d d l e d

w i t h s u c h a j o i n t - h e i r a s m y s e l f , a n d I s u g g e s t e d t o M r .

H


R h o d e s t h a t h e h a d b e t t e r e x p l a i n t h e c h a n g e w h i c h h e w a s

m a k i n g i n h i s w i l l t o " X . " w h i l e h e w a s h e r e i n L o n d o n .

" N o , " h e s a i d , " m y l e t t e r w i l l m a k e i t q u i t e p l a i n

to h i m . "

" W e l l , " I s a i d , " b u t t h e r e m a y b e t r o u b l e . W h e n t h e

w i l l i s o p e n e d , a n d h e d i s c o v e r s t h a t t h e m o n e y i s l e f t r e a l l y

a t m y d i s p o s i t i o n , i n s t e a d o f a t h i s , t h e r e m a y b e r u c t i o n s . "

" I d o n ' t m i n d t h a t , " s a i d M r . R h o d e s ; " I s h a l l b e

g o n e t h e n . "

T h e w i l l t h e n d r a w n u p w a s r e v o k e d i n 1893.

I n 1892 M r . R h o d e s w a s b a c k i n L o n d o n , a n d a g a i n t h e

q u e s t i o n o f t h e d i s p o s i t i o n o f h i s f o r t u n e c a m e u p , a n d h e

d e t e r m i n e d t o m a k e a fifth w i l l . B e f o r e h e g a v e h i s f i n a l

i n s t r u c t i o n s h e d i s c u s s e d w i t h m e t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r t h e r e

s h o u l d n o t b e a t h i r d p a r t y a d d e d , s o t h a t w e s h o u l d b e

t h r e e . W e d i s c u s s e d o n e o r t w o n a m e s , a n d h e a f t e r w a r d s

t o l d m e t h a t h e h a d a d d e d M r . H a w k s l e y a s a t h i r d p a r t y .

H i s r e a s o n s for d o i n g t h i s w e r e t h a t h e l i k e d M r . H a w k s l e y ,

a n d h a d e x p l a i n e d , e x p o u n d e d , a n d d i s c u s s e d h i s v i e w s w i t h

h i m , a n d f o u n d h i m s y m p a t h e t i c . H e w e n t o n t o s a y : —

" I t h i n k i t i s b e s t t h a t i t s h o u l d b e left s o . Y o u k n o w m y

i d e a s , a n d w i l l c a r r y t h e m o u t . B u t t h e r e w i l l b e a g r e a t d e a l

o f f i n a n c i a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t h a t " X . " w i l l l o o k after. M a n y

l e g a l q u e s t i o n s w i l l b e i n v o l v e d , a n d t h e s e y o u c a n s a f e l y

l e a v e i n t h e h a n d s o f M r . H a w k s l e y . "

• A n d s o i t w a s t h a t w h e n t h e f i f t h w i l l , d r a f t e d i n 1892, w a s

s i g n e d b y M r . R h o d e s i n 1893, " X . , " M r . H a w k s l e y a n d m y s e l f

w e r e l e f t s o l e e x e c u t o r s a n d j o i n t - h e i r s o f M r . R h o d e s ' s f o r t u n e ,

w i t h t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t I w a s t h e c u s t o d i a n o f t h e

R h o d e s i a n i d e a s , t h a t I w a s t o d e c i d e a s t o t h e m e t h o d i n

w h i c h t h e m o n e y w a s t o b e u s e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e s e i d e a s ,

s u b j e c t t o t h e a d v i c e o f " X . " o n f i n a n c i a l m a t t e r s , a n d o f

M r . H a w k s l e y o n m a t t e r s o f l a w .

I n 1894 M r . R h o d e s c a m e t o E n g l a n d a n d a g a i n d i s c u s s e d

w i t h m e t h e w o r k i n g o f t h e s c h e m e , r e p o r t e d t o m e h i s

i m p r e s s i o n s o f t h e v a r i o u s M i n i s t e r s a n d l e a d e r s o f O p p o s i t i o n

w h o m h e m e t , d i s c u s s i n g e a c h o f t h e m f r o m t h e p o i n t o f v i e w

a s t o h o w far h e w o u l d a s s i s t i n c a r r y i n g o u t " o u r i d e a s . "

W e a l s o d i s c u s s e d t o g e t h e r v a r i o u s p r o j e c t s for p r o p a g a n d a ,

t h e f o r m a t i o n o f l i b r a r i e s , t h e c r e a t i o n o f l e c t u r e s h i p s , t h e

HIS CONVERSATIONS.

d e s p a t c h o f e m i s s a r i e s o n m i s s i o n s o f p r o p a g a n d i s m t h r o u g h o u t

t h e E m p i r e , a n d t h e s t e p s t o b e t a k e n t o p a v e t h e w a y for t h e

f o u n d a t i o n a n d t h e a c q u i s i t i o n o f a n e w s p a p e r w h i c h w a s t o b e

d e v o t e d t o t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e c a u s e . T h e r e w a s a t o n e t i m e a

d i s c u s s i o n o f a p r o p o s a l t o e n d o w t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f H e l p e r s

w i t h t h e a n n u a l i n c o m e o f , £5 ,000, b u t M r . R h o d e s p o s t p o n e d

t h e e x e c u t i o n o f t h i s s c h e m e u n t i l h e w a s a b l e t o m a k e t h e

e n d o w m e n t p e r m a n e n t . H e w a s h e a v i l y d r a w n u p o n i n t h e

d e v e l o p m e n t o f R h o d e s i a ; h e d i d n o t w i s h t o r e a l i s e h i s

s e c u r i t i e s j u s t t h e n , b u t h e e n t e r e d w i t h t h e k e e n e s t i n t e r e s t

i n t o a l l t h e s e p r o j e c t s .

" I t e l l y o u e v e r y t h i n g , " h e s a i d t o m e ; " I t e l l y o u a l l m y

p l a n s . Y o u t e l l m e a l l y o u r s c h e m e s , a n d w h e n w e g e t t h e

n o r t h e r n c o u n t r y s e t t l e d w e s h a l l b e a b l e t o c a r r y t h e m o u t .

I t i s n e c e s s a r y , " h e a d d e d , " t h a t I s h o u l d t e l l y o u a l l m y i d e a s ,

i n o r d e r t h a t y o u m a y k n o w w h a t t o d o i f I s h o u l d g o . B u t , "

h e w e n t o n , " I a m s t i l l full o f v i g o u r a n d l i fe , a n d I d o n ' t

e x p e c t t h a t I s h a l l r e q u i r e a n y o n e b u t m y s e l f t o a d m i n i s t e r m y

m o n e y for m a n y y e a r s t o c o m e . "

I t w a s a t a n i n t e r v i e w i n J a n u a r y , 1895, t h a t M r . R h o d e s

first a n n o u n c e d t o m e h i s i n t e n t i o n t o f o u n d s c h o l a r s h i p s . I t

i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o c o m p a r e t h e f irst d r a f t o f h i s i n t e n t i o n s w i t h

t h e f i n a l f o r m i n w h i c h i t w a s g i v e n i n h i s w i l l o f 1899 a n d i t s

c o d i c i l o f 1900. H e t o l d m e t h a t w h e n h e w a s o n t h e R e d

S e a i n 1893 a t h o u g h t s u d d e n l y s t r u c k h i m t h a t i t w o u l d b e a

g o o d t h i n g t o c r e a t e a n u m b e r o f s c h o l a r s h i p s t e n a b l e a t a

r e s i d e n t i a l E n g l i s h U n i v e r s i t y , t h a t s h o u l d b e o p e n t o t h e

v a r i o u s B r i t i s h C o l o n i e s . H e p r o p o s e d t o f o u n d t w e l v e

s c h o l a r s h i p s e v e r y y e a r , e a c h t e n a b l e f o r t h r e e y e a r s , o f t h e

v a l u e o f , £ 2 5 0 a y e a r , to b e h e l d a t O x f o r d . H e s a i d h e

h a d a d d e d a c o d i c i l t o h i s w i l l m a k i n g p r o v i s i o n for t h e s e

s c h o l a r s h i p s , w h i c h w o u l d e n t a i l a n a n n u a l c h a r g e u p o n h i s

e s t a t e o f a b o u t , £ 10 ,000 a y e a r . H e e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e r e

w o u l d b e t h r e e f o r F r e n c h C a n a d i a n s a n d t h r e e for B r i t i s h .

E a c h o f t h e A u s t r a l a s i a n C o l o n i e s , i n c l u d i n g W e s t e r n A u s t r a l i a

a n d T a s m a n i a , w a s t o h a v e t h r e e — t h a t i s t o s a y , o n e e a c h

y e a r ; b u t t h e C a p e , b e c a u s e i t w a s h i s o w n C o l o n y , w a s t o

h a v e t w i c e a s m a n y s c h o l a r s h i p s a s a n y o t h e r C o l o n y . T h i s ,

h e s a i d , b e h a d d o n e i n o r d e r t o g i v e u s , a s h i s e x e c u t o r s a n d

h e i r s , a f r i e n d l y l e a d a s t o t h e k i n d o f t h i n g h e w a n t e d d o n e

H 2

io6 POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

w i t h h i s m o n e y . T h e s c h o l a r s h i p s w e r e t o b e t e n a b l e a t

O x f o r d .

W h e n M r . R h o d e s left E n g l a n d i n F e b r u a r y , 1895, h e w a s

a t t h e z e n i t h o f h i s p o w e r . A l i k e i n L o n d o n a n d i n S o u t h

A f r i c a , e v e r y o b s t a c l e s e e m e d t o b e n d b e f o r e h i s d e t e r m i n e d

w i l l . I t w a s di f f icult t o s a y u p o n w h i c h p o l i t i c a l p a r t y h e c o u l d

c o u n t w i t h g r e a t e r c o n f i d e n c e for s u p p o r t . H e w a s i n d e p e n

d e n t o f b o t h p a r t i e s , a n d o n t e r m s o f m o r e o r l e s s c o r d i a l

f r i e n d s h i p w i t h o n e o r t w o l e a d e r s i n b o t h o f t h e a l t e r n a t i v e

G o v e r n m e n t s . I n R h o d e s i a t h e i m p i s o f L o b e n g u l a h a d b e e n

s h a t t e r e d , a n d a t e r r i t o r y a s l a r g e a s t h e G e r m a n E m p i r e

h a d b e e n w o n for c i v i l i s a t i o n a t a c o s t b o t h i n b l o o d a n d

t r e a s u r e w h i c h i s i n s i g n a l c o n t r a s t t o t h e e x p e n d i t u r e i n c u r r e d

for s u c h e x p e d i t i o n s w h e n d i r e c t e d f r o m D o w n i n g S t r e e t .

W h e n h e left E n g l a n d e v e r y t h i n g s e e m e d t o p o i n t t o h i s b e i n g

a b l e t o c a r r y o u t h i s g r e a t e r s c h e m e , w h e n w e s h o u l d b e a b l e

f o h a v e u n d e r t a k e n t h e p r o p a g a t i o n o f " o u r i d e a s " o n a w i d e r

s c a l e t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d .

A n d t h e n , u p o n t h i s fair a n d s m i l i n g p r o s p e c t , t h e a b o r t i v e

c o n s p i r a c y i n J o h a n n e s b u r g o f t h e R a i d c a s t i t s d a r k a n d

m e n a c i n g s h a d o w o v e r t h e s c e n e . N o o n e i n a l l E n g l a n d h a d

m o r e r e a s o n t h a n 1 t o r e g r e t t h e d i v e r s i o n o f M r . R h o d e s ' s

e n e r g i e s f r o m t h e p a t h w h i c h h e h a d t r a c e d f o r h i m s e l f . W h o

c a n i m a g i n e t o w h a t p i n n a c l e o f g r e a t n e s s M r . R h o d e s m i g h t

n o t h a v e r i s e n i f t h e n a t u r a l a n d n o r m a l p a c i f i c d e v e l o p m e n t

o f S o u t h A f r i c a , w h i c h w a s p r o g r e s s i n g s o s t e a d i l y u n d e r

h i s e n l i g h t e n e d g u i d a n c e , h a d n o t b e e n r u d e l y i n t e r r u p t e d

b y t h e f i a s c o f o r w h i c h M r . R h o d e s w a s n o t p r i m a r i l y

r e s p o n s i b l e .

I t w a s w h a t s e e m e d t o m e t h e i n e x p l i c a b l e d e s i r e o f M r .

R h o d e s t o o b t a i n B e c h u a n a l a n d a s a j u m p i n g - o f f p l a c e w h i c h

l e d t o t h e f i r s t d i v e r g e n c e o f v i e w b e t w e e n h i m a n d m y s e l f o n

t h e s u b j e c t o f S o u t h A f r i c a n p o l i c y . T h e i m p e t u o s i t y w i t h

w h i c h h i s e m i s s a r i e s p r e s s e d f o r t h e i m m e d i a t e t r a n s f e r o f

B e c h u a n a l a n d t o t h e C h a r t e r e d C o m p a n y m a d e m e v e r y u n e a s y ,

a n d I r e s o l u t e l y o p p o s e d t h e c e s s i o n o f t h e j u m p i n g - o f f p l a c e

s u b s e q u e n t l y u s e d b y D r . J a m e s o n a s a b a s e f o r h i s R a i d .

M r . R h o d e s w a s v e r y w r o t h , a n d g r o w l e d l i k e a n a n g r y b e a r a t

w h a t h e r e g a r d e d a s m y p e r v e r s i t y i n o b j e c t i n g t o a c e s s i o n o f

t e r r i t o r y for w h i c h I c o u l d s e e n o r e a s o n , b u t w h i c h h e t h o u g h t

V

HIS CONVERSATIONS.

i t o u g h t t o h a v e b e e n e n o u g h for m e t h a t h e d e s i r e d i t . M y

o p p o s i t i o n w a s u n f o r t u n a t e l y u n a v a i l i n g .

I n t h e t w o d i s a s t r o u s y e a r s w h i c h f o l l o w e d t h e R a i d ,

a l t h o u g h I s a w M r . R h o d e s f r e q u e n t l y , w e t a l k e d l i t t l e o r

n o t h i n g a b o u t h i s f a v o u r i t e S o c i e t y . M o r e p r e s s i n g q u e s t i o n s

p r e o c c u p i e d o u r a t t e n t i o n . I r e g r e t t e d t h a t M r . R h o d e s w a s

n o t s e n t t o g a o l , a n d t o l d h i m s o q u i t e f r a n k l y .

F o r r e a s o n s w h i c h n e e d n o t b e s t a t e d , a s t h e y are-

s u f f i c i e n t l y o b v i o u s , n o a t t e m p t w a s m a d e t o b r i n g M r .

R h o d e s t o j u s t i c e . H i s s u p e r i o r s w e r e p u b l i c l y w h i t e w a s h e d ,

w h i l e t h e b l o w f e l l h e a v i l y u p o n h i s s u b o r d i n a t e s . W h e n M r .

R h o d e s c a m e b a c k t o " f a c e t h e m u s i c " h e f u l l y e x p e c t e d t h a t

h e w o u l d b e i m p r i s o n e d , a n d h a d e v e n p l a n n e d o u t a c o u r s e

o f r e a d i n g b y w h i c h h e h o p e d t o i m p r o v e t h e e n f o r c e d s o j o u r n

i n a c o n v i c t c e l l .

T h r o u g h a l l t h a t t r y i n g t i m e I c a n h o n e s t l y s a y t h a t I d i d

m y l e v e l b e s t t o h e l p m y f r i e n d o u t o f t h e s c r a p e i n w h i c h h e

h a d p l a c e d h i m s e l f w i t h o u t i n v o l v i n g t h e n a t i o n a t t h e s a m e

t i m e i n t h e d i s a s t e r w h i c h s u b s e q u e n t l y o v e r t o o k it . M y

e n d e a v o u r t o i n d u c e a l l p a r t i e s t o t e l l t h e t r u t h a n d t o

s h o u l d e r t h e m o d i c u m o f b l a m e a t t a c h i n g t o e a c h f o r h i s

s h a r e o f t h e c o n s p i r a c y f a i l e d . M r . R h o d e s w a s o f f e r e d u p

a s a s c a p e g o a t . B u t a l t h o u g h d i f f e r i n g s o w i d e l y o n t h e v i t a l

q u e s t i o n w i t h w h i c h w a s b o u n d u p t h e f u t u r e o f S o u t h A f r i c a ,

m y r e l a t i o n s w i t h M r . R h o d e s r e m a i n e d a s a f f e c t i o n a t e a n d

i n t i m a t e a s e v e r . T h e l a s t t i m e I s a w h i m b e f o r e t h e w a r

b r o k e o u t w e h a d a l o n g t a l k , w h i c h f a i l e d t o b r i n g u s t o

a g r e e m e n t . M r . R h o d e s s a i d t h a t h e h a d t r i e d h i s h a n d a t

s e t t l i n g t h e T r a n s v a a l b u s i n e s s , b u t h e h a d m a d e s u c h a m e s s

o f i t t h a t h e a b s o l u t e l y r e f u s e d t o t a k e a n y i n i t i a t i v e i n t h e

m a t t e r a g a i n . T h e q u e s t i o n w a s n o w i n t h e h a n d s o f L o r d

M i l n e r , a n d h e a p p e a l e d t o m e t o s u p p o r t m y o l d c o l l e a g u e ,

for w h o s e n o m i n a t i o n a s H i g h C o m m i s s i o n e r I w a s l a r g e l y

r e s p o n s i b l e . I s a i d t h a t w h i l e I w o u l d s u p p o r t M i l n e r i n

w h a t e v e r p o l i c y h e t h o u g h t f i t t o p u r s u e , s o l o n g a s h e c o n

f i n e d h i m s e l f t o m e a s u r e s o f p e a c e , I c o u l d n o t b e l i e v e , e v e n

o n h i s a u t h o r i t y , t h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n i n S o u t h A f r i c a w o u l d j u s t i f y

a n a p p e a l t o a r m s . M r . R h o d e s r e p l i e d : —

" Y o u w i l l s u p p o r t M i l n e r i n a n ) - m e a s u r e t h a t h e m a y t a k e

s h o r t o f w a r . I m a k e n o s u c h l i m i t a t i o n . I s u p p o r t M i l n e r

io8 POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

a b s o l u t e l y w i t h o u t r e s e r v e . I f h e s a y s p e a c e , I s a y p e a c e ; i f

l i e s a y s w a r , I s a y w a r . W h a t e v e r h a p p e n s , I s a y d i t t o t o

M i l n e r . "

I n j u s t i c e t o M r . R h o d e s i t m u s t b e s a i d t h a t h e w a s

f i r m l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t P r e s i d e n t K r u g e r w o u l d y i e l d , ' a n d t h a t

n o r e s o r t t o a r m s w o u l d b e n e c e s s a r y . H e w e n t t o S o u t h

A f r i c a a n d I w e n t t o t h e H a g u e , a n d w e d i d n o t m e e t a g a i n

u n t i l a f t e r t h e s i e g e o f K i m b e r l e y .

I t w a s i n J u l y , 1899, b e f o r e t h e o u t b r e a k o f t h e w a r , t h a t

M r . R h o d e s r e v o k e d h i s w i l l o f 1891, a n d s u b s t i t u t e d for i t

w h a t i s n o w k n o w n a s h i s l a s t w i l l a n d t e s t a m e n t I t i s

p r o b a b l e t h a t t h e e x p e r i e n c e w h i c h w e h a d g a i n e d s i n c e t h e

R a i d o f t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s o f c a r r y i n g o u t h i s o r i g i n a l d e s i g n l e d

h i m t o r e c a s t h i s w i l l t o g i v e i t a s c o p e p r i m a r i l y e d u c a t i o n a l ,

i n s t e a d o f l e a v i n g t h e w h o l e o f h i s e s t a t e t o m e a n d m y j o i n t -

h e i r s t o b e a p p l i e d a s I t h o u g h t b e s t for t h e f u r t h e r a n c e o f

h i s p o l i t i c a l i d e a . A n y h o w , t h e w h o l e s c h e m e w a s r e c a s t

T r u s t e e s w e r e a p p o i n t e d f o r c a r r y i n g o u t v a r i o u s t r u s t s , a l l o f

w h i c h , h o w e v e r , d i d n o t a b s o r b m o r e ' t h a n h a l f o f t h e i n c o m e

o f h i s e s t a t e . T h e i d e a w h i c h f o u n d e x p r e s s i o n i n a l l h i s

e a r l i e r w i l l s r e a p p e a r e d s o l e l y i n t h e f i n a l c l a u s e a p p o i n t i n g h i s

t r u s t e e s a n d e x e c u t o r s j o i n t - h e i r s o f t h e r e s i d u e o f t h e e s t a t e .

I n s e l e c t i n g t h e e x e c u t o r s , t r u s t e e s a n d j o i n t - h e i r s M r .

R h o d e s s u b s t i t u t e d t h e n a m e o f L o r d G r e y for t h a t o f " X . , "

r e - a p p o i n t e d M r . H a w k s l e y a n d m y s e l f , s t r e n g t h e n e d ' t h e

f i n a n c i a l e l e m e n t b y a d d i n g t h e n a m e s o f M r . B e i t a n d

M r . M i c h e l l , o f t h e S t a n d a r d B a n k o f S o u t h A f r i c a , a n d t h e n

c r o w n e d t h e e d i f i c e b y a d d i n g t h e n a m e o f L o r d R o s e b e r y .

A s t h e w i l l s t o o d a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e w a r , t h e r e w e r e s i x

e x e c u t o r s , t r u s t e e s , a n d j o i n t - h e i r s — t o w i t , M r . H a w k s l e y a n d

m y s e l f , r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e o r i g i n a l l e g a t e e s , L o r d R o s e b e r y ,

L o r d G r e y , M r . B e i t , a n d M r . M i c h e l l .

M a n y d i s c u s s i o n s t o o k p l a c e d u r i n g t h e f r a m i n g o f t h i s w i l l .

I n t h o s e p r e l i m i n a r y d i s c u s s i o n s I f a i l e d t o i n d u c e M r . R h o d e s

t o p e r s e v e r e i n h i s o r i g i n a l i n t e n t i o n t o a l l o w t h e s c h o l a r s h i p s

t o b e h e l d e q u a l l y a t O x f o r d a n d C a m b r i d g e , a n d t h e r e i n I

t h i n k M r . R h o d e s w a s r i g h t . I w a s m o r e f o r t u n a t e , h o w e v e r ,

i n i n d u c i n g h i m t o e x t e n d t h e s c o p e o f h i s s c h o l a r s h i p s s o a s

t o i n c l u d e i n t h e s c h e m e t h e S t a t e s a n d T e r r i t o r i e s o f t h e

A m e r i c a n U n i o n , b u t h e r e f u s e d t o o p e n h i s s c h o l a r s h i p s t o


w o m e n . H e w a s for s o m e t i m e i n d i f f i c u l t y a s t o h o w t o

p r o v i d e for t h e s e l e c t i o n o f h i s s c h o l a r s h i p s , for h e r e j e c t e d

a b s o l u t e l y a l l s u g g e s t i o n s w h i c h p o i n t e d t o c o m p e t i t i v e e x a m i

n a t i o n p u r e a n d s i m p l e . A s u g g e s t i o n m a d e b y P r o f e s s o r

L i n d s a y , o f G l a s g o w , t h a t t h e v o t e o f t h e b o y s i n t h e s c h o o l

s h o u l d b e d e c i s i v e a s t o t h e p h y s i c a l a n d m o r a l q u a l i t i e s o f t h e

c o m p e t i t o r s w h i c h M r . R h o d e s d e s i d e r a t e d w a s s u b m i t t e d b y

n i e t o M r . R h o d e s , a n d i n c o r p o r a t e d b y h i m i n t h e b o d y o f

t h e w i l l . T h e p r e c i s e p r o p o r t i o n o f t h e m a r k s t o b e a l l o w e d

u n d e r e a c h h e a d w a s n o t f i n a l l y f i x e d u n t i l t h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r .

S o far a s I w a s c o n c e r n e d , a l t h o u g h s t i l l i n t e n s e l y i n t e r e s t e d

i n M r . R h o d e s ' s c o n c e p t i o n s , t h e c h a n g e t h a t w a s t h e n m a d e

i m m e n s e l y r e d u c e d m y r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . T o b e m e r e l y o n e o f

h a l f a d o z e n e x e c u t o r s a n d t r u s t e e s w a s a v e r y d i f f e r e n t

m a t t e r f r o m b e i n g c h a r g e d w i t h t h e c h i e f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f

u s i n g t h e w h o l e o f M r . R h o d e s ' s w e a l t h for t h e p u r p o s e s o f

p o l i t i c a l p r o p a g a n d a , w h i c h , i f M r . R h o d e s h a d b e e n k i l l e d b y

t h e M a t a b e l e o r h a d d i e d a n y t i m e b e t w e e n 1891 a n d 1899, i t

w o u l d h a v e b e e n m y d u t y t o u n d e r t a k e .

W h e n , a f t e r t h e r a i s i n g o f t h e s i e g e o f K i m b e r l e y , M r .

R h o d e s r e t u r n e d t o L o n d o n , I h a d a l o n g t a l k w i t h h i m a t t h e

B u r l i n g t o n H o t e l i n A p r i l , 1900. M r . R h o d e s , a l t h o u g h m o r e

a f f e c t i o n a t e t h a n h e h a d e v e r b e e n b e f o r e i n m a n n e r , d i d n o t

i n t h e l e a s t d i s g u i s e h i s d i s a p p o i n t m e n t t h a t I s h o u l d h a v e

t h r o w n m y s e l f s o v e h e m e n t l y i n t o t h e a g i t a t i o n a g a i n s t t h e

w a r . I t s e e m e d t o h i m e x t r a o r d i n a r y ; b u t h e c h a r i t a b l y c o n

c l u d e d i t w a s d u e t o m y a b s o r p t i o n i n t h e P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e

a t t h e H a g u e . H i s c h i e f o b j e c t i o n , w h i c h o b v i o u s l y w a s

p r e s e n t t o h i s m i n d w h e n , n e a r l y t w e l v e m o n t h s l a t e r , h e

r e m o v e d m e f r o m b e i n g e x e c u t o r , w a s n o t s o m u c h t h e f a c t

t h a t I d i f f e r e d f r o m h i m i n j u d g m e n t a b o u t t h e w a r , a s t h a t I

w a s n o t w i l l i n g t o s u b o r d i n a t e m y j u d g m e n t t o t h a t o f t h e

m a j o r i t y o f o u r a s s o c i a t e s w h o w e r e o n t h e s p o t . H e s a i d : —

" T h a t i s t h e c u r s e w h i c h w i l l b e f a t a l t o o u r i d e a s —

i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n . D o n o t y o u t h i n k i t i s v e r y d i s o b e d i e n t o f

y o u ? H o w c a n o u r S o c i e t y b e w o r k e d i f e a c h o n e s e t s h i m

s e l f u p a s t h e s o l e j u d g e o f w h a t o u g h t t o b e d o n e ? J u s t l o o k

a t t h e p o s i t i o n h e r e . W e t h r e e a r e i n S o u t h A f r i c a , a l l o f u s

y o u r b o y s " — ( f o r t h a t w a s t h e f a m i l i a r w a y i n w h i c h h e a l w a y s

s p o k e ) — " I m y s e l f , M i l n e r a n d G a r r e t t , a l l o f w h o m l e a r n e d

n o

HIS CON VERS A TIONS. H I

t h e i r p o l i t i c s f r o m y o u . W e a r e o n t h e s p o t , a n d w e a r e

u n a n i m o u s i n d e c l a r i n g t h i s w a r t o b e n e c e s s a r y . Y o u h a v e

n e v e r b e e n i n S o u t h A f r i c a , a n d y e t i n s t e a d o f d e f e r r i n g t o

t h e j u d g m e n t o f y o u r o w n b o y s , y o u f l i n g y o u r s e l f i n t o a

v i o l e n t o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e w a r . I s h o u l d n o t h a v e a c t e d i n

t h a t w a y a b o u t a n E n g l i s h q u e s t i o n o r a n A m e r i c a n q u e s t i o n .

N o m a t t e r h o w m u c h I m i g h t h a v e d i s l i k e d t h e c o u r s e w h i c h

y o u a d v i s e d , I w o u l d h a v e s a i d , ' N o , I k n o w S t e a d ; I t r u s t

h i s j u d g m e n t , a n d h e i s o n t h e s p o t . I s u p p o r t w h a t e v e r

p o l i c y h e r e c o m m e n d s . ' "

" I t ' s a l l v e r y w e l l , " I r e p l i e d , " b u t y o u s e e , a l t h o u g h I

h a v e n e v e r b e e n i n S o u t h A f r i c a , I l e a r n e d m y S o u t h A f r i c a n

p o l i c y a t t h e feet o f a m a n w h o w a s t o m e t h e g r e a t e s t

a u t h o r i t y o n t h e s u b j e c t . H e a l w a y s i m p r e s s e d u p o n m e

o n e t h i n g s o s t r o n g l y t h a t i t b e c a m e a f i x e d i d e a i n m y m i n d ,

f r o m w h i c h I c o u l d n e v e r d e p a r t . T h a t p r i n c i p l e w a s t h a t y o u

c o u l d n o t r u l e S o u t h A f r i c a w i t h o u t t h e D u t c h , a n d t h a t i f

y o u q u a r r e l l e d w i t h t h e D u t c h S o u t h A f r i c a w a s l o s t t o t h e

E m p i r e . M y t e a c h e r , " I s a i d , " w h o s e a u t h o r i t y I r e v e r e n c e

— p e r h a p s y o u k n o w h i m ? H i s n a m e w a s C e c i l J o h n

R h o d e s . N o w I a m t r u e t o t h e r e a l , a b o r i g i n a l C e c i l

J o h n R h o d e s , a n d I c a n n o t d e s e r t t h e p r i n c i p l e s w h i c h h e

t a u g h t m e m e r e l y b e c a u s e a n o t h e r w h o c a l l s h i m s e l f b y t h e

s a m e n a m e a d v i s e s m e t o f o l l o w a n e x a c t l y o p p o s i t e p o l i c y . "

M r . R h o d e s l a u g h e d a n d s a i d : " O h , w e l l , c i r c u m s t a n c e s

h a v e c h a n g e d . B u t a f t e r a l l t h a t d o e s n o t m a t t e r n o w . T h e

w a r i s e n d i n g , a n d t h a t i s a p a s t i s s u e . "

M r . R h o d e s w e n t b a c k t o A f r i c a a n d I d i d n o t s e e h i m

a g a i n t i l l h i s r e t u r n l a s t y e a r . I n J a n u a r y , 1901, h e h a d

a d d e d a c o d i c i l t o h i s w i l l , r e m o v i n g m y n a m e f r o m t h e l i s t o f

e x e c u t o r s , f e a r i n g t h a t t h e o t h e r s m i g h t f i n d i t di f f icult t o w o r k

w i t h m e . H e w r o t e m e a t t h e s a m e t i m e s a y i n g I w a s " t o o

m a s t e r f u l " t o w o r k w i t h t h e o t h e r e x e c u t o r s . *

* O n t h i s s u b j e c t M r . B . F . H a w k s l e y , s o l i c i t o r t o M r . R h o d e s , w r i t e s : — " I t i s q u i t e true t h a t M r . R h o d e s a s s o c i a t e d m y fr iend M r . W . T . S t e a d w i t h t h o s e u p o n w h o m h e h a s i m p o s e d t h e t a s k o f c a r r y i n g out h i s a s p i r a t i o n s . I n the far b a c k d a y s w h e n M r . S t e a d e x p o u n d e d i n the Pall Mall Gazette t h e c o m m o n i n t e r e s t s o f t h e E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g p e o p l e s h i s a c q u a i n t a n c e w a s s o u g h t b y M r . R h o d e s — a n a c q u a i n t a n c e s h i p w h i c h r i p e n e d into a c l o s e i n t i m a c y a n d c o n t i n u e d t o t h e l a s t . M r . R h o d e s r e c o g n i s e d i n

H2 POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

I n t h e O c t o b e r o f t h a t y e a r h e a d d e d L o r d M i l n e r ' s n a m e

t o t h e l i s t o f e x e c u t o r s a n d j o i n t - h e i r s , a n d i n M a r c h , o n h i s

d e a t h b e d , h e a d d e d t h e n a m e o f D r . J a m e s o n t o t h e l i s t o f

t r u s t e e s .

L o o k i n g b a c k o v e r t h i s w h o l e e p i s o d e o f m y c a r e e r — a n

e p i s o d e n o w d e f i n i t e l y c l o s e d — I r e m e m b e r w i t h g r a t i t u d e t h e

h e l p w h i c h I w a s a b l e t o g i v e t o M r . R h o d e s , a n d I r e g r e t t h a t

i n t h e o n e g r e a t b l u n d e r w h i c h m a r r e d h i s c a r e e r m y o p p o s i

t i o n f a i l e d t o t u r n h i m f r o m h i s p u r p o s e . B o t h i n w h a t I

a i d e d h i m t o d o a n d i n w h a t I a t t e m p t e d t o p r e v e n t h i s d o i n g ,

I w a s f a i t h f u l t o t h e g r e a t i d e a l for t h e r e a l i s a t i o n o f w h i c h w e

f i r s t s h o o k h a n d s i n 1889.

A p a r t f r o m t h e s u c c e s s o r f a i l u r e o f p o l i t i c a l p r o j e c t s ,

I h a v e ' t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n o f r e m e m b e r i n g t h e w o r d s w h i c h

M r . R h o d e s s p o k e i n A p r i l , 1900, w h e n t h e w a r w a s a t i t s

h e i g h t . T a k i n g m y h a n d i n b o t h o f h i s w i t h a t e n d e r n e s s

q u i t e u n u s u a l t o h i m , h e s a i d t o m e : —

"TSTow I w a n t y o u t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t if, i n f u t u r e , y o u

s h o u l d u n f o r t u n a t e l y feel y o u r s e l f c o m p e l l e d t o a t t a c k m e

p e r s o n a l l y a s v e h e m e n t l y a s y o u h a v e a t t a c k e d m y p o l i c y i n

t h i s w a r , i t w i l l m a k e n o d i f f e r e n c e t o o u r f r i e n d s h i p . I a m

t o o g r a t e f u l t o y o u f o r a l l t h a t I h a v e l e a r n e d f r o m y o u t o

a l l o w a n y t h i n g t h a t y o u m a y w r i t e o r s a y t o m a k e a n y c h a n g e

i n o u r r e l a t i o n s . "

H o w f e w p u b l i c m e n t h e r e a r e w h o w o u l d h a v e s a i d t h a t !

A n d y e t m e n m a r v e l t h a t I l o v e d h i m — a n d l o v e h i m s t i l l .

T h a t M r , R h o d e s i s n o m o r e w i t h u s m a y s e e m t o s o m e a

c o n c l u s i v e r e a s o n w h y a l l h o p e s h o u l d b e a b a n d o n e d o f r e a l i s

i n g h i s g r e a t i d e a . T o m e i t s e e m s t h a t t h e d e a t h o f t h e

F o u n d e r i n t h e m i d s t o f h i s u n a c c o m p l i s h e d l a b o u r s i s a t r u m p e t

M r . S t e a d o n e w h o t h o u g h t a s h e d i d , a n d w h o h a d a m a r v e l l o u s gift e n a b l i n g h i m t o c l o t h e w i t h a l i t e r a r y c h a r m i d e a s t h e y b o t h h e l d d e a r — e v e n a s t h e d i a m o n d - c u t t e r w i l l b y h i s w o r k e x p o s e the b r i l l i a n c y o f t h e r o u g h d i a m o n d . A s M r . R h o d e s f r e q u e n t l y s a i d t o m e a n d t o o t h e r s , i n c l u d i n g M r . S t e a d h i m s e l f , t h e f r i e n d s h i p o f t h e t w o m e n w a s too s t r o n g t o b e b r o k e n b y p a s s i n g d i f f e r e n c e s o n t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n w a r . T h e r e m o v a l o f M r . S t e a d ' s n a m e f r o m M r . R h o d e s ' s t e s t a m e n t a r o s e f r o m o t h e r c a u s e s q u i t e a p p r e c i a t e d b y M r . S t e a d , a n d w h i c h d i d h o n o u r a l i k e t o b o t h m e n . M o r e i t i s u n n e c e s s a r y for m e t o s a y , e x c e p t t h a t I s h a l l b e g r a t e f u l i f t h i s p l a i n s t a t e m e n t c a n r e c e i v e t h e w i d e s t p u b l i c i t y . "


call to all those who believed in hiin to redouble their exertions to carry out his vast designs for the achievement of the unity of the English-speaking race.

What is the Rhodesian-ideal? It is the promotion of racial unity on the basis of the principles embodied in the American Constitution. The question of differential tariff is a matter of detail. The fundamental principle is, as Mr. Rhodes very clearly saw, the principle of the American Constitution; and, as he bluntly said, that is Home Rule. As an Empire we must federate or perish.

Mr. Rhodes saw this as clearly as Lord Rosmead, who was the first author of the saying; but it is to be feared that many of those who call themselves Rhodesians have not yet accepted the very first principle of Mr. Rhodes's doctrine.

So this day they apologise for the subscription to Mr. Parnell's Home-Rule Chest as if it were a lamentable aberration. It was, on the contrary, the very keynote of the whole Rhodesian gospel. No man had less sympathy with the highflying Imperialists of Downing Street than had Mr . Rhodes. No man more utterly detested the favourite maxims of military satraps and Crown Governors. When he came home from the siege of Kimberley he told me that he expected " i n two years' time to be the best abused man in South Africa by the Loyalists." " I am delighted to hear i t , " I replied ; " but how wi l l that come about ?" " Because," he said, " these people have set their minds upon trampling on the Dutch, and I am not going to allow it . For you cannot govern South Africa by trampling on the Dutch."

Mr. Rhodes was a Home Ruler first and an Imperialist afterwards. He realised more keenly than most of his friends that the Empire was doomed unless the principle of Home Rule was carried out consistently and logically throughout the whole of the King's dominions. " If you want to know how it is to be done," he once said to me, " read the Constitution and the history of the United States. The Americans have solved the problem. It is no new thing that need puzzle you. English-speaking men have solved i t , and for more than a hundred years have tested its working. Why not profit by their experience ? What they have proved to


H4 POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

b e a g o o d t h i n g for t h e m i s n o t l i k e l y t o b e a b a d t h i n g

for u s . "

T o b e a R h o d e s i a n , t h e n , o f t h e t r u e s t a m p y o u m u s t b e a

H o m e R u l e r a n d s o m e t h i n g m o r e . Y o u m u s t b e a n I m p e r i a l i s t ,

n o t f r o m m e r e l u s t o f d o m i n i o n o r p r i d e o f r a c e , b u t b e c a u s e y o u

b e l i e v e t h e E m p i r e i s t h e b e s t a v a i l a b l e i n s t r u m e n t for d i f f u s i n g

t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f J u s t i c e , L i b e r t y , a n d P e a c e t h r o u g h o u t t h e

w o r l d . W h e n e v e r I m p e r i a l i s m i n v o l v e s t h e p e r p e t r a t i o n o f

I n j u s t i c e , t h e s u p p r e s s i o n o f F r e e d o m , a n d t h e w a g i n g o f w a r s

o t h e r t h a n t h o s e o f s e l f - d e f e n c e , t h e t r u e R h o d e s i a n m u s t

c e a s e t o b e a n I m p e r i a l i s t . B u t a H o m e R u l e r a n d F e d e r a l i s t ,

a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e A m e r i c a n C o n s t i t u t i o n , h e

c a n n e v e r c e a s e t o b e , for H o m e R u l e i s a f u n d a m e n t a l

p r i n c i p l e , w h e r e a s t h e m a i n t e n a n c e a n d e x t e n s i o n o f t h e

E m p i r e a r e o n l y m e a n s t o a n e n d , a n d m a y b e c h a n g e d , a s

M r . R h o d e s w a s w i l l i n g t o c h a n g e t h e m . I f , for i n s t a n c e , t h e

r e a l i s a t i o n o f t h e g r e a t e r i d e a l o f R a c e U n i t y c o u l d o n l y b e

b r o u g h t a b o u t b y m e r g i n g t h e B r i t i s h E m p i r e i n t h e A m e r i c a n

R e p u b l i c , M r . R h o d e s w a s p r e p a r e d t o a d v o c a t e t h a t r a d i c a l

m e a s u r e .

T h e q u e s t i o n t h a t n o w a r i s e s i s w h e t h e r i n t h e E n g l i s h -

s p e a k i n g w o r l d t h e r e a r e t o b e f o u n d m e n o f f a i t h a d e q u a t e t o

f u r n i s h f o r t h m a t e r i a l s for t h e S o c i e t y o f w h i c h M r . R h o d e s

d r e a m e d : —

S t i l l t h r o u g h o u r p a l t r y s t i r a n d strife

G l o w s d o w n t h e w i s h e d I d e a l ,

A n d L o n g i n g m o u l d s i n c l a y w h a t L i f e

C a r v e s i n the m a r b l e R e a l .

W e h a v e t h e c l a y m o u l d o f M r . R h o d e s ' s l o n g e d - f o r S o c i e t y .

H a v e w e g o t t h e stuff, i n t h e E m p i r e a n d t h e R e p u b l i c , t o

c a r v e i t i n m a r b l e ?

M r . R h o d e s , l i k e D a v i d , m a y h a v e h a d t o y i e l d t o a

s u c c e s s o r t h e r e a l i s a t i o n o f a n i d e a l t o o l o f t y t o b e w o r k e d o u t

b y t h e m a n w h o f i r s t c o n c e i v e d i t .

" I t w a s i n m y m i n d , " s a i d t h e o l d H e b r e w m o n a r c h a s h e

c a m e t o d i e , " t o b u i l d a n h o u s e u n t o t h e n a m e o f t h e L o r d

m y G o d . B u t t h e w o r d o f t h e L o r d c a m e t o m e , s a y i n g ,

T h o u h a s t s h e d b l o o d a b u n d a n t l y , a n d h a s t m a d e g r e a t w a r s ;

HIS CONVERSATIONS. " 5

t h o u s h a l t n o t b u i l d a n h o u s e u n t o M y n a m e , b e c a u s e t h o u

h a s t s b e d m u c h b l o o d u p o n t h e e a r t h i n M y s i g h t . B e h o l d , a

s o n s h a l l b e b o r n t o t h e e , w h o s h a l l b e a m a n o f r e s t . . . .

h e s h a l l b u i l d a n h o u s e f o r M y n a m e . "

S o i t m a y b e t h a t s o m e o n e c o m i n g a f t e r M r . R h o d e s m a y

p r o s p e r e x c e e d i n g l y i n f o u n d i n g t h e g r e a t O r d e r o f w h i c h

M r . R h o d e s d i d d r e a m .

i i 6

I '7

CHAPTER III.—HIS CORRESPONDENCE. M R . R H O D E S w a s n o t a g r e a t l e t t e r - w r i t e r . A f e w o f h i s

f r i e n d s , s u c h a s M r . R u d d , h i s p a r t n e r i n h i s e a r l y d a y s , h a v e

a c o p i o u s c o l l e c t i o n o f l e t t e r s f r o m M r . R h o d e s , b u t f e w p u b l i c

m e n w e r e e v e r s o s p a r i n g i n t h e i r c o r r e s p o n d e n c e . O f h i s

p u b l i s h e d l e t t e r s t h e r e a r e t w o s e r i e s w h i c h c a n n o t b e o m i t t e d

f r o m a n y a t t e m p t t o r e p r e s e n t t h e R h o d e s i a n i d e a s . T h e

f i r s t i s t h e P a r n e l l c o r r e s p o n d e n c e o f 1888, a n d t h e o t h e r t h e

S c h n a d h o r s t c o r r e s p o n d e n c e o f 1891. T h e s e a r e t h e o n l y t w o

o c c a s i o n s o n w h i c h M r . R h o d e s t o o k a d i r e c t h a n d i n I m p e r i a l

p o l i t i c s o u t s i d e h i s o w n p a r t i c u l a r s p h e r e . I n b o t h h e o p e r a t e d

i n t h e s a m e w a y , n a m e l y , b y u s i n g h i s w e a l t h t o p u t a p r e m i u m

u p o n c e r t a i n p o l i c i e s o r offer a r e w a r d for t h e r e p u d i a t i o n o f

c e r t a i n h e r e s i e s . I t i s u n n e c e s s a r y h e r e t o g o m i n u t e l y i n t o

t h e g e n e s i s o f t h e f a m o u s d o n a t i o n t o t h e I r i s h N a t i o n a l f u n d s .

I t i s w e l l , h o w e v e r , t o r e m e m b e r t h a t , l i k e a l m o s t e v e r ) ' o t h e r

c o l o n i s t , M r . R h o d e s w a s a H o m e R u l e r l o n g b e f o r e t h e a d o p

t i o n o f H o m e R u l e a s t h e o f f i c i a l c r e e d o f t h e L i b e r a l P a r t y .

F r o m 1882-84 M r . R h o d e s s e e m s to h a v e d a l l i e d w i t h t h e i d e a

o f s t a n d i n g for a s e a t i n P a r l i a m e n t , n o m i n a l l y a s m e m b e r o f

t h e C o n s e r v a t i v e P a r t y , b u t r e a l l y a s m e m b e r f o r S o u t h A f r i c a .

T h e i d e a h a d g a i n e d s u f f i c i e n t s u b s t a n c e f o r S i r C h a r l e s W a r r e n

t o w r i t e to M r . R h o d e s ' s b r o t h e r ( M a r c h 4th, 1884"), s a y i n g ,

" Y o u r b r o t h e r h a s g r e a t m e n t a l p o w e r for o r g a n i s i n g , a n d w i l l

b e a m o s t v a l u a b l e a d d i t i o n t o t h e C o n s e r v a t i v e r a n k s . "

I n 1885, w h e n M r . G l a d s t o n e h a d t a k e n t h e p l u n g e for

H o m e R u l e , M r R h o d e s s e r i o u s l y c o n t e m p l a t e d s t a n d i n g f o r

P a r l i a m e n t a s L i b e r a l c a n d i d a t e f o r t h e c o n s t i t u e n c y i n w h i c h

t h e D a l s t o n p r o p e r t y o f h i s f a m i l y w a s s i t u a t e d . O n l o o k i n g

a t t h e m a t t e r m o r e c l o s e l y , h o w e v e r , h e f o u n d t h a t P a r l i a

m e n t a r y a t t e n d a n c e w o u l d b e t o o g r e a t a t a x u p o n h i s t i m e .

I t w o u l d b e i m p o s s i b l e for h i m t o a l t e r n a t e b e t w e e n W e s t

m i n s t e r a n d S o u t h A f r i c a , a s i n t h e o l d d a y s h e d i v i d e d h i s

l i f e b e t w e e n K i m b e r l e y a n d O r i e l C o l l e g e . H e r e t u r n e d t o

A f r i c a , b u t c o n t i n u e d t o f o l l o w w i t h t h e k e e n e s t i n t e r e s t t h e

c o u r s e o f I m p e r i a l p o l i t i c s .

I IS POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

H i s s y m p a t h i e s b e i n g w e l l k n o w n , o v e r t u r e s w e r e m a d e t o

h i m o n t h e p a r t o f s o m e s y m p a t h i s e r s w i t h t h e I r i s h N a t i o n a l

P a r t y a s t o w h e t h e r h e c o u l d n o t b e i n d u c e d t o c o n t r i b u t e t o

t h e i r f u n d s . M r . S w i f t M a c N e i l l w a s e m p l o y e d a s a n i n t e r

m e d i a r y , a n d t h e r e s u l t o f t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s w a s t h a t M r .

R h o d e s i n t i m a t e d h i s r e a d i n e s s t o s u b s c r i b e t o t h e H o m e R u l e

f u n d s o n c o n d i t i o n t h a t M r . P a r n e l l a s s e n t e d t o t h e r e t e n t i o n

o f t h e I r i s h m e m b e r s a t W e s t m i n s t e r . M r . R h o d e s h e l d t h a t

M r . G l a d s t o n e ' s first H o m e R u l e B i l l s i m p l y p r o p o s e d t o c o n

v e r t I r e l a n d i n t o a t a x e d r e p u b l i c , w i t h o u t r e p r e s e n t a t i o n i n

t h e c e n t r a l g o v e r n i n g b o d y o f t h e E m p i r e , t h u s m a k i n g H o m e

R u l e l e a d d i r e c t t o d i s r u p t i o n , i n s t e a d o f m a k i n g i t a s t e p p i n g -

s t o n e t o f e d e r a t i o n . M r . R h o d e s e n t i r e l y a c c e p t e d t h e f o r m u l a

s o s u c c i n c t l y s t a t e d b y L o r d R o s m e a d , w h e n h e d e c l a r e d t h a t

" a s a n E m p i r e w e m u s t f e d e r a t e o r p e r i s h , a n d t h e o n e h o p e

o f t h e E m p i r e i s t h a t t h e I r i s h m a y c o m p e l u s t o f e d e r a t e ,

e v e n a g a i n s t o u r w i l l . "

W h e n M r . G l a d s t o n e , t h e r e f o r e , i n s t e a d o f s e i z i n g t h e

o p p o r t u n i t y p r e s e n t e d b y t h e c o n c e s s i o n o f H o m e R u l e t o

i n t r o d u c e t h e p r i n c i p l e o f f e d e r a l i s m o f t h e B r i t i s h C o n s t i t u

t i o n , t o o k t h e fatal a n d f a l s e r o a d o f p r o p o s i n g t o b a n i s h t h e

I r i s h m e m b e r s a l t o g e t h e r f r o m t h e a s s e m b l y w h i c h s t i l l r e t a i n e d

t h e r i g h t o f e x a c t i n g h e a v y t r i b u t e f r o m t h e I r i s h t a x p a y e r ,

M r . R h o d e s felt t h a t a n i m p o r t a n t c r i s i s h a d b e e n r e a c h e d i n

t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e E m p i r e . I t w a s n e c e s s a r y for h i m t o a c t ,

a n d t o a c t w i t h d e c i s i o n . M r . S w i f t M a c N e i l l ' s c o n v e r s a t i o n s

h a d r e v e a l e d t o h i m t h e n a k e d n e s s o f t h e N a t i o n a l i s t t r e a s u r y .

H e w a s s o l i c i t e d t o s u b s c r i b e t o k e e p t h e H o m e R u l e a g i t a t i o n

g o i n g . H e s a w t h e s i t u a t i o n , a n d s e i z e d i t w i t h h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c

p r o m p t i t u d e . O n h i s r e t u r n t o E n g l a n d , M r . P a r n e l l c a l l e d u p o n

M r . R h o d e s a t t h e W e s t m i n s t e r P a l a c e H o t e l , a n d a t r a n s a c t i o n

t o o k p l a c e b e t w e e n t h e m , w h i c h M r . R h o d e s a l w a y s r e g a r d e d a s

v e r y g o o d b u s i n e s s f o r t h e E m p i r e . I n h i s b e l i e f h e s u c c e e d e d

i n p l e d g i n g M r . P a r n e l l t o t h e a b a n d o n m e n t o f t h e o l d d i s r u p t i v e

i d e a o f t h e f irst G l a d s t o n i a n H o m e R u l e B i l l , a n d h i s l o y a l

a c c e p t a n c e o f t h e p r i n c i p l e o f f e d e r a l i s m . B y t h i s a r r a n g e m e n t

M r . P a r n e l l , i n s t e a d o f a c c e p t i n g t h e e x c l u s i o n o f I r i s h m e m b e r s

f r o m W e s t m i n s t e r a n d t h e c o n v e r s i o n o f I r e l a n d i n t o a t a x e d

r e p u b l i c , w h i c h w o u l d b e f u r n i s h e d i n a d v a n c e w i t h a n e x c u s e

for r e v o l t b y t h e f a m i l i a r m a x i m " t a x a t i o n w i t h o u t r e p r e s e n t a -

N9


t i o n i s t y r a n n y . " u n d e r t o o k t o a c c e p t a H o m e R u l e B i l l b a s e d

u p o n t h e o p p o s i t e p r i n c i p l e o f t h e r e t e n t i o n o f I r i s h m e m b e r s .

M r . R h o d e s w i s h e d t h e n u m b e r s o f t h e I r i s h t o b e r e d u c e d

f r o m t h e i r p r e s e n t f i g u r e o f 103 t o 34, a t a n y r a t e u n l e s s h e w a s

g u a r a n t e e d t h e ful l c o n t r o l o f t h e I r i s h p o l i c e a n d j u d i c i a r y .

A t t h a t t i m e h e w a s w i l l i n g t h a t t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e r e d u c t i o n

o f t h e I r i s h r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a t W e s t m i n s t e r t o t h e f i g u r e c o r r e

s p o n d i n g t o t h e e x t e n t o f t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n t o I m p e r i a l t a x a t i o n

s h o u l d b e d e b a t e d a s a n o p e n q u e s t i o n . H e a l s o a g r e e d t h a t

h e w o u l d n o t m a k e a n y o p p o s i t i o n t o a c l a u s e p e r m i t t i n g a n y

s e l f - g o v e r n i n g c o l o n y t o s e n d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s t o t h e H o u s e o f

C o m m o n s o n t h e b a s i s o f t h e a m o u n t o f t h e i r a n n u a l c o n t r i b u

t i o n t o t h e I m p e r i a l e x c h e q u e r .

M r . P a r n e l l h i m s e l f s a i d h e w a s p r e p a r e d t o a c c e p t t h i s

• c h e e r f u l l y , b u t w h e n p r e s s e d b y M r . R h o d e s t o m o v e a n

- a m e n d m e n t h e d e m u r r e d o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t s o m e o f h i s p a r t y

m i g h t o b j e c t . T h e d e a l h a v i n g t h u s b e e n a r r a n g e d i n p e r s o n a l

i n t e r v i e w , f r o m w h i c h b o t h p a r t i e s e m e r g e d w i t h a p r o f o u n d

r e s p e c t f o r e a c h o t h e r , M r . R h o d e s p r o c e e d e d t o e m b o d y t h e

s u b s t a n c e o f t h e i r b a r g a i n i n t h e f o l l o w i n g l e t t e r * t o M r .

P a r n e l l : —

Westminster Palace Hotel , London, S.W.

June 19th, 1888. Dear S i r ,—On my way to the Cape last

autumn I had the opportunity of frequent conversations with M r . Swift MacNei l l upon the subject of Home Rule for Ireland. I then told

* T h e d a t e o f t h i s letter i s sufficient t o p r o v e t h e a b s u r d i t y o f t h e p o p u l a r s u p e r s t i t i o n t h a t M r . R h o d e s b o u g h t t h e s u p p o r t o f the I r i s h P a r t y for the C h a r t e r by a gift of ,£10,000. A t t h a t t i m e t h e r e h a d b e e n n o a p p l i c a t i o n for t h e C h a r t e r , a n d M r . R h o d e s h a d n o t t h e n o b t a i n e d t h e m i n e r a l c o n c e s s i o n f r o m L o b c n g u l a u p o n w h i c h the a p p l i c a t i o n for t h e C h a r t e r w a s b a s e d . N e i t h e r M r . R h o d e s n o r M r . P a r n e l l a l l u d e d t o the s u b j e c t , e i t h e r i n c o n v e r s a t i o n o r i n w r i t i n g . T h e c o n t r a c t b e t w e e n t h e A f r i c a n a n d t h e I r i s h m a n w a s s t r i c t l y l i m i t e d t o the c o n v e r s i o n o f H o m e R u l e f r o m a d i s r u p t i v e to a f e d e r a t i v e m e a s u r e . I t h a d no r e l a t i o n d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y t o a n y o f M r . R h o d e s ' s I r i s h - A f r i c a n s c h e m e s . T h e w h o l e s t o r y is told at l e n g t h by " V i n d e x " in an a p p e n d i x to " T h e P o l i t i c a l L i f e a n d S p e e c h e s o f M r . C e c i l R h o d e s , " f r o m w h i c h I q u o t e t h e s e letters .

HIS CORRESPONDENCE. 121

him that I had long had a sympathy with the Irish demand for self-government, but that there were certain portions of M r . Gladstone's B i l l which appeared open to the gravest objections. The exclusion of the Irish members from Westminster seemed r ightly to be considered, both in England and the Colonies, as a step in the direction of pure separation ; while the tribute clauses were, on the face of them, degrading to Ireland by placing it in the position

-of a conquered province, and were opposed to the first principles of constitutional government by sanctioning taxation without representation. It has been frequently stated that the hearty acquiescence of the Irish members in these proposals gave good grounds for believing that they were really working for complete separation from England. Mr . MacNeil l assured me that this was not the case ; that naturally the first object of the Irish members was to obtain self-government for Ireland ; and that when this, their main object, was secured, it did not become them to criticise or cavil at the terms of the grant made to them. Moreover, he said he believed that the Irish members were only too anxious to support Irish representation at Westminster, should a suitable scheme containing the necessary provisions be brought forward.

Lord Rosebery, in his receyit speech at Inverness, has suggested a possible solution. He there proposes a reduced Irish representation at Westminster ; this representation co?ild be based tipon the amount of the Irish contribution to the Itnperial revenue. A nd though it seems illogical that Irish members should vote on English local matters, still, taking into consideration the large indirect cojilribu-tion that Ireland would make in connection with

I 2

POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

trade and commerce, and that the English people are not prepared at present to accept any vital-change of their Constitution, it would appear more workable that this reduced number of Irish members should speak and vote even on purely English local questions than that at doubt/ul intervals they should be called tipon to withdraw into an outside lobby.

W i t h {some such) safeguards—and they must be effective safeguards for the maintenance of Imperial u n i t y — I am of the opinion that the Home Rule granted should be a reality, and not a sham.

If the Irish are to be conciliated and benefited by the grant of self-government, they should be trusted, and trusted entirely. Otherwise the application of popular institutions to Ireland must be deemed impracticable, and the only alternative is the administration of the country as a Crown colony, which plan in the present state of public opinion is totally impossible.

My experience in the Cape Colony leads me to believe that the Ulster question is one which would soon settle itself.

Since the Colonial Office has allowed questions at the Cape to be settled by the Cape Parliament, not only has the attachment to the Imperial tie been immeasurably strengthened, but the Dutch, who form the majority of the population, have shown a greatly increased consideration for the sentiments of the English members of the community.

It seems only reasonable to suppose that in an Irish Parliament similar consideration would be given to the sentiments of that portion of the inhabitants which is at present out of sympathy with the national movement.

I wi l l frankly add that my interest in the Irish

V

I'kotograpli by] [E. II. mills. D r . J a m e s o n a n d M r . B o y d .


question has been heightened by the fact that in it I see the possibility of the commencement of changes which wi l l eventually mould and weld together all parts of the British Empire.

The English are a conservative people, and like to move slowly, and as it were experimentally. At present there can be no doubt that the time of Parliament is overcrowded wi th the discussion of tr ivial and local affairs. Imperial matters have to stand their chance of a hearing alongside of railway and tram bills. Evidently it must be a function of modern legislation to delegate an enormous number of questions which now occupy the time of Parliament, to District Councils or local bodies.

Mr . Chamberlain recognised this fact in his Radical programme of 1885, and the need daily grows more urgent. Now the removal of Ir ish affairs to an Irish Legislature \CounciC\ would be a practical experimental step in the direction of lessening the burden upon the central deliberative and legislative machine.

But side by side w i t h the tendency of decentralisation for local affairs, there is growing up a feeling for the necessity of greater union in Imperial matters. The primary tie which binds, our Empire together is the national one of self-defence. The Colonies are already commencing to co-operate wi th and contribute to the mother country for this purpose.

But if they are to contribute permanently and beneficially they wi l l have to be represented in the Imperial Parliament, where the distribution of their contributions must be decided upon.

I do not think that it can be denied that the presence of two or three Australian members in the House would in recent years have prevented

V


much misunderstanding upon such questions as the New Hebrides, New Guinea, and Chinese immigration. Now an [reduced] Ir ish representation at Westminster (with numbers proportionate to Ireland's Imperial contribution} would, without making any vital change in the English Constitution, furnish a precedent by which the self-governing Colonies could from time to time, as they expressed a desire to contribute to Imperial expenditure, be incorporated with the Imperial Legislature. You wil l perhaps say that I am making the Irish question a stalking-horse for a scheme of Imperial Federation ; but if so, I am at least placing Ireland in the forefront of the battle.

The question is, moreover, one in which I take a deep interest, and I shall be obliged if you can tell [assure] me that M r . MacNei l l is not mistaken in the impression he. conveyed to me, and that you and your Party would be prepared to give your hearty support and approval to a Home Rule Bi l l containing provisions for the continuance of Irish representation at Westminster. Such a declaration would afford great satisfaction to myself and others, and would enable us to give our full and active support to your cause and your Party.

/ shall be happy to contribute to the funds of the Party to the extent of ^ 1 0 , 0 0 0 . / am also, tinder the circumstances, authorised to offer you a further sum of £\,ooo from Mr. John Morrogh, an Irish resident at Kimberley, South Africa.—Yours faithfully, C. J. RHODES.

NOTE.—Tl ie portions of this letter printed in italics are the omissions made by Parnell from the original draft submitted to him. The word " Council" on page 124, in brackets, and tlie word "assure" on page 125, in brackets, were omitted in favour of mere verbal alterations.


T o t h i s M r . P a r n e l l r e p l i e d a s f o l l o w s : —

H o u s e o f C o m m o n s ,

J u n e 23, '88.

D e a r S i r , — I a m m u c h o b l i g e d t o y o u for y o u r l e t t e r o f t h e

20th i n s t . , w h i c h c o n f i r m s t h e v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g a c c o u n t g i v e n

m e a t A v o n d a l e l a s t J a n u a r y b y M r . S w i f t M a c N e i l l a s t o h i s

i n t e r v i e w s a n d c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h y o u o n t h e s u b j e c t o f H o m e

R u l e for I r e l a n d .

I m a y s a y a t o n c e a n d f r a n k l y t h a t I t h i n k y o u h a v e

• c o r r e c t l y j u d g e d t h e e x c l u s i o n o f t h e I r i s h m e m b e r s f r o m

W e s t m i n s t e r t o h a v e b e e n a d e f e c t i n t h e H o m e R u l e m e a s u r e

o f 1886, a n d f u r t h e r , t h a t t h i s p r o p o s e d e x c l u s i o n m a y h a v e

g i v e n s o m e c o l o u r t o t h e a c c u s a t i o n s s o f r e e l y m a d e a g a i n s t

t h e B i l l , t h a t i t h a d a s e p a r a t i s t t e n d e n c y . I s a y t h i s w h i l e

s t r o n g l y a s s e r t i n g a n d b e l i e v i n g t h a t t h e m e a s u r e i t s e l f w a s

a c c e p t e d b y t h e I r i s h p e o p l e w i t h o u t a n y a f t e r t h o u g h t o f t h e

k i n d , a n d w i t h a n e a r n e s t d e s i r e t o w o r k i t o u t i n t h e s a m e

s p i r i t i n w h i c h i t w a s o f f e r e d , a s p i r i t o f c o r d i a l g o o d w i l l a n d

t r u s t , a d e s i r e t o l e t b y g o n e s b e b y g o n e s , a n d a d e t e r m i n a t i o n

t o a c c e p t i t a s a f i n a l a n d s a t i s f a c t o r y s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e l o n g

s t a n d i n g d i s p u t e a n d t r o u b l e b e t w e e n G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d

I r e l a n d .

I a m v e r y g l a d t o f i n d t h a t y o u c o n s i d e r t h e m e a s u r e o f

H o m e R u l e t o b e g r a n t e d t o I r e l a n d s h o u l d b e t h o r o u g h g o i n g ,

a n d s h o u l d g i v e h e r c o m p l e t e c o n t r o l o v e r h e r o w n affairs

w i t h o u t r e s e r v a t i o n , a n d I c o r d i a l l y a g r e e w i t h y o u r o p i n i o n

t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d b e a t t h e s a m e t i m e e f f e c t i v e s a f e g u a r d s f o r

t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f I m p e r i a l u n i t y . Y o u r c o n c l u s i o n a s t o t h e

o n l y a l t e r n a t i v e f o r H o m e R u l e i s a l s o e n t i r e l y m y o w n , for I

h a v e l o n g felt t h a t t h e c o n t i n u a n c e o f t h e p r e s e n t s e m i -

• c o n s t i t u t i o n a l s y s t e m i s q u i t e i m p r a c t i c a b l e .

B u t t o r e t u r n t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e r e t e n t i o n o f t h e I r i s h

m e m b e r s a t W e s t m i n s t e r , m y o w n v i e w s u p o n t h e p o i n t , t h e

p r o b a b i l i t i e s o f t h e f u t u r e , a n d t h e b e a r i n g o f t h i s s u b j e c t u p o n

t h e q u e s t i o n o f I m p e r i a l F e d e r a t i o n . M y o w n f e e l i n g u p o n

t h e m a t t e r i s , t h a t i f M r . G l a d s t o n e i n c l u d e s i n h i s n e x t H o m e

R u l e m e a s u r e p r o v i s i o n s for s u c h r e t e n t i o n , w e s h o u l d c h e e r

f u l l y c o n c u r i n t h e m , a n d a c c e p t t h e m w i t h g o o d w i l l a n d g o o d

f a i t h , w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n o f t a k i n g o u r s h a r e i n t h e I m p e r i a l

V

127

Photograph liy, [£. H. Mills. SIR HARRY JOHNSTON.


p a r t n e r s h i p . I b e l i e v e a l s o t h a t i n t h e e v e n t s t a t e d t h i s w i l l

b e t h e c a s e , a n d t h a t t h e I r i s h p e o p l e w i l l c h e e r f u l l y a c c e p t

t h e d u t i e s a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s a s s i g n e d t o t h e m , a n d w i l l j u s t l y

v a l u e t h e p o s i t i o n g i v e n t h e m i n t h e I m p e r i a l s y s t e m .

I a m c o n v i n c e d t h a t i t w o u l d b e t h e h i g h e s t s t a t e s m a n s h i p

o n M r . G l a d s t o n e ' s p a r t , t o d e v i s e a f e a s i b l e p l a n for t h e c o n

t i n u e d p r e s e n c e o f t h e I r i s h m e m b e r s h e r e , a n d f r o m m y o b s e r

v a t i o n o f p u b l i c e v e n t s a n d o p i n i o n s i n c e 1885, I a m s u r e t h a t

M r . G l a d s t o n e i s f u l l y a l i v e t o t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e m a t t e r ,

a n d t h a t t h e r e c a n b e n o d o u b t t h a t t h e n e x t m e a s u r e o f

a u t o n o m y for I r e l a n d w i l l c o n t a i n t h e p r o v i s i o n s w h i c h y o u

r i g h t l y d e e m o f s u c h m o m e n t . I t d o e s n o t c o m e s o m u c h

w i t h i n m y p r o v i n c e t o e x p r e s s a f u l l o p i n i o n u p o n t h e q u e s t i o n

o f I m p e r i a l F e d e r a t i o n , b u t I q u i t e a g r e e w i t h y o u t h a t t h e

c o n t i n u e d I r i s h r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a t W e s t m i n s t e r w i l l i m m e n s e l y

f a c i l i t a t e s u c h a s t e p , w h i l e t h e c o n t r a r y p r o v i s i o n i n t h e B i l l

o f ' 8 6 w o u l d h a v e b e e n a b a r . U n d o u b t e d l y t h i s i s a m a t t e r

w h i c h s h o u l d b e d e a l t w i t h i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e o p i n i o n o f

t h e C o l o n i e s t h e m s e l v e s , a n d i f t h e y s h o u l d d e s i r e t o s h a r e i n

t h e c o s t o f I m p e r i a l m a t t e r s , a s c e r t a i n l y t h e y n o w d o i n t h e

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , a n d s h o u l d e x p r e s s a w i s h for r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a t

W e s t m i n s t e r , I q u i t e t h i n k i t s h o u l d b e a c c o r d e d t o t h e m , a n d

t h a t p u b l i c o p i n i o n i n t h e s e i s l a n d s w o u l d u n a n i m o u s l y c o n c u r

i n t h e n e c e s s a r y c o n s t i t u t i o n a l m o d i t i c a t i o n s . — I a m , d e a r s i r ,

y o u r s t r u l y , C H A R L E S STEWART P A R N E L L .

C . J . R h o d e s , E s q .

M r . R h o d e s c o n f i r m e d t h e b a r g a i n b y t h e f o l l o w i n g

l e t t e r : —

Westminster Palace Hotel , London. June 24, 1888.

Dear M r . Parnell ,—I have to thank you for your letter of the 23rd inst., the contents of which have given me great pleasure.

I feel sure that your cordial approval of the retention of Irish representation at Westminster wi l l gain you support in many quarters from which it has hitherto been withheld.

As a proof of my deep and sincere interest in

HIS CORRESPONDENCE. 1 2 9

the question, and as I believe that the action of the Irish party on the basis which you have stated wi l l lead, not to disintegration, but really to a closer union of the Empire, making it an Empire in reality, and not in name only, I am happy to offer a contribution to the extent of . £ 1 0 , 0 0 0 to the funds of your party. I am also authorised to offer you a further sum of . £ 1 , 0 0 0 from M r . John Morrogh, an Irish resident in Kimberley, South Africa.—Believe me, yours faithfully, C. J. RHODES.

P.S.—I herewith enclose a cheque for ^ 5 , 0 0 0 as my first instalment.

A y e a r a f t e r t h i s , M r . P a r n e l l w e n t d o w n t o H a w a r d e n t o

s e t t l e t h e d e t a i l s o f t h e n e x t H o m e R u l e B i l l w i t h M r . G l a d

s t o n e . I n t h e b e g i n n i n g o f 1890 h e w r o t e t o M r . R h o d e s t o

s a y t h a t t h e r e t e n t i o n o f t h e I r i s h M e m b e r s a t W e s t m i n s t e r

h a d b e e n a g r e e d u p o n , b u t t h a t M r . G l a d s t o n e i n s i s t e d o n

r e d u c i n g t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n i n o r d e r t o c o n c i l i a t e E n g l i s h

p u b l i c o p i n i o n . M r . R h o d e s , c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y e n o u g h , h a d

l o s t M r . P a r n e l l ' s l e t t e r , a n d t h e e v i d e n c e a s t o i t s c o n t e n t s i s

a r e p o r t o f M r . P a r n e l l ' s s p e e c h i n 1S91.

W h e n t h e u n f o r t u n a t e b r e a c h b e t w e e n M r . P a r n e l l a n d t h e

m a j o r i t y o f t h e I r i s h P a r t } ' t o o k p l a c e a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f 1891,

M r . P a r n e l l s o far f o r g o t t h e rbk w h i c h h e h a d m a r k e d o u t f o r

h i m s e l f a s t o a d d r e s s t o a m e e t i n g a t X a v a n a d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t

" s o m e d a y o r o t h e r , i n t h e l o n g - d i s t a n t f u t u r e , s o m e o n e m i g h t

a r i s e w h o m a y h a v e t h e p r i v i l e g e o f a d d r e s s i n g y o u a s m e n o f

R e p u b l i c a n M e a t h . " M r . R h o d e s , o n s e e i n g a r e p o r t o f t h i s

s p e e c h , a t o n c e w r o t e t o e x p o s t u l a t e w i t h M r . P a m e l l , p o i n t i n g

o u t h o w i n c o n s i s t e n t w a s t h i s d e c l a r a t i o n a b o u t R e p u b l i c a n

M e a t h w i t h t h e l o y a l m a i n t e n a n c e o f I m p e r i a l u n i t y o n a f e d e r a l

b a s i s . I n s t e a d o f r e s e n t i n g b e i n g t h u s r e c a l l e d t o t h e l e t t e r o f

h i s c o n t r a c t , M r . P a r n e l l w r o t e p r o m p t l y a n d a d m i t t e d h i s m i s

t a k e . H e s a i d h e r e g r e t t e d t h e w o r d s h e h a d u s e d ; h e h a d

g o n e f u r t h e r t h a n h e i n t e n d e d , a n d , a s a m a t t e r o f f a c t , t h e

w o r d s i n q u e s t i o n w e r e c o n t r a d i c t e d b y o t h e r p a s s a g e s o f t h e

s a m e s p e e c h , a s , for e x a m p l e , w h e n h e s a i d : " W e a r e w i l l i n g

"3° POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

t o s h o w t h a t t h e e x i s t e n c e o f I r i s h a u t o n o m y i s c o m p a t i b l e

w i t h I m p e r i a l p r o s p e r i t y a n d p r o g r e s s . "

N e i t h e r M r . R h o d e s ' s l e t t e r o f e x p o s t u l a t i o n n o r M r .

P a r n e l l ' s l e t t e r o f e x p l a n a t i o n a n d a p o l o g y i s i n e x i s t e n c e ,

M r . P a r n e l l ' s l e t t e r h a v i n g b e e n b u r n t i n t h e fire t h a t d e s t r o y e d

G r o o t e S c h u u r .

T h e P a r n e l l c o r r e s p o n d e n c e p r o v e s o n e t h i n g c o n c l u s i v e l y ,

i f n o t h i n g e l s e — n a m e l y , t h a t t h e s u s p i c i o n a n d d i s t r u s t e x c i t e d

b y M r . R h o d e s ' c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e I r i s h N a t i o n a l F u n d w a s

a b s o l u t e l y w i t h o u t j u s t i f i c a t i o n . N o t h i n g c o u l d h a v e b e e n

s t r a i g h t e r a n d m o r e a b o v e - b o a r d t h a n t h e b a r g a i n b e t w e e n t h e

t w o m e n , a n d t h e a i m a n d o b j e c t o f t h a t d e a l w a s n o t , a s

M r . R h o d e s ' s a s s a i l a n t s p r e t e n d e d a n d s t i l l p r e t e n d , t o a s s i s t

i n a s e p a r a t i s t m o v e m e n t i n t e n d e d t o b r e a k u p t h e E m p i r e ;

i t s a i m w a s e x a c t l y t h e r e v e r s e — n a m e l y , t o c o n f i n e t h e m o v e

m e n t for l o c a l s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t i n I r e l a n d w i t h i n t h e l i m i t s o f a

f e d e r a l s y s t e m , a n d m a k e i t t h e s t e p p i n g - s t o n e t o t h a t f e d e r a

t i o n w h i c h i s t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e c o n t i n u e d e x i s t e n c e o f o u r

E m p i r e .

M r . R h o d e s ' s s e c o n d c o n t r i b u t i o n t o B r i t i s h p o l i t i c a l f u n d s

t o o k p l a c e t h r e e y e a r s a f t e r t h e s u b s c r i p t i o n t o M r . P a r n e l l .

T h e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e w h i c h t o o k p l a c e i n 1891 d i d n o t a p p e a r

t i l l 1901, w h e n i t w a s e x t r a c t e d f r o m M r . R h o d e s b y t h e e x t r a

o r d i n a r y b l u n d e r o f t h e e d i t o r o f t h e Spectator, w h o , h e a r i n g

f r o m a c o r r e s p o n d e n t s i g n i n g h i m s e l f " C . B . " t h a t M r . R h o d e s

h a d g i v e n M r . S c h n a d h o r s t a c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e f u n d s o f t h e

L i b e r a l P a r t y , o n c o n d i t i o n t h a t i t s l e a d e r s s h o u l d n o t u r g e o r

s u p p o r t o u r r e t r o g r e s s i o n f r o m E g y p t , j u m p e d t o t h e r e m a r k

a b l e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h i s f a c t e x p l a i n e d t h e g r e a t e s t o f a l l

m y s t e r i e s i n r e g a r d t o M r . R h o d e s , t h e m y s t e r y w h y t h e

L i b e r a l s o n t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n C o m m i t t e e a l l o w e d h i m t o g e t

o f f s o v e r y e a s i l y . T h e a b s u r d i t y o f t h i s i s a p p a r e n t f r o m t h e

f a c t t h a t i t w a s n o t M r . R h o d e s b u t M r . C h a m b e r l a i n w h o w a s

l e t o f f e a s i l y b y t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n C o m m i t t e e , a n d t h a t t h e

L i b e r a l s a s s e n t e d t o t h e w h i t e w a s h i n g o f M r . C h a m b e r l a i n o n

c o n d i t i o n t h a t t h e y m i g h t b e a l l o w e d t o p r o n o u n c e s e n t e n c e

o f m a j o r e x c o m m u n i c a t i o n u p o n M r . R h o d e s . N e v e r t h e l e s s ,

t h e Spectator, f l o u n d e r i n g s t i l l m o r e h o p e l e s s l y i n t o t h e

m o r a s s , d e c l a r e d t h a t i f t h e t r a n s a c t i o n s r e c o r d e d w e r e

c o r r e c t , t h e L i b e r a l l e a d e r s w e r e a t t h e m e r c y o f M r . R h o d e s .

V

HIS CORRESPONDENCE.

T o t h i s S i r H e n r y C a m p b e l l - H a n n e r m a n r e p l i e d b l u n t l y b y

d e c l a r i n g t h a t t h e s t o r y w a s f r o m b e g i n n i n g t o e n d a l i e .

M r . R h o d e s t h e n w r o t e a l e t t e r w h i c h a p p e a r e d i n t h e

Spectator o f O c t o b e r 12, 1901 :—

Sir ,— - I have been appealed to upon the controversy that has arisen in your paper between a correspondent signing himself " C. B." and Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. I may say that the letter of " C . B." was written without my knowledge or approval, stil l , as his statement has been characterised as "a lie," it is my duty to send you the facts.

I made the acquaintance of Mr . Schnadhorst when he was visiting the Cape for his health early in 1890. I saw a great deal of him in Kimberley, and found that his political thoughts were in the direction of what would now be called Liberal Imperialism ; and his views as to Empire were no doubt enormously strengthened by his visit to Africa.

I told him that my ideas were Liberalism plus Empire, and I added that I thought the Liberal party was ruining itself by its L i t t l e England policy, my thoughts being then on the point of their desire to scuttle out of Egypt.

I subsequently met Mr. Schnadhorst in London, and he asked me whether I would be wil l ing to subscribe to the party funds. I said I was prepared to do so provided that the policy was not to scuttle out of Egypt, and that in the event of a Home Rule Bi l l being brought forward provision should be made for the retention of Irish Members at Westminster, as I considered the first Home Rule Bi l l of Mr. Gladstone's simply placed Ireland in a subject position, taxed for our Imperial purposes without a voice in the expenditure ; and it was hopeless ever to expect


closer union with the Colonies if a portion of the Empire so close as Ireland had been turned into a tributary State.

It is ridiculous to suppose, as I have seen it stated, that I thought I should purchase the Liberal policy for the sum of £5,000 or any

•other sum, and any Liberal making such a suggestion only insults his own party ; but I naturally did not want to help a party into power whose first act would be what I most objected to — namely, the abandonment of Egypt.

I understood from M r . Schnadhorst that he would consult Mr. Gladstone, which quite satisfied me, as I looked upon M r . Gladstone as the Liberal party. Mr. Schnadhorst accepted £ " 5 , 0 0 0

from myself for party purposes, coupled with the conditions defined in letter marked " A . "

Some time after I read a speech of Mr . Gladstone's at Newcastle—I think it was at the end •of 18 91— i n which he expressed the hope that Lord Salisbury would take some step " to relieve us from the burdensome and embarrassing occupation of Egypt . " This naturally surprised me after what had passed between Mr . Schnadhorst and myself, and I therefore wrote to him letter " B," and received in reply letter " C." (You wil l notice that in this letter, referring to my subscription, I say:—" As you are aware, the •question of Egypt was the only condition I made." I was only wr i t ing at sea from memory, but I knew the fear of losing Egypt, to which I referred in the postscript to my letter addressed to Mr. Schnadhorst marked " A , " had been the paramount thought in my mind.) I took no more trouble in the matter, as soon after I arrived in Africa L o r d Rosebery joined the Ministry


M r . Gladstone was forming, and I knew that Egypt was saved

The correspondence speaks for itself, and I leave your readers to decide how far Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman was justified in characterising the statement of " C. B." as being " f r o m beginning to end a lie."

According to their statement, neither Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman nor Sir Wi l l i am Harcourt was acquainted with the facts ; but I naturally assumed Mr . Schnadhorst to be speaking with a u t h o r i t y . — I am, sir, etc.,

C. J. RHODES.

[ A . ]

Monday, February 23, 1891. My dear Schnadhorst ,— I enclose you a

cheque for ^ 5 , 0 0 0 , and I hope you wi l l , with the extreme caution that is necessary, help in guiding your party to consider politics other than England.

I do not think your visit to Kimberley did you harm, either physically or politically, and I am glad to send you the contribution I promised. The future of England must be Liberal, perhaps, to fight Socialism. I make but two conditions ; please honourably observe them — (1) that my contribution is secret (if, of course, you feel in honour bound to tell Mr . Gladstone, you can do so, but no one else, and he must treat it as confidential) ; (2) if the exigencies of party necessitate a Home Rule Bil l without representation at Westminster, your Association must return my cheque.—Yours,

(Signed) C. J. RHODES. P . S . — I am horrified by Morley's speech on


Egypt. If you think your party hopeless keep the money, but give it to some charity you approve of. It would be an awful thing to give my money to breaking up the Empire.

[B-] On board the Dunottar, A p r i l 25, 1892.

My dear Schnadhorst,—I am sorry to have missed you, but glad to hear that you are so much better, though it robs one of the chance of seeing you again in South Africa.

I gather in England that your party is almost certain to come in, though there may be subsequent difficulty as to the shape of the Home Rule Bi l l .

The matter that is troubling me most is your policy as to Egypt. I was horrified when I returned from Mashonaland to read a speech of Mr. Gladstone's evidently foreshadowing a scuttle if he came in. I could hardly believe it to be true, and sat down to write to you, but thought it better to wait and see you. I have now missed you, so must trust to writ ing. I do hope you w i l l do your best to check him from the mad step, which must bring ruin and misery on the whole of Egypt, whilst our retirement wi l l undoubtedly bring it under the influence of one or other of the foreign Powers, which of course by reciprocal treaties wi l l eventually manage the exclusion of our trade. However, if your respected leader remains obdurate when he comes into power, and adopts this policy of scuttle, I shall certainly call upon you to devote my subscription to some public charity in terms of my letter to you, as I certainly, though a Liberal, did not subscribe to your party to assist in the one thing that I hate above


everything, namely, the policy of disentegrating and breaking up our Empire.

As you are aware, the question of Egypt was the only condition I made, and it seems rather extraordinary to me that the first public speech your leader should make—which sketches generally his views upon the near approach of office— should declare a policy of abandonment.

I asked you at the time I wrote to see him and tell him of my action, and I suppose you must have mentioned the Egyptian question, which was really all I cared about.

We are now one-third of the way with a telegraph through the continent from the South, only to hear of your policy of scuttle from the N o r t h . (Signed) C. J. RHODES.

P . S . — I have to send this to be posted in England, as I have forgotten your direction.

T h e p o s t s c r i p t e x p l a i n s h o w i t w a s t h a t t h i s l e t t e r c a m e i n t o

m y p o s s e s s i o n . I t w a s s e n t t o m e t o b e c o p i e d , a n d f o r w a r d e d

t o M r . S c h n a d h o r s t . I n r e p o r t i n g t h e r e c e i p t o f t h e l e t t e r t o

M r . R h o d e s I w r o t e a s f o l l o w s : —

" M a y 16th, 1892.

" D e a r M r . R h o d e s , — R e c e i v e d y o u r l e t t e r f o r S c h n a d h o r s t ,

a n d d u l y f o r w a r d e d i t t o h i m . I t h i n k t h e f a u l t l i e s w i t h

M r . S c h n a d h o r s t , n o t w i t h M r . G l a d s t o n e . I w a s w r i t i n g t o

M r . G l a d s t o n e a b o u t s o m e t h i n g e l s e , a n d i n c i d e n t a l l y m e n t i o n e d

t h a t y o u w e r e v e r y i n d i g n a n t w i t h s e v e r a l s p e e c h e s a b o u t E g y p t ,

w h e r e u p o n M r . G l a d s t o n e w r o t e a s k i n g w h a t w e r e t h o s e s p e e c h e s

t o w h i c h M r . R h o d e s t o o k e x c e p t i o n , a s h e h a d n o t t h e p l e a

s u r e o f k n o w i n g w h a t M r . R h o d e s ' s v i e w s w e r e c o n c e r n i n g

E g y p t . F r o m t h i s I i n f e r t h a t M r . S c h n a d h o r s t h a s n e v e r

i n f o r m e d M r . G l a d s t o n e o f a n y t h i n g t h a t y o u s a i d t o h i m , i n

w h i c h c a s e h e d e s e r v e s t h e b a d q u a r t e r o f a n h o u r h e w i l l

h a v e a f t e r r e c e i v i n g y o u r l e t t e r . I s a w M r . B a l f o u r t h e o t h e r

d a y , w h o s a i d h e d i d n o t t h i n k t h e d i f f i c u l t y w a s w i t h M r .

G l a d s t o n e , b u t r a t h e r w i t h S i r W i l l i a m H a r c o u r t , w h o b e l i e v e d

K

1 3 6 POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

i n t h e c u r t a i l m e n t o f t h e B r i t i s h E m p i r e , i f h e b e l i e v e d i n

n o t h i n g e l s e . B a l f o u r w a s v e r y s o r r y t h a t h e h a d n o t a c h a n c e

o f m e e t i n g y o u w h e n y o u w e r e h e r e , a s h e h a d l o o k e d f o r w a r d

t o y o u r c o m i n g i n t h e h o p e o f m a k i n g y o u r a c q u a i n t a n c e . —

I a m , y o u r s v e r y t r u l y , " ( S i g n e d ) W . T . S T E A D . "

T h e f o l l o w i n g i s M r . S c h n a d h o r s t ' s r e p l y : —

[ C ]

N a t i o n a l L i b e r a l F e d e r a t i o n ,

42, P a r l i a m e n t S t r e e t , S . W .

J u n e 4 t h , 1892.

M y d e a r R h o d e s , — I r e g r e t v e r y m u c h I d i d n o t s e e y o u

w h e n y o u w e r e h e r e , a s y o u r l e t t e r p l a c e s m e i n a p o s i t i o n o f

e x t r e m e p e r p l e x i t y . Y o u r d o n a t i o n w a s g i v e n w i t h t w o c o n

d i t i o n s , b o t h o f w h i c h w i l l b e o b s e r v e d , b u t i n a p o s t s c r i p t y o u

r e f e r r e d t o J o h n M o r l e y ' s s p e e c h o n E g y p t i n t h e s e n s e i n

w h i c h y o u h a v e w r i t t e n a b o u t M r . G l a d s t o n e ' s r e f e r e n c e t o t h e

s a m e s u b j e c t . I t i s e i g h t e e n m o n t h s a g o s i n c e I s a w y o u ,

w h e n y o u r e f e r r e d t o t h e s u b j e c t i n c o n v e r s a t i o n , a n d I t o l d

y o u t h e n , a s I t h i n k n o w , t h a t J . M . ' s s p e e c h w a s v e r y u n w i s e ,

a n d t h a t i t d i d n o t r e p r e s e n t t h e p o l i c y o f t h e p a r t y . T h e

G e n e r a l E l e c t i o n h a s b e e n c o m i n g n e a r , a n d i s n o w c l o s e

a t h a n d . Y o u r gift w a s i n t e n d e d t o h e l p i n t h e H o m e R u l e

s t r u g g l e . I t c o u l d d o s o o n l y b y b e i n g u s e d b e f o r e t h e

e l e c t i o n . B e i n g s a t i s f i e d t h a t I c o u l d o b s e r v e y o u r c o n

d i t i o n s , a n d t h a t J . M . ' s s p e e c h w a s s i m p l y t h e e x p r e s s i o n

o f a n i n d i v i d u a l o p i n i o n , I felt a t l i b e r t y t o p l e d g e

y o u r f u n d s for v a r i o u s p u r p o s e s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e

e l e c t i o n . T h i s w a s d o n e t o a l a r g e e x t e n t b e f o r e M r . G .

s p o k e a t N e w c a s t l e . I a m b o u n d t o s a y t h a t i n m y v i e w h i s

r e f e r e n c e t o E g y p t w a s n o m o r e t h a n a n e x p r e s s i o n o f a p i o u s

o p i n i o n . I t d i d n o t a l t e r m y f e e l i n g s t h a t a L i b e r a l G o v e r n

m e n t w o u l d n o t a t t e m p t w i t h d r a w a l . S i r W . H a r c o u r t w a s

a n n o y e d a t M r . G . ' s r e f e r e n c e a t t h e t i m e , a n d s i n c e I h e a r d

f r o m y o u I h a v e s e e n L o r d R o s e b e r y , w h o w i l l b e c o m e F o r e i g n

M i n i s t e r , a n d w h o I a m s a t i s f i e d f r o m w h a t h e s a i d t o m e w o u l d

n o t s a n c t i o n s u c h a p o l i c y . M r . G l a d s t o n e , I e x p e c t , h a d b e e n

w o r k e d o n b y a few i n d i v i d u a l s , p o s s i b l y b y J . M . a l o n e ; b u t

i n m y o p i n i o n i t w o u l d b e s i m p l y m a d n e s s f o r h i m t o a d d t o

HIS CORRESPONDENCE. '37

t h e e n o r m o u s d i f f i c u l t i e s w i t h w h i c h h e w i l l h a v e t o d e a l b y

r i s k i n g c o m p l i c a t i o n s o n s u c h a s u b j e c t . T h e r e i s n o d a n g e r ;

b e s i d e s , t h e n e x t L i b e r a l F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y w i l l b e a s t r o n g

m a n w h o w i l l t a k e h i s o w n c o u r s e , v e r y d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e p l i a n t

a n d s u p p l e G r a n v i l l e . O f c o u r s e , I m a y b e w r o n g ; t i m e

a l o n e c a n s h o w ; b u t i f I w a i t e d for t h a t t h e p u r p o s e for

w h i c h I a s k e d y o u r h e l p , a n d for w h i c h y o u g a v e i t , w o u l d g o

u n a i d e d .

Y o u w i l l s e e w h a t a p r e c i o u s f i x y o u h a v e p u t m e i n . I

w i l l n o t m a k e a n y f u r t h e r p r o m i s e s u n t i l I h e a r f r o m y o u . —

W i t h a l l g o o d w i s h e s , I a m , f a i t h f u l l y y o u r s ,

" ( S i g n e d ) F . SCHNADHORST."

I t w o u l d s e e m f r o m t h i s c o r r e s p o n d e n c e t h a t t h e r e i s n o t a

s h a d o w o r t i t t l e o f r e a s o n for a t t r i b u t i n g t o M r . R h o d e s o r t o

t h e L i b e r a l l e a d e r s a n y c o r r u p t c o n t r a c t , m u c h l e s s t h a t t h e r e

w a s a n y s u b s c r i p t i o n t o t h e p a r t y f u n d w h i c h w o u l d j u s t i f y t h e

m o n s t r o u s a s s e r t i o n o f t h e Spectator t h a t t h e a c c e p t a n c e o f t h i s

s u b s c r i p t i o n , o f t h e e x i s t e n c e o f w h i c h p r o b a b l y M r . G l a d s t o n e

w a s u n a w a r e , i n a n y w a y i n f l u e n c e d e i t h e r t h e p o l i c y o f t h e

G o v e r n m e n t a b o u t E g y p t o r t h e a c t i o n o f t h e L i b e r a l l e a d e r s

o n t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n C o m m i t t e e .

T h e a t t e m p t t h a t w a s m a d e i n s o m e q u a r t e r s t o r e p r e s e n t

M r . R h o d e s a s d i c t a t i n g t h e p o l i c y o f t h e I m p e r i a l G o v e r n m e n t

b y a s u b s c r i p t i o n o f , £ 5 , 0 0 0 t o a n e l e c t i o n f u n d is t o o p u e r i l e

t o b e d i s c u s s e d . A l l t h a t M r . R h o d e s d i d w a s t o t a k e t h e

c o u r s e w h i c h i s a l m o s t i n v a r i a b l y t a k e n b y a n y p e r s o n w h o

i s a s k e d t o s u b s c r i b e t o a c a m p a i g n f u n d . T h e r e i s h a r d l y

a n y t h i n g s u b s c r i b e d t o t h e e l e c t i o n e x p e n s e s o f a c a n d i d a t e o n

e i t h e r s i d e w h i c h i s n o t a c c o m p a n i e d b y a p u b l i c l y a n d p r i v a t e l y

e x p r e s s e d o p i n i o n a s t o t h e p o l i t i c a l c a u s e w h i c h i t i s h o p e d t h e

c a n d i d a t e w i l l s u p p o r t . S u b s c r i p t i o n s a r e c o n s t a n t l y g i v e n o r

r e f u s e d e v e r y y e a r b e c a u s e t h e d o n o r a g r e e s w i t h o r d i s s e n t s

f r o m s o m e p a r t i c u l a r a r t i c l e i n t h e p r o g r a m m e o f t h e c a n d i d a t e

h e i s a s k e d t o s u p p o r t . I t i s a c u r i o u s t h i n g t h a t a g r e a t

p a r t o f t h e o u t c r y a g a i n s t M r . R h o d e s ' s s u b s c r i p t i o n t o t h e

L i b e r a l P a r t y a r i s e s f r o m t h o s e w h o , w h e n M r . G l a d s t o n e w e n t

o f f t o t h e H o m e R u l e c a u s e , t r a n s f e r r e d t h e i r s u b s c r i p t i o n s

f r o m t h e L i b e r a l t o t h e U n i o n i s t e x c h e q u e r . T h e u s e o f

e l e c t o r a l s u b s c r i p t i o n s a s a m e a n s o f p r o m o t i n g p o l i t i c a l i d e a s

K 2


m a y b e a s o b j e c t i o n a b l e a s s o m e c r i t i c s m a i n t a i n , b u t i t d o e s

n o t l i e i n t h e m o u t h s o f t h o s e w h o r e m o r s e l e s s l y u s e d t h e

a d v a n t a g e s o f s u p e r i o r w e a l t h i n o r d e r t o p e n a l i s e t h e a d o p t i o n

o f a p o l i c y o f j u s t i c e t o I r e l a n d , t o t h r o w s t o n e s a t M r . R h o d e s .

M r . R h o d e s i n r885 w r o t e a l e t t e r o f s u c h p h e n o m e n a l

l e n g t h t h a t it f i l l e d a w h o l e s h e e t o f t h e Times, b u t a s it r e l a t e d

c h i e f l y t o t h e c o n t r o v e r s y a s t o t h e b e s t w a y o f a d m i n i s t e r i n g

B e c h u a n a l a n d , a n d w a s t h e p r o d u c t o f t h e c o m b i n e d w i t s o f

M r . M a g u i r e a n d h i m s e l f , i t i s n o t n e c e s s a r y t o q u o t e i t

h e r e .

A P o r t r a i t of M r . R h o d e s t a k e n in the M a t o p p o s , 1899.

39

CHAPTER IV.—HIS SPEECHES. M R . RHODES'S s p e e c h e s b e t w e e n 1881 a n d 1899 w e r e c o l

l e c t e d a n d p u b l i s h e d i n 1900 ( p u b l i s h e r s , C h a p m a n a n d H a l l ) .

W h e t h e r t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f M r . R h o d e s ' s s p e e c h e s w i l l t e n d

t o v i n d i c a t e h i s r e p u t a t i o n — a s t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f O l i v e r

C r o m w e l l ' s s p e e c h e s t e n d e d t o j u s t i f y t h e f a v o u r a b l e v e r d i c t o f

M r . C a r l y l e — r e m a i n s t o b e s e e n . H e r e , a t l e a s t , w e h a v e

m a t e r i a l for j u d g m e n t . I n t h i s b o o k , t h e p a i n s t a k i n g r e s e a r c h

o f a c h r o n i c l e r w h o p r e f e r r e d t o v e i l h i s i d e n t i t y b e h i n d t h e

p s e u d o n y m o f " V i n d e x , " a r e c o l l e c t e d a l l t h e p u b l i c s p e e c h e s

o f M r . R h o d e s w h i c h h a v e e v e r b e e n r e p o r t e d s i n c e h e e n t e r e d

p u b l i c l i fe i n t h e C a p e i n 1881, d o w n t o h i s f a m o u s s p e e c h a t

K i m b e r l e y i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e r e l i e f o f t h e b e l e a g u e r e d c i t y .

T h e s e s p e e c h e s , h o w e v e r , w e a r e g i v e n t o u n d e r s t a n d ,

h a v e n e i t h e r b e e n b o w d l e r i s e d n o r e d i t e d , e x c e p t i n g s o far a s i s

n e c e s s a r y t o c o r r e c t t h e s o m e w h a t s l i p s h o d g r a m m a r o f

C o l o n i a l r e p o r t e r s , e x c u s a b l e e n o u g h w h e n g r a p p l i n g w i t h t h e

i l l - h e w n s e n t e n c e s o f a m a n w h o t h i n k s a s h e i s s p e a k i n g .

M r . R h o d e s , h o w e v e r , h a d n o r e a s o n t o f e a r b e i n g t r i e d b y

t h i s o r d e a l . H e d o e s n o t e m e r g e a n i m m a c u l a t e s a i n t , c a r v e d

i n t h e w h i t e s t o f P a r i a n m a r b l e . H e i s r e v e a l e d n o t a s a n

a r c h a n g e l o f r a d i a n t s t a i n l e s s p u r i t y , b u t n e i t h e r w a s h e a

c l o v e n - f o o t e d d e v i l . J u d g i n g h i m b y h i s s t a t u r e i n i n f l u e n c e ,

i n a u t h o r i t y a n d i n d r i v i n g f o r c e , h e b e l o n g e d t o t h e o r d e r o f

a r c h a n g e l s ; b u t h e w a s a g r e y a r c h a n g e l , w i t h a c r i p p l e d w i n g ,

w h i c h c a u s e d h i m t o p u r s u e a s o m e w h a t d e v i o u s c o u r s e i n t h e

m i d s t o f t h e s t o r m - w i n d s o f r a c e - p a s s i o n a n d p o l i t i c a l i n t r i g u e .

A g r e y a r c h a n g e l c r o s s e d w i t h a J e s u i t , w h o w a s s o d e v o t e d

t o h i s e n d s t h a t a l m o s t a l l m e a n s w e r e t o h i m i n d i f f e r e n t ,

e x c e p t i n g i n s o far a s t h e y h e l p e d h i m t o a t t a i n h i s g o a l — t h a t

i s t h e m a n w h o i s r e v e a l e d t o u s i n t h e s e s p e e c h e s .

M r . R h o d e s d i d n o t e x e c u t e s o m a n y c u r v e s i n h i s p o l i t i c a l

c a r e e r a s d i d M r . G l a d s t o n e . H i s c o u r s e , w i t h o n e g r e a t a n d

l a m e n t a b l e e x c e p t i o n , w a s c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y a n u n s w e r v i n g

a d h e s i o n t o o n e p o l i t i c a l l i n e ; b u t t h r o u g h o u t t h e w h o l e o f h i s

l i f e t h e r e w a s m a n i f e s t t h e s a m e s t e a d y p u r p o s e , t o w h i c h h e

Ho POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

w a s t r u e i n g o o d r e p o r t a n d i n i l l . H e t a c k e d h i t h e r a n d

t h i t h e r , s t e e r i n g n o w t o t h e n o r t h a n d n o w t o t h e s o u t h ; b u t

h e e v e r k e p t h i s g o a l i n v i e w . H e d i d n o t n a v i g a t e t h e s e

c r o w d e d s e a s w i t h o u t a c o m p a s s a n d c h a r t . S h o r t - s i g h t e d

m o r t a l s , w h o h a v e n o o t h e r m e t e - w a n d b y w h i c h t o t e s t t h e

c o n s i s t e n c y o f s t a t e s m e n t h a n t h e i r f i d e l i t y t o t h e e p h e m e r a l

c o m b i n a t i o n s o f p a r t i e s , w e r e b e w i l d e r e d a n d d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e r e

w a s n o k n o w i n g w h a t t h i s m a n w a s after . B u t b y t h o s e w h o

w a t c h e d h i s c o u r s e a f a r of f i t w a s s e e n t h a t h i s a p p a r e n t

d i v a g a t i o n s f r o m t h e d i r e c t c o u r s e w e r e o n l y t h o s e o f t h e

m a r i n e r w h o m l o n g e x p e r i e n c e h a s t a u g h t t h a t a g a i n s t a n

a d v e r s e w i n d t h e s h o r t e s t w a y t o y o u r p o r t i s o f t e n t h e l o n g e s t

w a y a b o u t . M r . R h o d e s h i m s e l f a l w a y s m a i n t a i n e d t o t h o s e

w h o k n e w h i m i n t i m a t e l y a n d w h o c o u l d e n t e r i n t o h i s h i g h e r

t h o u g h t s , t h a t h e h a d o n e o b j e c t — n a m e l y , t o p r o m o t e b y a l l

t h e m e a n s i n h i s p o w e r t h e u n i o n , t h e d e v e l o p m e n t , t h e

e x t e n s i o n o f t h e E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g r a c e . E m p i r e w i t h M r .

R h o d e s m e a n t m a n y t h i n g s , c h i e f l y t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f t h e

u n i o n b e t w e e n t h e w i d e l y s c a t t e r e d c o m m u n i t i e s w h i c h o w e

a l l e g i a n c e t o t h e B r i t i s h C r o w n ; s e c o n d l y , t h e e s t a b l i s h e d

a u t h o r i t y o f t h i s r a c e — p e a c e f u l , i n d u s t r i o u s a n d f r e e — o v e r

t h e d a r k - s k i n n e d m y r i a d s o f A f r i c a a n d A s i a ; t h i r d l y , t h e

m a i n t e n a n c e o f a n o p e n d o o r for t h e p r o d u c t s o f B r i t i s h

m a n u f a c t u r e s t o a l l t h e m a r k e t s o f t h e w o r l d .

T h e s e w e r e M r . R h o d e s ' s p o l i t i c a l o b j e c t s . T o a t t a i n t h e s e

e n d s h e d e v o t e d h i s l i fe a n d d e d i c a t e d t h e w h o l e o f h i s

m o n e y , t h e a c q u i s i t i o n o f w h i c h s o m e e r r o n e o u s l y i m a g i n e c f ' t o

b e t h e g r e a t o b j e c t o f h i s l i fe . T o a c h i e v e t h e s e e n d s h e

w o r k e d first w i t h o n e s e t o f m e n a n d t h e n w i t h a n o t h e r ; b u t

o n t h e w h o l e i t w i l l b e f o u n d b y r e f e r e n c e t o t h e s p e e c h e s t h a t

for t h e m o s t p a r t h e s t o o d i n w i t h t h e D u t c h .

W i t h o u t f u r t h e r p r e f a c e I w i l l p r o c e e d t o e x a m i n e t h e

b o o k , a n d q u o t e f r o m t h e 912 p a g e s o f t h e s p e e c h e s h e r e

c o l l e c t e d s o m e s h o r t a n d p i t h y e x t r a c t s . I t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o

r e a d M r . R h o d e s ' s s p e e c h e s w i t h o u t f e e l i n g t h a t " V i n d e x "

h a d g o o d r e a s o n for t h e f a i t h t h a t w a s w i t h i n h i m . I a l w a y s

t h o u g h t a g r e a t d e a l o f M r . R h o d e s , b u t t h e p e r u s a l o f t h e s e

s p e e c h e s l e d m e t o f e e l t h a t I h a d n e v e r d o n e j u s t i c e t o m a n y

s i d e s o f h i s s i n g u l a r l y a t t r a c t i v e c h a r a c t e r .

T a k e , f o r i n s t a n c e , t h e f a s c i n a t i o n w h i c h h e u n d o u b t e d l y

I 4 i

Photograph by S, B. Barnard,} [Cape Toivv,

A C h a r a c t e r i s t i c P o r t r a i t .



e x e r c i s e d o v e r G e n e r a l G o r d o n . E v e r y o n e k n o w s t h a t G o r d o n

w i s h e d M r . R h o d e s t o g o w i t h h i m t o K h a r t o u m o n t h e f a m o u s

m i s s i o n w h i c h h a d s o t r a g i c a t e r m i n a t i o n , b u t I w a s n o t a w a r e

u n t i l I f o u n d i t i n t h i s b o o k h o w i n s i s t e n t G o r d o n h a d b e e n t o

s e c u r e M r . R h o d e s ' s a s s i s t a n c e i n t n e p a c i f i c a t i o n o f B a s u t o l a n d .

I t w a s i n t h e y e a r 1882 t h a t G o r d o n a n d R h o d e s m e t .

" V i n d e x " s a y s t h a t t h e y w e r e b o t h d e e p l y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e

B a s u t o q u e s t i o n . T h e y u s e d t o t a k e l o n g w a l k s t o g e t h e r a n d

d i s c u s s I m p e r i a l a n d o t h e r q u e s t i o n s , w i t h t h e r e s u l t o f v i g o r o u s

a r g u m e n t b e t w e e n t h e m . T h e y b e c a m e s u c h c l o s e f r i e n d s

t h a t w h e n R h o d e s w a s s t a r t i n g f o r K i m b e r l e y , G o r d o n p r e s s e d

h i m h a r d t o s t a y a n d w o r k w i t h h i m i n B a s u t o l a n d . R h o d e s

r e f u s e d o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t h e h a d a l r e a d y m a p p e d o u t h i s l i f e ' s

w o r k , w h i c h l a y e l s e w h e r e . G o r d o n w o u l d t a k e n o d e n i a l f o r

a l o n g t i m e , a n d w h e n f o r c e d t o g i v e i n a t l a s t , s a i d , " T h e r e

a r e v e r y f e w m e n i n t h e w o r l d t o w h o m I w o u l d m a k e s u c h

a n offer, b u t o f c o u r s e y o u w i l l h a v e y o u r o w n w a y . " " Y o u

a l w a y s c o n t r a d i c t m e , " G o r d o n s a i d t o R h o d e s , " y o u a l w a y s

t h i n k y o u a r e r i g h t a n d e v e r y o n e e l s e w r o n g , " a f o r m u l a

w h i c h R h o d e s , n o d o u b t , w o u l d h a v e a p p l i e d w i t h e q u a l j u s t i c e

t o G o r d o n h i m s e l f . T h e c l o s e n e s s o f t h e t i e w h i c h b o u n d

t o g e t h e r t h e t w o m e n w a s n a t u r a l e n o u g h . B o t h w e r e i d e a l i s t s

w h o s e t h o u g h t s r a n o n t h e s a m e l i n e s i n m a n y t h i n g s , t h e c h i e f

d i f f e r e n c e b e i n g n o t a s t o a i m s b u t a s t o t h e p r a c t i c a l m e t h o d s

f o r r e a l i s i n g t h e m . T h i s i s w e l l i l l u s t r a t e d b y " R h o d e s ' s w e l l -

k n o w n o b s e r v a t i o n w h e n G o r d o n t o l d h i m t h a t h e h a d r e f u s e d

a r o o m f u l o f g o l d o f f e r e d h i m b y t h e C h i n e s e G o v e r n m e n t a s a

r e w a r d for s u p p r e s s i n g t h e T a e p i n g r e b e l l i o n . " I w o u l d h a v e

t a k e n i t , " s a i d R h o d e s , " a n d a s m a n y r o o m f u l s a s t h e y w o u l d

h a v e g i v e n m e . I t i s o f n o u s e t o h a v e b i g i d e a s i f y o u h a v e

n o t t h e c a s h t o c a r r y t h e m o u t . "

T h a t R h o d e s h a d b i g i d e a s n o p e r s o n w h o r e a d s t h i s c o l

l e c t i o n o f s p e e c h e s w i l l d o u b t . O n e o f t h e e a r l i e s t s p e e c h e s i n

" V i n d e x ' s " c o l l e c t i o n w a s t h a t w h i c h h e d e l i v e r e d i n J u l y ,

1883, o n t h e B a s u t o l a n d A n n e x a t i o n B i l l . I t w a s a v e r i t a b l e

C o n f e s s i o n o f F a i t h , t h e d e c l a r a t i o n o f p o l i t i c a l c o n v i c t i o n s

f r o m w h i c h M r . R h o d e s n e v e r v a r i e d .

" I have my own views as to the future of South Africa, and I believe in an United States

HIS SPEECHES. U3

of South Africa, but as a portion of the British Empire. I believe that confederated states in a colony under responsible government would each be practically an independent republic ; but I think we should have all the privileges of the tie wi th the Empire. Possibly there is not a very great divergence between myself and the honourable member for Stellenbosch, excepting always the question of the flag."

T h e h o n o u r a b l e m e m b e r for S t e l l e n b o s c h w a s M r . H o f m e y r ,

w h o w a s r e p o r t e d t o h a v e s a i d t h a t h e w a s i n f a v o u r o f t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s o f S o u t h A f r i c a u n d e r i t s o w n f l a g .

I t i s v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g t o s e e t h i s d i f f e r e n c e o n t h e f l a g c r o p

p i n g u p a s l o n g a g o a s 1883. M r . R h o d e s w a s a l w a y s a f a n a t i c

o n t h e s u b j e c t o f t h e B r i t i s h f l a g . S p e a k i n g a t B l o e m f o n t e i n

i n 1890, M r . R h o d e s i s r e p o r t e d a s h a v i n g s a i d t h a t h e felt

a d m i r a t i o n for t h e s e n t i m e n t r e g a r d i n g t h e p o s s e s s i o n o f a

n a t i o n a l f l a g , a n d h e l o o k e d f o r w a r d t o e q u i t a b l e u n d e r s t a n d i n g s

w h i c h , w h i l e n o t s a c r i f i c i n g s e n t i m e n t , w o u l d b r i n g a b o u t a

p r a c t i c a l u n i o n i n S o u t h A f r i c a . W h a t h e m e a n t b y t h i s i s

q u i t e c l e a r , a n d w o u l d h a v e b e e n c l e a r e r h a d " V i n d e x "

r e p o r t e d h i s s p e e c h i n f u l l . M r . R h o d e s w a s i n f a v o u r o f

a l l o w i n g t h e r e p u b l i c s t o r e t a i n t h e i r o w n f l a g s w h e n t h e y c a m e

i n t o t h e C o n f e d e r a t i o n , a n d h e a n g r i l y r e p r o v e d t h o s e w h o

w i s h e d t o t a k e a w a y t h e r e p u b l i c a n f l a g s f r o m S o u t h A f r i c a .

D e v o t i o n t o h i s o w n f l a g e n a b l e d h i m t o s y m p a t h i s e w i t h t h e

s e n t i m e n t o f t h e D u t c h . A t K i m b e r l e y , i n 1890, h e s a i d t h a t

h e d e p r e c a t e d a n y a t t e m p t t o f o r c e a u n i o n o f S o u t h A f r i c a

u n d e r t h e s a m e f l a g . H e s a i d : —

" I know myself that I am not prepared to forfeit at any time my own flag. I repeat I am not prepared at any time to forfeit my own flag. If I forfeit my flag what have I left ? If you take away my flag you take away everything. Hold ing this view I cannot but feel the same respect for the neighbouring states where men have been born under republican institutions and w i t h republican feelings."


T h e r e i n M r . R h o d e s l a i d h i s f i n g e r u p o n t h e g r e a t s e c r e t o f

h i s s u c c e s s — t h a t w h i c h d i f f e r e n t i a t e d h i m f r o m t h e r u c k o f t h e

p e o p l e b y w h o m h e w a s s u r r o u n d e d . H e h a d n o t o n l y

i m a g i n a t i o n , b u t h e h a d s y m p a t h y .

I t w o u l d b e d i f f i c u l t t o f i n d a n y s p e e c h e s s o i n s t i n c t w i t h

t h e s p i r i t o f t r u e C o l o n i a l s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t , a n d t h e a s s e r t i o n o f

t h e f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s w h i c h m i l i t a r y I m p e r i a l i s m t r a m p l e s

u n d e r foot , t h a n t h o s e w h i c h m e e t u s o n a l m o s t e v e r y p a g e o f

t h i s b o o k . O n e o f t h e b e s t s p e e c h e s w h i c h M r . R h o d e s e v e r

d e l i v e r e d w a s t h a t w h i c h h e a d d r e s s e d t o t h e C o n g r e s s o f t h e

A f r i k a n d e r B o n d i n 1891. W e a r e t o l d c o n s t a n t l y t h a t t h e

A f r i k a n d e r B o n d i s a t r e a s o n a b l e a s s o c i a t i o n .

B u t i n 1891 M r . R h o d e s s t o o d u p t o p r o p o s e t h e t o a s t o f

t h e A f r i k a n d e r B o n d . H e h a d j u s t r e t u r n e d f r o m E n g l a n d ,

w h e r e h e h a d r e c e i v e d , a s h e s a i d , " t h e h i g h e s t c o n s i d e r a t i o n

f r o m t h e p o l i t i c i a n s o f E n g l a n d , " a n d H e r M a j e s t y h a d i n v i t e d

h i m t o d i n e w i t h h e r . F r e s h f r o m t h e s e t o k e n s o f c o n f i d e n c e

a t D o w n i n g S t r e e t a n d a t W i n d s o r , h e h a s t e n e d t o A f r i c a t o

p r o p o s e t h e t o a s t o f t h e A f r i k a n d e r B o n d , a n d t o d e c l a r e

t h a t h e

" felt most completely and entirely that the object and aspirations of the Afrikander Bond were in complete touch and concert with a fervent loyalty to H e r Majesty the Queen." " 1 come here," said M r . Rhodes, "because I wish to show that there is no antagonism between the aspirations of the people of this country and of their kindred in the mother country. But," M r . Rhodes added significantly, "prov ided always that the Old Country recognises that the whole idea of the colonies and of the colonial people is that the principle of self-government must be preserved to the full, and that the capacity of the colony must be admitted to deal wi th every internal matter that may arise in this country. T h e , principle must be recognised in the Old Country that the people born and bred in this colony, and descended from those who existed in this country many

HIS SPEECHES. 145

generations ago, are much better capable of dealing with the various matters that arise than people who have to dictate some thousands of miles away. Now that is the people of the Afrikander Bond. I look upon that party as representing the people of that country." He declared that " t h e future rested with the Afrikander Bond. Your ideas are the same as mine."

While always professing his full loyalty and devotion to the mother country, he asserted that self-government would give them everything they wanted.

" Let us accept jo int ly the idea that the most complete internal self-government is what we are both aiming at. That self-government means that every question in connection with this country we shall decide, and we alone. The we are the white men in South Afr ica—Dutch and English."

Between the two M r . Rhodes kept the balance even. Speaking at the Paarl about the same time, he declared that he hardly knew which to choose between, the Dutch and the English, as the dominant race in the world.

" You have only got to read history to know that if ever there was a proud, rude man, it was an Englishman—the only man to cope wi th him was a Dutchman."

The impression left upon the mind by the reading of these earlier speeches of Mr . Rhodes is that, while devoted to the British Empire and true to the principle of the Empire, he was nevertheless primarily a Cape Colonist. We have here nothing concerning the paramountcy of Downing Street, or even of the supremacy of the Empire. What he struggled for was the para- , mountcy of Cape Colony. The Cape was to be the dominant power in South x\frica. The Northern extension of Bechuanaland was to be made for the Cape, and the Cape was then, as

146

Photograph by\ [£• H> M i l ! s -D r . F . R u t h e r f o o r d H a r r i s .

HIS SPEECHES. 147

i t i s n o w , a n d w i l l p r o b a b l y a l w a y s r e m a i n , t h e c o l o n y i n w h i c h

t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e p e o p l e s p e a k D u t c h . X o p e r s o n e v e r

r e b u k e d m o r e v e h e m e n t l y i n a d v a n c e t h e a t t e m p t s o f t h e

m i l i t a r y c o e r c i o n i s t s t o d i s c r i m i n a t e a g a i n s t t h e D u t c h i n

f a v o u r o f t h e B r i t i s h . M r . R h o d e s , b y a l l h i s a n t e c e d e n t s ,

b y f o r c e o f i n s t i n c t , s t r e n g t h e n e d b y t h e d e e p e s t p o l i t i c a l

c o n v i c t i o n , w o u l d h a v e b e e n d r i v e n h a d h e l i v e d t o c o m e t o

t h e f r o n t a n d d e f e n d t h e D u t c h o f S o u t h A f r i c a a g a i n s t t h e

" l o y a l i s t s " w h o c l a m o u r for d i s f r a n c h i s e m e n t a n d p e r s e c u t i o n

o f t h e D u t c h a s t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f S o u t h

A f r i c a .

W e h a d t h e s a m e k i n d o f t h i n g i n 1884, w h e n , a f t e r t h e

W a r r e n e x p e d i t i o n , i t w a s r e p o r t e d t h a t S i r C h a r l e s W a r r e n

h a d d r a w n u p a s c h e m e w h i c h c o n t a i n e d a p r o v i s i o n t h a t n o

D u t c h m a n n e e d a p p l y for l a n d i n t h e n e w l y - a c q u i r e d t e r r i t o r y .

U p o n t h i s M r . R h o d e s s a i d : — •

" I think all would recognise that I am an Englishman, and one of my strongest feelings is loyalty to my own country. If the report of such a condition in the settlement by Sir Charles Warren is correct, that no man of Dutch descent is to have a farm, it would be better for the English colonists to retire. I remember, when a youngster, reading in my English history of the supremacy of my country and its annexations, and that there were two cardinal axioms—that the word of the nation when once pledged was never broken, and that when a man accepted the citizenship of the British Empire there was no distinction between races. It has been my misfortune in one year to meet with the breach of one and the proposed breach of the other. The result wi l l be that when the troops are gone we shall have to deal with sullen feeling, discontent, and hostility. The proposed settlement of Bechuanaland is based on the exclusion of colonists of Dutch descent. I raise my voice in most solemn protest against such a course, and it


is the duty of every Englishman in the House to record his solemn protest against i t . In conclusion, I wish to say that the breach of solemn pledges and the introduction of race distinctions must result in bringing calamity on this country ; and if such a policy is pursued it wi l l endanger the whole of our social relationships with colonists of Dutch descent, and endanger the supremacy of Her Majesty in this country."

N o o n e c o u l d h a v e d e n o u n c e d m o r e v e h e m e n t l y t h a n M r .

R h o d e s t h e s u g g e s t i o n t h a t a C r o w n C o l o n y o f a n y k i n d s h o u l d

b e e s t a b l i s h e d u n d e r D o w n i n g S t r e e t i n t h e h e a r t o f S o u t h

A f r i c a .

" I have held," he said, " t o one view. T h a t is the government of South Africa by the people of South Africa whilst keeping the Imperial tie of self-defence."

W h i l e h e w o u l d n o t o b j e c t t o a l l o w t h e I m p e r i a l G o v e r n m e n t

a t e m p o r a r y r e s p o n s i b i l i t y d u r i n g a p e r i o d o f t r a n s i t i o n , h e

d e c l a r e d —

" I do object most distinctly to the formation of a separate British colony in*-the interior of South Africa on the Zambesi apart from the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope."

I f h e felt t h a t a s far a w a y a s t h e Z a m b e s i i s , h o w m u c h m o r e

s t r o n g l y w o u l d h e h a v e felt i t j u s t a c r o s s t h e V a a l a n d t h e

O r a n g e R i v e r !

I n c i d e n t a l l y a l s o n o t e t h a t M r . R h o d e s s t r o n g l y s u p p o r t e d

t h e D u t c h p o l i c y o f d e a l i n g w i t h t h e n a t i v e s a s o p p o s e d t o

t h e p o l i c y o f E x e t e r H a l l a n d t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s . H e m a i n

t a i n e d t h a t t h e D u t c h t r e a t e d t h e n a t i v e s v e r y w e l l . H i s o w n

n a t i v e p o l i c y , w h i c h i s p r a c t i c a l l y a c c e p t e d t o - d a y b y n e a r l y

e v e r y w h i t e m a n i n S o u t h A f r i c a , w a s s t a t e d b y h i m i n 1888

a s f o l l o w s : —

" W e l l , I have made up my mind that there must be class legislation, that there must be Pass

HIS SPEECHES. 149

Laws and Peace Preservation Acts, and that we have got to treat natives, where they are in a state of barbarism, in a different way to ourselves. We are to be lords over them. These are my politics on native affairs, and these are the politics of South Africa. Treat the natives as a subject people as long as they continue in a state of barbarism and communal tenure; be the lords over them, and let them be a subject race—and keep the liquor from.them."

V i e w e d i n t h e l i g h t o f t h e s e e x t r a c t s , w e c a n s e e w h a t

w o u l d h a v e b e e n t h e l i n e w h i c h M r . R h o d e s w o u l d h a v e t a k e n

i n t h e i m m e d i a t e f u t u r e o f S o u t h A f r i c a . F i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t ,

M r . R h o d e s w o u l d h a v e s t o o d b y t h e f l a g . H e w o u l d n e v e r

b e t h e G e o r g e W a s h i n g t o n o f a r e v o l t e d S o u t h A f r i c a — - u n l e s s ,

o f c o u r s e , D o w n i n g S t r e e t s h o u l d t r y t o p l a y t h e p a r t o f

G e o r g e I I I . S e c o n d l y , h e w o u l d o f n e c e s s i t y h a v e b e c o m e

t h e c e n t r e r o u n d w h i c h w o u l d h a v e g r a v i t a t e d a l l t h e f o r c e s

m a k i n g for s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t a n d c o l o n i a l i n d e p e n d e n c e . H e

w a s t h e n a t u r a l l e a d e r o f t h e p r o t e s t a g a i n s t t h a t m i l i t a r i s m

w h i c h c o s t u s t h e T r a n s v a a l i n 1880—81, a n d w h i c h w i l l

i n e v i t a b l y p r o d u c e t h e s a m e r e s u l t s i f i t i s a l l o w e d t o p l a c e

S o u t h A f r i c a u n d e r t h e r u l e o f t h e s o l d i e r ' s j a c k - b o o t . T h i r d l y ,

M r . R h o d e s w o u l d h a v e u n d e r t a k e n t h e c h a m p i o n s h i p o f t h e

D u t c h a g a i n s t t h e d o m i n a n t p a r t y w h i c h w i s h e d t o p u t t h e m

u n d e r t h e h a r r o w .

E x t r a c t s g i v e a n i m p e r f e c t i d e a o f M r . R h o d e s ' s

s p e e c h e s . I q u o t e t h e r e f o r e o n e s p e e c h i n f u l l . I t w a s t h a t

w h i c h h e d e l i v e r e d w h e n h e w a s a t t h e z e n i t h o f h i s f a m e a t

t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e y e a r w h i c h w a s t o c l o s e s o d i s a s t r o u s l y

w i t h t h e J a m e s o n R a i d . T h e s p e e c h i s t h a t w h i c h h e a d d r e s s e d

t o t h e s h a r e h o l d e r s o f t h e C h a r t e r e d C o m p a n y o n J a n u a r y 18th,

1895. I t i s a l s o i n t e r e s t i n g a s c o n t a i n i n g a v e r y ful l d e s c r i p

t i o n o f t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h i n g s i n R h o d e s i a a t t h a t t i m e .

" M r . Chairman and Gentlemen, I have to thank you for the reception which you have accorded to me, but I think that you naturally


desire that we should deal with the practical part of the Company's development in Matabeleland and Mashonaland, because you must remember that the English are a very practical people. They like expansion, but they like it in connection with practical business. I w i l l not refer to the causes that led to our late war, but I may tell you very frankly that we either had to have that war or to leave the country. I do not blame the Matabele. Their system was a mil itary system ; once a year they raided the surrounding people, and such a system was impossible for our development. Conclusions were tried, and they came to a successful issue so far as we wrere concerned. I might make one remark with respect to that war ; that to refer to the men who took part in it as political adventurers was a mistake. You can quite understand that, however bad times were, you would not risk your life unless there was something other than profit from the possible chance of obtaining a farm at the end of the war of the value now of«about £50. Really, why the people volunteered so readily was that they had adopted this new country as their home, and they saw very clearly that unless they tried issues with the Matabele, they would have to leave the country. I th ink that is the best reply to the charge that the men who took a part in the war did it for the sake of loot and profit.

" Now, in looking at this question, we have to consider what we possess, and I can tell you that we possess a very large piece of the world. If you wi l l look at the map, let us consider what we have north of the Zambesi. We have now taken over the administration of the land north of the Zambesi save and except the Nyassaland Protectorate. We have also received sanction

HIS SPEECHES. 15'

for all our concessions there ; that is, the land and minerals north of the Zambesi belong to the Chartered Company, with one exception, the small piece termed the Nyassaland Protectorate. Even in that, however, we have considerable rights as to the minerals and land, in return for the property we took over from a Scotch company called the Lakes Company. We have, however, been relieved from the cost of administration of the Nyassaland Protectorate. Her Majesty's Government and the British people have at last felt it their duty to pay for the administration of one of their own provinces, and I think we have a very fair reply to the L i t t le Englanders, who are always charging us with increasing the responsibilities of Her Majesty's Government, and stating that the ' Charters,' when in difficulty, always appeal to the mother country. Our reply must be that the boot is on the other leg. For four years we have found the cost of administration of one of your own provinces, and we are proud to think that we have yearly paid into Her Majesty's Treasury a sum for the administration of one of our own provinces, because Governments were unable to face the House of Commons to ask them to contribute to their obligations.

" Wel l , that is the position north of the Zambesi ; and I may say, in reference to that part of our territory, that there are very promising reports from it. It is a high plateau, fully mineralised, and every report shows that the high plateau is a part where Europeans can live. If we pass from that to the South, we first come to Matabeleland and Mashonaland. There we have had great difficulties in the past. We had a Charter, but not a country. We had first to go


in and occupy Mashonaland with the consent of the Mashonas, and then we had to deal with the Matabele. At the present moment there is a civilised oovernment over the whole of that. We also possess the land and minerals, and from a sentimental point of view I wi l l say this—that I visited the territory the other day and saw nearly all the chiefs of the Matabele, and I may say that they were all pleased, and naturally so. In the past they had always " walked delicately," because any one who got to any position in the country and became rich was generally "smelt out," and lost his life. You can understand that life was not very pleasant under such conditions. In so far as the bulk of the people were concerned they were not allowed to hold any cattle or possess anything of their own. Now they can hold cattle, and the leaders of the people know that they do not walk daily with the fear of death over them, We have now occupied the country, which I think we administer fairly, and in that territory also we possess the land and minerals.

" W i t h regard to the South, in the country termed the Bechuanaland Protectorate, we possess all the mineral rights of Khamaland, and we have the negative right to the land and minerals as far south as Mafeking. What I mean by the negative right is, that from Mafeking throughout the whole Protectorate, since the grant of the Charter, no one has any right to obtain any concession from the natives except through the Chartered Company. We therefore possess the land, minerals, and territory from Mafeking to Tanganyika—that is, twelve hundred miles long and five hundred broad. I might say, with respect to that country,, that I see no future difficulties in so far as risings of the natives are

HIS SPEECHES. '53

concerned. We have satisfied the people throughout the whole of i t , and we may say that we have now come to that point when we can deal, without the risk of war, wi th the peaceful development of the country. That is what we possess.

" Now, you might very fairly ask what has it cost us. Your position is somewhat as follows :— You have a share capital of , £ 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 , and you have a debenture debt to-day of about , £ 6 5 0 , 0 0 0 ; and I might point out to you that as against that debenture debt you have paid for the one hundred miles of railway in the Crown Colony of Bechuanaland, you have about fourteen hundred miles of telegraph, you have built magistrates' courts in the whole of your territory, you have civilised towns in five or six different parts, and the Beira Railway. Although you do not hold their debentures, you have the voting power, and the railway is completed. We might now fairly say, if you put aside the Mafeking Railway and the land you hold in the Crown Colony of Bechuanaland, as apart from the chartered territories, that your debenture debt can be regarded as about , £ 3 5 0 , 0 0 0 ; because I do not think it is an unfair price to put in your assets in Bechuanaland at . £ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 , for, since the railway was opened there, it has paid its working expenses and four per cent. Therefore, in looking at the matter from a purely commercial point of view, you might say, we possess a country with all the rights to it , in length twelve hundred miles and in breadth an average of five hundred, and we have a debt of about , £ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 or , £ 3 5 0 , 0 0 0 , because we have an asset apart from that country in the Crown Colony of British Bechuanaland of about , £ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 .

" T h e next question you would naturally ask L 2


would be, what is the appreciation of the people as to that country ? The only test you can take in a way is, apart from the very large sum put into mineral developments, what the people consider the value of the townships sold, because that is always the judgment of the individual. He buys a stand because he wishes to erect a store or building. You cannot term that the speculative action of syndicates. I may tell you that at the last stand sale in Bulawayo the purchases were made by people who have since erected stores and buildings with the intention of remaining and residing in the country. As you are aware, the sales there realised , £ 5 3 , 0 0 0 , and I received in connect ion with this matter an interesting telegram last night. A stand which fetched at our sale , £ 1 6 0 was s o l d — I suppose yesterday or the day before, because we are now in complete communication by the telegraph—for ,£"3,050. The value of the building on it is estimated at , £ 1 , 0 0 0 , so within six months, in the estimation of the purchaser, the stand has risen from . £ 1 6 0 to , £ 2 , 0 5 0 , in so far as the ground value is concerned. That speaks more than words, and shows the confidence of the people in the country.

" The next risk with a commercial company like ours would be the question of the cost of administration. You might very fairly say, ' We know that the future is all right. We feel that so huge a country, mineralised like that, must come out successfully; but what is the cost of administration, what is the difference between revenue and expenditure?' That is the next question which business men would ask. In connection wi th that you wi l l no doubt have examined the reports, but it is always very difficult to obtain a practical idea from a report.

HIS SPEECHES. •55

respecting a question like this. 1 can, however, tell you from my knowledge about the position. The revenue now is about , £ 5 0 , 0 0 0 per annum from the country, and the expenditure is about . £ 7 0 , 0 0 0 . You must, however, remember that 1 do not include in the revenue of , £ 5 0 , 0 0 0 the sale of stands, because 1 call that capital account. I mean by revenue, what you receive monthly from stamps, licences, and the ordinary sources of revenue which every country possesses. I am therefore justified in thinking that we need feel no alarm as to the future about balancing our expenditure with our revenue, because I would point out to you, that if with no claim licences— because we are deriving few or none now—with no customs, and practically with no hut tax at present, you almost balance now, I think we may fairly say that we shall balance in the future, and earn a sum with which to pay interest on our debentures. I do not think that is an excessive proposition to make, and you must remember that this expenditure covers a force of over two hundred police. Two years ago, when I told you we were balancing in Mashonaland, we had practically dismissed all our police, as we could not afford them, but the new position is that with an expenditure of , £ 7 0 , 0 0 0 and a revenue of , £ 5 0 , 0 0 0 , we are paying for two hundred police, and really we do not want more expenditure. We have magistrates in every town, mining commissioners, and a complete system of government. We have a Council, an Administrator, a Judcre, and a Lesfal Adviser. 1 cannot therefore see that we want any more heavy expenditure, and that is why I have not asked for any increase of capital.

" From a commercial point of view, the way I

i 3 6

Photograph iy\ \E. 11. Mills. M r . H a y s H a m m o n d .

HIS SPEECHES. '57

look at it is somewhat as follows :—We have a capital of ,£ 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 in shares, let that be our capital ; we have our debentures, as to half of which we have a liquid asset in the Crown Colony of British Bechuanaland. W h a t future extra expenditure can there be ? There can be no more wars, for there are no more people to make the wars. As to public buildings, in each of our towns we have most excellent public buildings, quite equal to the ordinary buildings in Cape Colony ; I speak of Bulawayo, Salisbury, Umtal i , and Victoria. As to telegraphs, every town in the country is connected with the telegraph excepting Umtal i . As to railway communication, we have given railway communication in the east from Beira to Chimoio, through the ' fly,' and one of the richest portions of the country is only seventy-five miles from the terminus. We have extended the Vryburg Railway to Mafeking—that is five hundred miles from Bulawayo. If the country warrants further railway communications the money can be found apart from the Charter. If the country does not warrant any further railway extensions, then we had better not build it . The people must be satisfied as we were in the past at Kimberley. For years we had to go six hundred miles by waggon to Kimberley, and then we went five hundred miles, and later four hundred miles by the same means, although the yearly exports were between £ " 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 and , £ 3 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 . When Kimberley justified a railway, a railway was made, and so it wi l l be in this case. We have maintained our position. We have a complete administration, and we have railway facilities which wi l l allow batteries to be sent in. I do not see, therefore, where more public expenditure is required. The


extension of railways wi l l be undertaken when the country warrants it , apart from the Charter. When, therefore, I came home, and was spoken to about the question of an increase of capital, I , after a careful consideration, thought it would be an unwise th ing to submit to the shareholders. We are practically paying our way, and we shall keep our Chartered capital at ,£ 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 ; and I cannot see in the future any reason which would cause us to increase it. If the country is a failure, we had better not increase i t ; and i f the country is a success, i t wi l l not be wanted.

" Now, we have dealt w i t h the question of what we possess, what it has cost us, and our present financial position, and you might next very fairly say, What are the prospects? W e l l , looking at that question, I can only say that I have been through the country, and from an agricultural point of view I know it is a place where white people are going to settle. It is good agricultural country. As to climate, it is asked by some whether it is not a fever country. It is nothing of the kind. It is a high healthy plateau, and I would as soon live there as in any part of South Africa. Towards the Portuguese territory and in some parts of the low country the climate is unhealthy, and the same applies to the country just on the Zambesi ; the high plateau, however, is perfectly healthy. You may therefore say that you have a country where white people can live and be born and brought up, and it is suitable for agriculture ; but of course the main point we must look to, in so far as a return to our shareholders is concerned, is the question of the mineralisation of the country. I have said once before that out of licences and

HIS SPEECHES. •59

the usual sources of revenue for a Government you cannot expect to pay dividends. The people would get annoyed if you did ; they do not l ike to see licences spent in dividends—those are assets which are to pay for any public works and for good government. We must therefore look to our minerals to give us a return on our capital, which you must remember is £ 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 .

" I n dealing with that question, I wi l l ask, What have you got ? You possess a country about one thousand two hundred miles by five hundred which is mineralised, and as regards the efforts which have at present been made, you have in connection with the search for minerals forty thousand claims registered with the Government of the country. That means two thousand miles of mineralised quartz, and I would refer you to the report of Mr. Hammond, who went through the country with me, and who is the consulting engineer of the Goldfields of South Africa Company. He was highly pleased with what he saw. There was a suggestion made that the reefs were not true fissure veins ; did not go down. He pooh-poohed that idea. I would refer you to page 35 of the directors' report, where he alludes to that, and says : ' Veins of this class are universally noted for their permanency.' Then if you follow his remarks on the mineral position, you wil l find that he says : ' It would be an anomaly in the history of gold-mining if, upon the hundreds of miles of mineralised veins, valuable ore-shoots should not be developed as the result of future work.' He adds : ' There are, I think, substantial grounds to predict the opening up of shoots of ore from which an important mining industry wi l l ultimately be developed.' Then he warns people about the mode of investing money in the search for minerals,

R6O POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

and says : ' W i t h these admonitions, I confidently commend the country to the attention of mining capitalists.' That is the report of a cautious man who visited the country and reported on what he saw.

" Y o u must remember that in the past, in dealing wi th our reefs, we have not had men acquainted with mining. They were chiefly young fellows who went up and occupied the country, and who knew as l i tt le about mining as many of you here do. They had no means of ascertaining, because the mineralisation of that country is quartz, and not alluvial, and we could get in no batteries. Sti l l , the past four years have proved that the whole country is mineralised from end to end, and in reference to the discoveries made I think I am justified in stating that such have been the reports of those who are connected with those discoveries, that nearly three-quarters of a mill ion sterling has been subscribed lately for the development of them, not by puffing prospectuses, but privately by friends of those who have gone out and made reports on what they .have discovered. If I might address a word of warning to you, I would say we, as directors, are responsible to you for the Charter as to its capital. Do not go and discount possibilities as if they were proved results. I think, however, that with the facts which I have stated, you may be confident that in the future Matabeleland and Mashonaland wil l be gold - producing countries, because it would be contrary to Nature to suppose that a country that is mineralised from end to end should not have payable shoots. W i t h these words I wil l make no further remark as to the gold, save and except to tell you this, that i f

HIS SPEECHES. 161

one of you asks how you wil l get a return in connection with that gold, I may state that what I term the ' patent ' in the country—namely, the Company getting a share in the vendor scrip—has been practically accepted by the country. We have not had the slightest difficulty in settling wi th the various corporations who have obtained capital from the public.

" The great objection to the idea was its newness. It had never been, tried before. It has now been tried and accepted, and for a very simple reason. T h e prospector has found that he is not eaten up by monthly licences while holding his claim ; the capitalist, when he goes to purchase, knows that the Charter has a certain interest, and pays accordingly; and as to the public, who always find the capital for quartz mining, it is a matter of no importance to them whether Jones gets all the vendor scrip or whether Jones and the Government share it together. The public do not take such a personal interest in Jones that they require that he should have the whole of the scrip. They also know that if the Government receive half of it , it is held- until the value of the mine is proved, whereas if the whole of it was handed over to Jones, he might part with it to a confiding public. When, therefore, you are considering this question commercially you wi l l say, ' W e l l , we are dealing with a proposition of a capital of ,£ 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 ; we are dealing with a country nearly as big as Europe, and we know it is mineralised. The present tests must be fairly satisfactory, or else the friends of those who have gone out and found reefs would not have subscribed three-quarters of a mill ion sterling for their development. We must always remember in connection with mining that it is very


speculative, as I told a friend of mine the other day—-they are always bothering me about mines—and I said to one of my friends, a French financier, ' I wi l l give you advice at last.' He was delighted, and asked what I would advise. I said, ' Either buy French Rentes or Consols.' Then he went away annoyed. What , however, I desire to put to you is, that when you go into a mining venture you go into a speculative venture ; but as a proposition with a capital of ,£ 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 , dealing with a country almost as big as Europe, which is mineralised, and with that subscribed capital for its development—and as regards its administration, the revenue paying for the expenditure—it is a fair business-like, proposition. When you consider this comparatively—and that is the great secret in l i fe—it represents in capital perhaps one Rand mine. As to the question whether the scrip proposal has been accepted, we have settled w i t h all the chief corporations, and as minerals are found in that territory, you therefore know perfectly well that in reference to the share capital you have an interest in everything that is discovered. I wi l l not say anything more than that wi th regard to the mineral question, but I would repeat again : do not discount possibilities as if they were proved results.

" Now, gentlemen, I think that on this occasion you cannot accuse me of not dealing wi th the commercial aspects of the country. I think you wi l l admit that I have shown you the size of i t , the cost of i t , and the possibilities of it , and if there is any point I have missed, please tell me. We have to consider, because we are a Charter, and are connected with politics, the political position of the country, and I may say that that is most satisfactory. We had a good many

HIS SPEECHES. 163

enemies before, and difficulties with the Portuguese, with the Transvaal, and with the Matabele. As you know, the Matabele difficulty has disappeared ; they have incorporated themselves with us. The difficulties wi th the Portuguese are also over. We had different views as to where our boundaries were situated ; but now I may say that our relations with them are on the most friendly footing, and we must always remember, wi th reference to the Portuguese, that they were the original civilisers of Africa. They had the bad luck, if I may say so, to get only the coast, to be on the fringe, and never to have penetrated to the high healthy plateau at the back. Their power is not what it was ; but we must respect them, and we must remember that the man who founded the Portuguese Colonial Empire—that is, Henry the Navigator—was of our own blood. The other day, when we were at Delagoa Bay, they had trouble with the natives, and we offered—Dr. Jameson and I — t o assist them, because the natives in rebellion were a portion of the tribe of Gungunhana, to whom we pay tribute, but the Portuguese declined our assistance, and one cannot help respecting their national pride. They would not take help from anyone, and we should do the same. They were very courteous and thanked us, but they declined our proffered assistance, although they knew that we could help them, because these natives who were troubling them were receiving tribute from us. In the same way they refused assistance from the Transvaal Government, and I believe from two foreign Powers. W i t h national pride they are settling their difficulties themselves. It w i l l be our object to work in perfect co-operation with the Portuguese Government and officials.


" W i t h regard to the Transvaal, our neighbour the President finds that he has quite enough to do in dealing with his own people. I have always felt that if I had been in President Kruger's position I should have looked upon the Chartered Terr i tory as my reversion. He must have been exceedingly disappointed when we went in and occupied i t ; but since then we have co-operated most heartily with him, and I look to no political difficulty from the Transvaal. We have received throughout the complete support of the Cape people, who, recognising that it was too great an undertaking for themselves to enter upon, were glad that we undertook it, and they look upon it as their Hinterland, as, remember, we shall pass from the position of chartered administration to self-government, when the country is occupied by white people—especially by Englishmen, because if Englishmen object to anything it is to being governed by a small oligarchy. They wi l l govern themselves. We must therefore look to the future of C h a r t e r l a n d — I speak of ten or twenty years hence-—as self-government, and that self-government very possibly federal with the Cape Government.

" Then when we think of the political position, we have also to consider the English people, and I must say we have received the very heartiest support from the English public, wi th a few exceptions, possibly from ignorance— (laughter)—and possibly from disappointment— (laughter) - and I think in many cases from an utter misconception. I remember whilst coming home, sitting down on board ship and reading this from the Daily Chronicle:—'Not a single unemployed workman in England is likely to secure

V

HIS SPEECHES. .65

a week's steady labour as a result of a forward policy in South Africa.' W h a t is the reply to that ? I do not reply by a platform address about ' three acres and a cow '—(laughter)—or with Socialistic statements as to ' those who have not, taking from those who have.' I make the practical reply that we have built 200 miles of railway, and that the rails have all been made in England and the locomotives also. We have constructed 1 ,300 miles of telegraphs, and the poles and wires have all been made in England. Everything we wear has been imported from England. A n d can you tell me that not a single labourer or unemployed workman in England is l ikely to secure a week's steady labour as a result of that enterprise ? I can assure you it does them much more good than telling them about three acres and a cow, because nothing has ever come out of that yet. (Laughter.) A n d as to the Socialistic programme —well , you know the story of one of the Rothschilds, I think, who listened to it all in the train, and then handed the gentleman who addressed him a sovereign as his share of the plunder. (Laughter.) But we have to deal with this question, and I hope 1 am not t i r ing you of it, because we have to study the feeling of the English people, and they are most practical. You must show that it is to their benefit that these expansions are made, because the man in the street, if he does not get a share, naturally says : ' A n d where do I come in ? ' (Laughter.) You must show them that there is a distinct advantage to them in these developments abroad. That is the reason why, when we made a constitution for this country, I submitted a provision that the duty on British goods should not exceed the

J66 POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

present Cape tariff. I should like you to listen to me on that, if I do not tire you. You must remember that your ' L i t t le Englander' says, and very fairly : ' W h a t is the advantage of all these expansions ? W h a t are the advantages of our Colonies ? As soon as we give them self-government, if we remonstrate wi th them as to a law they pass, they tell us they wil l haul down the flag ; and on receiving self-government, they immediately devise how they can keep our goods out, .and make bad boots and shoes for themselves.' It is true that many of our Colonies have found out the folly of Protection, but they have created a bogey which they cannot allay, because the factories have been created, the workmen have come out there, and they are only kept going by the high duties ; and a poor Minister who tries to pass a low tariff knows perfectly well that he wi l l have his windows broken by an infuriated mob. The only chance for a colony is to stop these ideas before they develop, and taking this new

•country of ours, I thought it would be a wise thing to put in the constitution that the tariff should not exceed the present Cape tariff, which is a revenue and not a protective tariff. (Cheers.) The proof of that is that we have not a single factory in the Cape Colony. I thought if we made that a part of our constitution in the interior, we should stop the creation of vested factories, a most unfair treatment of British trade, and a most unjust thing to the people of a new country. You may not be surprised that that proposition was refused. It was refused because it was not understood. People thought that there was a proposition for a preferential system. I may tell you that all my letters of thanks came from the Protectionists, .and nothing from the Free Traders, though it was

HIS SPEECHES. 167

really a Free Trade proposition. A proposition came from Home that I should put in the words ' That the duty on imported goods should not exceed the present Cape tariff.' I declined to do that because I thought that in the future, twenty-five or fifty years hence, you might deal with the United States as you would with a naughty child, saying, ' If you wil l keep on this system of the McKin ley tariff, or an increase of it, we shall shut your goods out,' in the same way that you go to war, not because you are pleased with war, but because you are forced. That is why I wished to put the words ' British goods,' because actually England in the future might adopt this policy and yet have a clause in the constitution of one of her own colonies which prevented it. (Cheers.) Now who could object to this ? Certainly not the French or the German Ambassadors, because so long as England's policy is to make no difference, they come in under this clause, the policy of England being that there should be no preferential right. A n y law passed by us g iv ing a preferential r ight would be disallowed. But this clause would have assisted the German and French manufacturer, so long as England remains what it is, because they also would have shared in the privilege of the duty on imported goods, or British goods not exceeding 12 per cent. If you follow the idea, so long as England did not sanction a law making a difference, we had to make it the same to all. But this great gain was obtained, that supposing that the charter passed into self-government, and a wave of Protection came over the territory, and they pass, we wi l l say, a duty of 50 per cent, on British goods, that would be disallowed, because it was contrary to the constitution. The only objection that has ever been made to this propo-

M


sition is that it would have been law as long as it was no good, and when it was any good it would have been done away with. That shows a want of knowledge again. People think the people in the colonies are all for Protection. It is nothing of the kind. They are very sensible people, and they know that Protection means that everything you eat and wear costs you 50 per cent. more. But what does happen is that at times a wave comes over a country, of Protection, and it is carried by a small majority. It then becomes law; the factories are created and the human beings come out and they have to be fed, and therefore you cannot get rid of them. But in case of a wave coming in the country under a constitution as suggested, the Secretary of State would be justified in disallowing. He would say: ' There is a large minority against this law, and as it is against the constitution I disallow.' A n d look at the ramifications of it . Of course if the gold is in the quantity in Matabeleland and Mashonaland that we think, that wi l l become a valuable asset in Africa, and we know perfectly well there is going to be a Customs Union of Africa—leave out the question of republics and the questions of Government and the Flag ; but we know the practical thing wi l l happen, that there wil l be a Customs Union in Africa. This clause being in our charter would have governed the rest of Africa, and therefore you would have had preserved to British goods, Africa as one of your markets. (Cheers.) Take the comparison of this question, and I wi l l show you what it means. You have sixty millions of your people in the United States. You created that Government; that is your production, if I may call it so ; they have adopted this folly of Pro-

HIS SPEECHES. 169

tection—they cannot get r id of it now. What is your trade with the United States—sixty millions of your own people ? I wi l l tell you. Your exports are about . £ 4 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 per annum. Now, in Africa and Egypt we have only 600,000 whites with us, and I do not think the natives are very great consumers—but you are up to , £ 2 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 . I w i l l take Southern Africa. You are doing about £ 1 5 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 w i th the Cape and Natal, almost entirely British goods, and about £ ^ 4 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 with Egypt, where you have a fair chance for your goods ; and you are doing , £ 2 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 wi th those two small dependencies, as against . £ 4 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 with another creation of yours which has shut your own goods out and only takes £ 4 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 from you. If it had given a fair chance to your trade you would be doing £150,000,000 with the United States, to your own advantage and to the advantage of the American people. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) I can see very clearly that the whole of your politics lie in your trade, or should do so, because you are not like France, producing wine— you are not like the United States, a world by itself—you are a small province, doing nothing but making up the raw material into the manufactured article, and distributing over the world, and your great policy should be to keep the trade of the world, and therefore you have done a wise thing in remaining in Egypt and taking Uganda. You have to thank the present Prime Minister for that, and remember this, when it has to be writ ten, that he has done that against probably the feelings of the whole of his party, which comprise the L i t t le Englanders. He has taken Uganda and retained Egypt, and the retention of Egypt means the retention of an open market for your goods. (Hear, hear.) Why , the lesson is so

M 2

I7O POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

easy ! When I came home to England the first time, I went up the Thames, and what did I find they were doing ?—for whom were they making ? They were making for the world. That was what they were doing in England ; and when I went into a factory there was not a man who was not working for the world. Your trade is the world, and your life is the world, and that is why you must deal with those questions of expansion and of retention of the world. (Hear, hear.) Of course, Cobdenism was a most beautiful theory, and it is right that you should look to the whole world ; but the human beings in the world wi l l not have that. They wi l l want to make their own things ; and if they find that England can make them best they put on these protective duties ; and if they keep on doing that they wil l beat you in the end. It is not ethical discussions about the House of Lords that you want, or about three acres and a cow. A n d you talk nonsense if you talk about doing away with a Second Chamber so that a wave of popular feeling could sweep away your Constitution. Brother Jonathan does not do that. (Laughter.) It may all end in strengthening the House of Lords. We all know that. When you come to the election, and when you go on your various election committees, do not give your entire attention to the ethical question of the House of Lords. When Jones or Smith at the ensuing election asks you for your support, tell them—for there is really nothing else before you in the e lect ion—'We wil l have this clause put in about Matabeleland.' Everything comes from these little things. You do not know how it wi l l spread, the basis of it being that your goods shall not be shut out from the markets of the world. That clause wil l develop, and wil l

HIS SPEECHES. 171

spread from Matabeleland to Mashonaland, and then perhaps Australia and Canada wi l l consider the question, and you wil l thus be retaining a market for your goods. A n d you have been actually offered this, and you have refused it. You wil l be acting foolishly if you do not in the forthcoming elections insist upon that clause being put in. Now, I hope you wi l l not say I have departed from the commercial aspect and gone to a political speech ; but I can assure you of th i s— I think it wi l l do you and your trade more good than anything I can conceive. Gentlemen, in all things it is the l i t t le questions that change the world. This charter came from an accidental thought, and all the great changes of the world come from little accidents. A l l the combinations and beautiful essays that are put forward so eagerly are unpractical enough, but this constitution is a more practical thing. I can assure you there is a very practical thing in it. We have been accused of being a speculative set of company-mongers, and nobody could see any great chance of our ultimate financial success; but by your support we have carried it through. When the man in the street sneers at you, you can remind him that it was an undertaking he had not the courage to enter upon himself as one of the British people ; the Imperial Government would not touch i t ; the Cape Government was too poor to do it. It has been done by you, and the enterprise has succeeded, and I do not think anybody would say they would like to see that portion of the world under another flag now. A n d it has been done, which the English people like, without expense to their exchequer — (laughter)—and we have had to combine this expansion with the commercial or else we should


not have succeeded. Don't be annoyed with me, gentlemen. Let us look at the facts. There was that development of East Africa based, if I might put it, on the suppression of the slave trade and the cultivation of the cocoanut-tree. (Laughter.) W e l l , I saw Sir Wi l l i am Mackinnon at the end, and it almost kil led him. He got no support from the public. We are very practical people. Take my own case. Take that of the transcontinental telegraph. It wi l l be of great assistance to the Chartered Company, because it wil l put our territories at the end of Tanganyika in touch with us, and yet the bulk of the public did hot help us. I think the public had really no grounds to subscribe. But I wi l l take two corporations I am connected with. Wel l , one gave nothing, and with the other an indignant shareholder wrote to the Board to inquire who paid for the paper and envelopes of the circular. (Laughter.) Now, I mention this to show what an eminently practical people we are. Unless we had made this undertaking with its commercial difficulties, we should have failed, and that is the best reply to those who sneer at us and call us a set of company-mongers. (Cheers.) We have been fortunate in forming an imaginative conception, and succeeded, and really, if you look at i t , within a period—well, I would say, it is hardly equal to the term allotted to an Oxford student. (Laughter.) Commercially, if you think it out, I think you wi l l go away from this room—no, I don't think you wi l l go away to sell your shares, for it is fair business. When you went into our Company you went into speculative mining ; it is certainly not Consols or French Rentes. There are no more claims for fresh money, and our two millions represent a very

HIS SPEECHES. 173

large interest in all the gold that wi l l be found practically between Mafeking and Tanganyika in a highly mineralised country — (cheers) —• and, therefore, if you are satisfied with the commercial, I really think you might give a help in the political. I do hope in the ensuing election you wi l l do your best to see my clause carried, because you wi l l do by that a really practical thing, and take the very first practical step that has been done towards the promotion of the Union of the Empire." (Loud cheers.)

It is impossible to attempt to summarise the whole of Mr . Rhodes's speeches here, but it is equally impossible to close this section without noticing in passing one of the most famous, and in some respects the most unfortunate of all his speeches, which he delivered immediately after the relief of Kimberley, on February 19th, 1900. It was in this speech that Mr. Rhodes made use of the famous phrase so constantly quoted against him, in which he spoke of the British flag as a " commercial asset." This much misquoted passage occurs in a speech addressed to the shareholders of the De Beers Company. Mr. Rhodes had been using the resources of the De Beers shareholders without stint in the defence of Kimberley against the Boers. He was appealing to shareholders, many of whom, being French and Germans, regarded the whole British policy in South Africa with unconcealed detestation. His speech was primarily intended to reconcile them to an employment of the funds for political purposes to which they objected. He had also to deal with other shareholders, whose only concern was their dividends. This is quite clear from the opening passages of his speech. He said :—

" Shareholders may be divided into two classes—those who are imaginative and those who are certainly unimaginative. To the latter class the fact of our connection with the Chartered Company has been for many years past a great trial. Human beings are very interesting.


There are those of the unimaginative type who pass their whole lives in filling money-bags, and when they are called upon, perhaps more hurriedly than they desire, to retire from this world, what they leave behind is often dissipated by their offspring on wine, women and horses. Of these purely unimaginative gentlemen, whose sole concern is the accumulation of wealth, I have a large number as my shareholders."

I t w a s t o t h e s e u n i m a g i n a t i v e p e r s o n s , e s p e c i a l l y t o t h e

f o r e i g n s h a r e h o l d e r s , t h a t h e a d d r e s s e d h i s v i n d i c a t i o n o f t h e

t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f a p u r e l y c o m m e r c i a l c o m p a n y u n c o n n e c t e d

w i t h p o l i t i c s , i n t o w a r r i o r s f i g h t i n g for t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n o f o u r

h o m e s a n d p r o p e r t y .

" I have to tell the shareholders in Europe," he said, " t h a t we have for the last four months devoted the energies of our company to the defence of the town."

A f t e r d e s c r i b i n g w h a t h a d b e e n d o n e b y t h e c i t i z e n s o l d i e r s

o f K i m b e r l e y , h e c o n c l u d e d h i s s p e e c h b y t h e f o l l o w i n g

p a s s a g e : —

" Finally, I would submit to you this thought, that when we look back upon the troubles we have gone through, and especially all that has been suffered by the women and children, we have this satisfaction—that we have done our best to preserve that which is the best commercial asset in the world—the protection of Her Majesty's flag."

W h e n M r . R h o d e s c a m e b a c k f r o m K i m b e r l e y , I h a d a

t a l k w i t h h i m u p o n t h i s s u b j e c t . H e s a i d t h a t i t w a s v e r y

r i d i c u l o u s t h e w a y p e o p l e h a d a b u s e d h i m for t h e p a s s a g e

a b o u t t h e flag. I f t h e y h a d c o n s i d e r e d t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n

w h i c h t h e s p e e c h w a s m a d e , t h e y w o u l d h a v e s e e n t h e r e a s o n

for i t .

HIS SPEECHES. 175

" People talked as if I were making' a political speech, or speaking as a politician. I was not. I was addressing a meeting of the De Beers shareholders, half of whom were Frenchmen. Of course, the number of people present at the meeting was small, but I was addressing the French shareholders through the press. French feeling is very strong against England, and the French shareholders might naturally feel aggrieved. They had lost an enormous sum of money from the cessation of industry during the war. The part which the De Beers Company had taken in defending Kimberley was another point upon which, as shareholders, they might fairly take an exception. In order to parry their objection and to show to them that, after all, I was really looking after their business, I finished up with a declaration that I had been spending their money in defending what was, after all, the greatest commercial asset in the world, the protection of the British flag. It was a perfectly true thing, and it seemed to me a very useful thing to say in the circumstances. I was addressing, not the world at large, but De Beers shareholders. I had my French shareholders in my eye all the time."

176

177

PART I I I .

T H E CLOSING SCENE.

M R . RHODES died at Muizenberg, a small cottage on the sea-coast near Cape Town, on March 26, 1902. The result of the post mortem examination showed that with the exception of the aneurism of the heart, which caused an immense distension of that organ, he was in a perfectly healthy state. The heart trouble had been with him from his youth. When he attained manhood it abated somewhat, but after his fortieth year it returned, and gradually increased until his death, which did not come to his release unti l after some weeks of very agonising suffering. He was conscious to the very last, and attempted to transact business within a week of his decease. He was attended constantly by his old and faithful friend, Dr. Jameson, whose name was the last articulate word which escaped from his lips.

A l l the deep-seated tenderness of his nature, which led Bramwell Booth to describe him as having a great human heart hungering for love, found expression in these last days whenever he spoke or thought of Dr. Jameson. The affection which Mr. Rhodes entertained for the Doctor dated far back in the early days when they were at Kimberley together, and never varied through all the vicissitudes of his eventful career. At one time, when Dr. Jameson was il l and in prison, bearing the punishment for an enterprise the pre-

178 THE CLOSING SCENE.

cipitation of which was due to incentives from a much higher than any African quarter, he was troubled by the maddening fear that Mr . Rhodes had not forgiven him for the upsetting of his apple-cart. But Mr . Rhodes was not a man who wore his heart upon his sleeve. He schooled himself to repress manifestations of affection, but an incident for which Lord Grey is my authority shows how unfounded were Dr . Jameson's misgivings. If M r . Rhodes loved anything in the world, he loved his house, and Groote Schuur was the nest which he had built for himself in the shadow of Table Mountain, which he had filled with all manner of historic and literary treasures. When the year 1896—the year of the ill-fated Raid—was drawing to a close, Lord Grey, then Administrator of Rhodesia, received a telegram early in the morning to the effect that Groote Schuur had been burnt down with most of its contents. Knowing how intensely Mr. Rhodes was attached to his home, Lord Grey shrank from breaking the news to him until they were alone. He feared that Mr . Rhodes might lose his self-control. They rode out together that morning, and not until they were far out in the country did Lord Grey think of telling the evil tidings which arrived that morning. As they rode together Mr . Rhodes began talking of the misfortunes of the twelve months then drawing to a close. Nothing but ill-luck had attended him for the whole course ; he did not think that his luck could mend, and could only hope that the new year would dawn without any further disaster. Lord Grey said to him gently—

" Wel l , Mr. Rhodes, I am very sorry, but I am afraid I must give you a rather ugly knock."

Mr . Rhodes reined up his horse, and turning

THE CLOSING SCENE. 179

to his companion he exclaimed, his face livid., white and drawn with an agony of dread—

"Good heavens! Out with it, man! What has happened ? "

i8o THE CLOSING SCENE.

" W e l l , " said Lord Grey, " I am sorry to tell you that Groote Schuur was burnt down last night."

The tense look of anguish disappeared from Rhodes's face. He heaved a great sigh, and exclaimed with inexpressible relief—

" Oh, thank God, thank God ! I thought you were going to tell me that Dr. Jim was dead. The house is burnt down—well , what does that matter ? We can always rebuild the house, but if Dr . Jim had died I should never have got over i t . "

Only those who knew what Groote Schuur was to M r . Rhodes can understand the depth and fervour of a human attachment which enabled him to bear the loss of his house not merely with equanimity but absolute gratitude.

It is a very str iking illustration of the practical value of one of M r . Rhodes's favourite sayings :—

" Do the comparative. Always do the comparative."

By this he meant, whenever you are overtaken by a misfortune or plunged into dire tribulation, you can find consolation by reflecting how much worse things might have been, or how much greater had been the misery suffered by others. I well remember Mr . Rhodes telling me how he had frequently supported himself in the midst of the most t ry ing crisis of his career, when everything seemed to be lost. He used to say—

" When I was inclined to take too tragic a view of the consequences of apparently imminent disaster, I used to reflect what the old Roman Emperors must have felt when (as often happened) their legions were scattered, and they fled from a stricken field, knowing that they had lost the empire of the world. To

THE CLOSING SCENE.

such men at such times it must have seemed as if their world was going to pieces around them. But after a l l , " he said, " the sun rose next day, the river flowed between its banks, and the world went on very much the same despite it all. A n d , thinking of this, I used to go to bed and sleep like a chi ld."

A still more remarkable instance of the deliberate way in which he practised the maxim was also told me. When M r . Rhodes came home after the Raid he fully expected to be sent to prison, and amused himself during the voyage by drawing up a scheme of reading which he hoped to carry out during the seclusion of the gaol ; but it was not unti l after his death that I heard from Lord Grey how he proposed to nerve himself for the ordeal of imprisonment.

" Do the comparative ! " M r . Rhodes said to Lord Grey one day when they were together in Rhodesia. " Always do the comparative ! You wi l l find it a great comfort. For instance, if I had been sent to gaol after the Raid, I had fully made up my mind what I would do. I should have gone down to the Tower before I was locked u p ; I should have gone to the cell in which poor old Sir Walter Raleigh was imprisoned before he was led out to be beheaded ; 1 should have gone to the cell and thought of all that Raleigh suffered in the long years in which he lay there. A n d then, afterwards, when I was in my comfortable cell in Holloway Gaol, I should have consoled myself every day by thinking, 'After all, you are not so badly off as poor Sir Walter Raleigh in that cell of his in the Tower.' "

On another occasion, when he had been made, wretched by the attacks made upon him in the Cape Parliament for his share in the Raid, when

[82

THE LYING-IN-STATE.

THE PIOCESSION PASSING THE MEMORIAL COLUMN, BULAWAYO.

T H E F U N E R A L O F MR. RHODES.

THE CLOSING SCENE.

it seemed as if he had lost everything for which he had striven, and had nothing to look forward to but punishment and disgrace, he burst into Lord Grey's room one morning and exclaimed—

" Do you know, Grey, I have just been th inking that you have never been sufficiently grateful for having been born an Englishman. Just think for a moment," he went on, " what it is to have been born an Englishman in England. T h i n k how many millions of men there are in this world to-day who have been born Chinese or Hindus or Kaffirs ; but you were not born any of these, you were born an Englishman. A n d that is not all. You are just over forty (which was about Rhodes's own age at that time), and you have a clean, healthy body. Now think of the odds there are against anyone having those three things—to be born an Englishman, to be over forty, and to have a clean, healthy body. W h y , the chances are enormous against it , and yet you have all three. W h a t enormous chances there are against you having drawn all these prizes in the lottery of life, and yet you never think of them."

" I could have hugged the poor old chap," said L o r d Grey, " f o r it was so evident that he had been doing the comparative by way of consoling himself, and reflecting that in the midst of all his misfortunes there were some things which no one could take away from him ; and then he would burst into my room to pour out his soul to me in that fashion."

Mr . Rhodes was very much given to musing, and even talking to himself upon the most serious subjects. M r . Rudd told me that in Mr . Rhodes's early days nothing delighted him more than, when the day's work was done, to get a friend or two into

N

THE CLOSING SCENE.

his tent and discuss questions of philosophy and theology. Sir Charles Warren has told us how, when Rhodes was quite a young man, he and Warren had a long debate over the Thirty-nine Articles, and differed hopelessly upon the doctrine of predestination. His favourite author was said to have been Gibbon, but what served him as a pocket-Bible was the writings of Marcus Aurelius. As Gordon never went anywhere without his l itt le pocket edition of Thomas a Kempis, so Rhodes never left behind him his pocket edition of Marcus Aurelius. His copy was dog-eared and scored with pencil marks, showing how constantly he had used it. But he never quite attained to the serene philosophy of the Imperial philosopher. He shrank from death, not so much from the fear of anything after death, but because it was the arrest of activity, the cessation of the strenuous life which he had always lived. He was ever a doer. Once an acquaintance had remarked to him, when he returned from London to South A f r i c a —

" I suppose you found London Society very lively ? "

To whom Mr . Rhodes replied— " W h e n I have a big thing on hand I don't

dine out. I do that, and nothing else." It was this feeling which led him to cling

so passionately to life. From the day when his heart suddenly gave way, and he fell from his horse and shattered his shoulder, he felt that he lived under the sword of Damocles, and at any moment the hair which suspended it might break and all would be over. It was this overmastering passion of energetic vital ity which prompted his despairing cry when he lay on his death-bed—" So much to do, so l i t t le done ! "


One of the passages which he marked in the book which lay ever near his hand contained the reflections which Marcus Aurelius addressed to those who dreaded the approach of death :—

Y o u h a v e b e e n a c i t i z e n o f t h e g r e a t w o r l d - c i t y . F i v e

y e a r s o r fifty, w h a t m a t t e r s i t ? T o e v e r y m a n h i s d u e a s l a w

-al lots . W h y t h e n p r o t e s t ? N o t y r a n t g i v e s y o u y o u r

d i s m i s s a l , n o u n j u s t j u d g e , b u t n a t u r e , w h o g a v e y o u [ h e

a d m i s s i o n . I t i s l i k e t h e praetor d i s c h a r g i n g s o m e p l a y e r

w h o m h e h a s e n g a g e d — " B u t t h e five a c t s a r e n o t c o m p l e t e ; .

I h a v e p l a y e d b u t t h r e e . " G o o d : l i f e ' s d r a m a , l o o k y o u , i s

c o m p l e t e i n t h r e e . T h e c o m p l e t e n e s s i s i n h i s h i n d s w h o

f i r s t a u t h o r i s e d y o u r c o m p o s i t i o n , a n d n o w y o u r d i s s o l u t i o n .

N e i t h e r w a s y o u r w o r k . S e r e n e l y t a k e y o u r l e a v e ; s e r e n e a s

h e w h o g i v e s y o u t h e d i s c h a r g e . "

After the siege of Kimberley, in 1900, Mr . Rhodes told me he thought he had fourteen years more to live ; and that time seemed to him far too short to accomplish all that he had in his mind to do. Few of his friends ventured to anticipate for him so long a lease of life. The result proved that their forebodings were only too well justified. Instead of fourteen years, he lived barely two.

There is, however, something consoling in the heroism with which he risked and lost his life at the end. It is probable that if he had not returned to South Africa in the last year of his life he might have lived for several years. His medical advisers and his most intimate friends were aghast when he announced his determination to return to South Africa to give evidence in the case of Princess Radziwill.

Mr. Rhodes, although unmarried, was singu¬larly free from any scandal about women. As might be imagined, being a millionaire, a bachelor, and a man of charming personality, he was abso-

x 2

186


lutely hunted by many ladies ; but the pursuit seemed to inspire him wi th an almost amusing horror of ever finding himself alone with them. Princess Radziwill was far the most brill iant, audacious, and highly placed of these huntresses, and M r . Rhodes was correspondingly on his guard against " the old Princess," as he used to call her. But there is not a word of truth in the infamous suggestions that have been made concerning their relations. He regarded her as a thorough-paced intriguer, wi th whom he was determined that his name should never be associated. H a d he not had so much regard for his reputation he might have been l iv ing at this hour. One of his friends, who knew the state of his health, implored him to meet her forged bills rather than expose his life to what, as the result proved, was a fatal danger. " What is , £ 2 4 , 0 0 0 to you," said his friend, " compared wi th the risk avoided?" " It's not the money," said M r . Rhodes, " but no risk wi l l prevent me clearing my character of any stain in connection with that woman."

" Y o u are sending him to his death," said Dr. Jameson, as he prepared to accompany his friend on the last voyage to the Cape. The passage was exceptionally rough. Mr . Rhodes was once thrown out of his berth on to the floor of his cabin. When he arrived in South Africa it was wi th the mark of death upon him. His evidence had to be taken at Groote Schuur ; but he never showed any sign of regret that he had responded to the summons of the Courts. It was his duty, and he did it, and did it, as the result proved, at the cost of his life.

So it came to pass that he who had never

i88 THE CLOSING SCENE.

harmed a woman in his life met his death in clearing his name from the aspersions of a woman whom, out of sheer good-heartedness, he had befriended in time of need.

Despite the difficulty of breathing caused by the pressure upon his lungs and the agonising pain from which he suffered, his mind was vigorous and his interest in all questions relating to South Africa unabated to the last. Noth ing but his passionate wi l l to live kept him alive. When at last he was compelled to admit that his end was approaching, he still clung to the hope that his life might be prolonged so as to enable him once more to return to England before he died. He wished to come home. A cabin was taken for him on the steamer, but when the hour came it was impossible to remove him from the room in which, propped up w i t h pillows, he sat awaiting the end. Messages from the K i n g and Queen and from friends all over the world were cabled to the sick-room at Muizenberg, and those loving messages of sympathy and affection helped to console him in the dark hours of anguish.

D u r i n g the whole of these terrible weeks there was only one occasion on which he spoke on those subjects which in the heyday of his youth were constantly present to his mind. On one occasion, after a horrible paroxysm of pain had convulsed him with agony, he was heard, when he regained his breath and the spasm had passed, to be holding a strange colloquy wi th his Maker. The dying man was talking to God, and not merely talking to God, but himself assuming both parts of the dialogue. The attendant in the sick chamber instinctively recalled those chapters in the book of Job in which Job and his friends discussed together the apparent injustice of the

THE CLOSING SCENE.

Governor of the world. It was strange to hear M r . Rhodes stating first his case against the Almighty , and then in reply stating what he considered his Maker's case against himself. But so the argument went on.

" What have I done," he asked, " to be tortured thus? If I must go hence, why should I be subjected to this insufferable pain ? "

A n d then he answered his own question, going over his own shortcomings and his own offences, to which he again in his own person replied ; and so the strange and awful colloquy went on, until at last the muttering ceased, and there was silence once more.

Beyond this there is no record of what he thought or what he felt when he fared forth to make that pilgrimage which awaits us all through the valley of the shadow of death. He had far too intense vital ity ever to tolerate the idea of extinction.

" I 'm not an atheist," he once said to me impatiently; " n o t at al l . But I don't believe in the idea about going to heaven and twanging a harp all day. No. I wish I did sometimes ; but I don't. That kind of sesthetical idea pleases you perhaps; it does not please me. But I 'm not an atheist."

" I find I am human," he wrote on one occasion, " but should like to live after my death."

A n d in his conversation he frequently referred to his returning to the earth to see how his ideas were prospering, and what was being done with the fortune which he had dedicated to the service of posterity. Some of his talk upon the subject of the after-life was very quaint, and almost child-like in its simplicity. His ideas, so far as he expressed them to me, always assumed

THE CLOSING SCENE.

that he would be able to recognise and converse with those who had gone before, and that both he and they would have the keenest interest in the affairs of this planet. This planet, in some of his moods, seemed too small a sphere for his exhaustless energy.

" The world," he said to me on one occasion, " is nearly all parcelled out, and what there is left of it is being divided up, conquered, and colonised. To th ink of these stars," he said, " that you see overhead at night, these vast worlds which we can never reach. I would annex the planets if I could ; I often think of that. It makes me sad to see them so clear and yet so far."

Since Alexander died at Babylon, sighing for fresh worlds to conquer, has there ever been such a cry from the heart of mortal man ?

When the end was imminent, his brother was brought to the bedside. He recognised him, and clasped his hand. Then releasing his grasp, the dy ing man stretched his feeble hand to the Doctor, and murmuring " Jameson ! " the greatest of Africanders was dead.

After death his features regained that classic severity of outline which was so marked in the days before they had been disfigured by the malady to which he succumbed. After ly ing in state at Groote Schuur, the funeral service was held in the Cathedral at Cape T o w n , and then, in accordance wi th the provisions of his w i l l , his remains were taken northward to the Matoppos, where, near the great African chief Umsilikatse, he was laid to rest in the mountain-top which he had named " T h e View of the W o r l d . " Seldom has there been a more imposing and yet more simple procession to the tomb. For

19- THE CLOSING SCENE.

750 miles on that northward journey the progress of the funeral train was accompanied by all the outward and visible signs of mourning which as a rule are only to be witnessed on the burial days of kings. At every blockhouse which guarded the line the troops turned out to salute the silent dead to whose resistless energy was due the line over which they stood on guard. When Bulawayo was reached, the whole city was in mourning. But a few years before it had been the kraal of Lobenp-ula, one of the last lairs of African savagery. Only the previous year a memorial service had been held there in honour of President McKinley , and now the citizens were summoned to a still more mournful service W i t h an energy worthy of the founder of their State, a road was constructed from Bulawayo to the summit of the Matoppos. A long this, followed by the whole population, the body of M r . Rhodes was drawn to his last resting-place. The coffin was lowered into the tomb, the mourners, white and black, filed past the grave, and then a huge block of granite, weighing over three tons, sealed the mouth of the sepulchre from all mortal eyes. There, on the Matoppos, lies the body of Cecil Rhodes ; but who can say what far regions of the earth have not felt, and wil l not hereafter feel, a thr i l l and inspiration of the mind which for less than fifty years sojourned in that tabernacle of clay ?

'93

I N D E X .

Africa, East, Company based on suppression of slave trade and cultivation of cocoa-nut, 172

Africa, South, cannot be governed without goodwill of Dutch, 111. 113 : C. J. Rhodes on future of United States of, 142 : to be governed by South Africans, 144, 148 ; and by them alone, 145 ; race distinctions fatal to Empire in 147 : customs union of future, to be dominated by British goods clause in RhodeMan constitution, 167

Afrikander Bond : C. J. Rhodes a supporter of, 144 ; speech in defence cf, 144-5 America, North. See United States America, South, Republics of, to be controlled by Anglo-Saxons, 74 American scholarships, why given, 27 ; how to be awarded, 35 ; character of students at

Oxford, 31, 35 Aristolle, influence of, on C. J. Rhodes, 84,98 Athletics insisted on by C. J. Rhodes, 3O Australia. South, scholarships for, 32 ; Western, scholarships for, 32 Australasia, twenty-one scholarships for, 32 ; representation in Parliament desired forr

124-0

Baker, Herbert, on artistic sense of C. J. Rhodes, 16 Bechuanaland: C- J. Rhodes opposed to Rev. T. Mackenzie, 80, 145: defends his.

policy in the Times, 1885, 138 ; proposal to exclude Dutch from, condemned, 147 ; Chartered Company's land in, 153

Beers. See De Beers Beit, Alfred, joint heir, 49, 108 ; portrait of, 65 Bermudas, three scholarships for, 32 Black, \Y. G., on German veto on English in Heligoland, 36 Bond. See Afrikander Booth, General, interviews with C. J. Rhodes, 80.; W. Bramwell, impressions, 91-3, 177 Boyd, Charles, portrait of, 123 : " C. B." letter in Spectator, 130 Bulawayo, park for, 7; railway to Westacre, 9; value of land in, 1895, 154: funeral

procession passing through, 182. 192

Cambridge, scholarships not to be tenable at, 108 Campbell-Baniierman, Sir Henry, 131 Canada, six scholarships for, 32 Cape Colony, twelve scholarships for, 32 ; the first Rhodes scholars from. 29 Cape Colony, C. J. Rhodes's desire to secure Bechuanaland for, 80, 138 ; devution to its-

paramountcy, 145, 14.8 Chamberlain, Joseph, screened by C. J. Rhodes about Jameson Conspiracy, 107, 178 ; and

devolution quoted by C. J. Rhodes, 124; screened by South African Committer, 130

Charter, the British South African, not thought of when subscription given to C. S. Parnell. 120

Chartered Company : Address to shareholders, 1895, 149-173 ; financial position in 1895, 153-162: the justification and necessity for. 171

Christ Church, Oxford, Bursar of, on ,£300 scholarships, 30 Codicils to will of C. J. Rhodes, Dalham Hall, 45 ; German scholarships, 35 ; Lord

Milner, 49 ; W. T. Stead, 49; Dr. Jameson, 49 Cole, Tennyson, portrait of C. J. Rhodes, 26 ; of Lord Milner, 57 Colonial Secretary heir to C. J. Rhodes in first will, 61 ; why dropped, 62 Colonial self-government defined by C. J. Rhodes ; practically independent Republics,

143 ; protected but not controlled by Downing Street, 145 Colonies, direct representation in Parliament advocated by C- J. Rhodes, 117. 124-5 :

suggested financial basis of representation, 125; accepted by Mr. Parnell, 126. See Federation

Colonies, scholarships for, 23 ; list of Colonies included, 32 ; list cf Colonies omitted, 33 ; character of students from, 31 : first idea of founding, 105

Country landlords " the strength of England," 46 Crown Colony objected to by C. J. Rhodes, 144-9 Customs union of South Africa anticipated by C. J. Rhodes, 168

' 94 IXDEX.

Dalham Hall Kstate, left to Colonel and Captain Rhodes, 45 Dalston, Rhodes family property in, 117 Darwin, influence of, on C. J. Rhodes, 88, 95 De Beers Company, address to shareholders of, in 1900. 173-4: resources of, used to

defend Kimberley, 174-5 • shareholders unimaginative, 173; and French, 175 Dutch goodwill essential to British Empire in South Africa, i n , 113; must not be

trampled.on, 113 ; compared to Irish Nationalists by C. J. Rhodes, 122 : loyalty to Empire of, 122, 144-8; native policy of, approved by C. J. Rhodes, 148: C . J . Rhodes hardly knew how to choose between Dutch and British, 145. See Afrikander Bond

Edinburgh Medical School, 24 Egypt : C. J. Rhodes subscribes .£5,000 to Liberal fund on understanding " no

evacuation," 132; endangered by Mr, Gladstone and Mr. Morley, 132, 133-4; saved by Lord Roseberv, 132, 169

Empire, retention of unity of British, 23 ; furtherance of, 59 : C. J. Rhodes opposes severance of, 61, 62 ; disintegration hated, 135 ; its meaning to C. J. Rhodes, 140, 143

Encumbered estates, evil of, 46 English people first race in the world, 58 ; increase of their numbers desired, 58 ; do not

know their greatness, 68 ; waste their energies on local matters, 68 ; a conservative people, 124 ; a very practical people, like expansion for practical business, 150, 165 ; will govern themselves, 164; eminently practical, 172

" English-speaking Men, To al l , " Manifesto in REVIEW OP REVIEWS, 99-102 English-speaking peoples, union of, C. J. Rhodes on, 27, 59, 61, 66, 73, 76 Executors of last will, 49 Exeter Hall, C. J. Rhodes's first and last visit to, 82 ; opposed to its native policy, 148 Expansion, effect of, on number of English in the world. 58 ; British industry, 165 ;

secure open markets, 166-171

Federation indispensable, 61, 73. 74, 118; C. J. Rhodes's devotion to, 118 ; C. J. Rhodes's ideas on, 124; Mr. Parnell s assent to, 126; in South Africa, 143

Financial " patent " of C. J. Rhodes in Rhodesia, 50 per cent, on gold. 161 Flag, devotion of C. J. Rhodes to. 34^; but would accept Stars and Stripes, 62, 102;

sympathises with Kruger's devotion to Yierkleur, 143 Fort, Seymour, describes Inyanga, 9 Free Trade, C. J. Rhodes on, 66, 73, 76, 166-9

Garrett, F. E . , describas Groots Schuur, 11 : portrait of, i ro ; his authority invoked by C. J, Rhodes, 109

Germany, fifteen scholarships for, 33 ; approved by Kaiser, 36 •Gladstone, Mr., his Home Rule Bill disliked by C. J . Rhodes, 121, 131-2: objects to

retention of Irish members, 118; concedes their retention, 129: but insists on reduction, 129 ; Newcastle speech on Egypt alarms C. J. Rhodes, 132 ; regarded by C. J. Rhodes as ths Liberal Party, 132 ; worked on by J. Morley, 136 ; ignorant of C. J, Rhodes's views on Egypt, 135

God, on the existence of, 89, 189; on His will towards us, 89; C. J. Rhodes's meditations on, 89and onwards; deathbed colloquy of C. J. Rhodes, 188-9

Gordon, Gen., and C. J. Rhodes, 80, 142 Grey, Earl, joint heir, 49, 108 ; portrait of, 60 ; anecdotes of C. J . Rhodes, 178-183 Greswell, Rev. W., letter of, 29 Groote Schuur, view from hill behind, 10 ; bequeathed to public as residence of First

Federal Premier, 13; described by I*. E. Garrett, i r ; approach to, 12; the dining-room, 14; the drawing-room, 15; fund for maintenance of, 17; the hall, 18; the library, 18; the billiard-room, 19; the panelled room, 19; marble bathroom, 25 ; Mr. Rhodes's bedroom, 25 ; summer-house at, 37

Hague,'Peace Conference at, 109 Hammond, John Hays, portrait of, 156; report on Rhodesia, 159 Harris, Dr. Rntherfbord, portrait of, 146 Harrison, President, dimly discerns American expansion, 74 Hawksley, B. F., discusses qualifications for scholarships, 38-44; portrait of, 41: joint

heir of residue, 49; why made joint heir in 1892, 104; letter from, concerning W. T. Stead,111

Heirs 'joint) under last will, 49 Heligoland, teaching of English forbidden, 36 Hufmeyr, Jan H . , grave of, 17 Home Rule, the key to Empire, 74, 113, 114, 118; C. J. Rhodes's correspondence with

' C. S. Parnell, 118-130

Imagination, C. J. Rhodes on the lack of, 173-4 Inyanga, view of farm at, 8 ; fund how to be applied, 9-11 Ireland: C. J . Rhodes subscribes to national fund, 118-130; to convert Home Rule Bill

into Federalism, 120; Cape experience as a guide, 122

INDEX. '95

Jamaica, three scholarships for, 32 Jameson, Dr., trustee, 49 ; portrait of, 75, r23; beloved by C. J. Rhodes, 177 ; his name-

last word uttered by C. J. Rhodes, 190 Jameson Raid, the, and C. J. Rhodes, 106-107, 130, 178 Johnston, Sir H. H. , portrait of, 129

Kimberley.'^Bath "'described, 16 ; 600 miles by waggon to, 157 ; siege of, 173-5

Landlords, country, C. J. Rhodes on, 46 Liberal Party, C. J . Rhodes's relations to, 117-138 ; thinks of standing as Liberal candidate

in 1886, 117; subscribes to Home Rule, 120-130; to Liberal Election Fund, 130-9; " My ideas—Liberalism plus Empire," 131 ; ruining itself by Little Englandism, 131 ; future of England must be Liberal, 133

Life "three days at the seaside," 88; work, the essence of a proper, 45: speculations by.C. J. Rhodes on a future, 189

Lindsay, Rev. Dr., suggests voting for scholarships, 109 " Loafer," a, hated by C. J. Rhodes, 45 Low, Sidney, his summary of C. J. Rbodes's conversations, 73 Loxley, Rev. A. P., on C. J. Rhodes and religious education, 94 Loyola, Ignatius, and C. J. Rhodes, 63, 66, 83

Mackenzie, Rev. John, opposed to policy of C. J. Rhodes, 80 " Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon," Rhodes upon, 8r Malima river feeds Westacre dam, 7 " Malindidzimo," name of C. J. Rhodes's burial place, 4 Manicaland, C. J. Rhodes's estate in, 9 Marcus Aurelius constantly read by C. J . Rhodes, 184-185 Markets, open, essential to England, 66, 68, 73, 134, 165-368 Matabele War, C. J. Rhodes's defence of, 150 Matoppos, picture of, 2 ; description of, 4 ; burial place of C. J. Rhodes and Umzilikazi,

4 ; fund for maintaining, 5; visited by C. J. Rhodes and Mr. Wyndhani, 5 ; excavating grave on, 186

McNeill, Swift, arranges C. J. Rhodes's subscription to Irish National Fund, n8, 120 Michel!, Lewis L., joint heir, 49, 108; portrait of, 67 Military service insisted on by C. J. Rhodes, 47 Mills, Sir Charles, brings C. J. Rhodes and W. T. Stead together, 80-81 Milner, Lord, joint heir, 49, 108 ; portrait of, 57; supported by C. J. Rhodes, 108-109 Mitford, Bertram, description of Matoppos, 4 Moral qualities, to be regarded in selecting scholars, 36-44 Morley,John : speech about Egypt horrifies C. J. Rhodes, 133 ; importance of, minimised

by F. Schnadhorst, 136 " Mosterts " property bequeathed with Groote Schuur, 13 Muizenberg, near Cape Town, where C. J. Rhodes died, 179 Miiller, Iwan, reports to C. J. Rhodes on new University education, 23 ; on country

gentlemen, 46

Napoleon and his dirty linen, 74; C . J . Rhodes on his dream of Universal Monarchy,. 74

Natal, three scholarships for, 32 Native policy of C. J. Rhodes in Africa : " We must be lords over them," 14 j Newfoundland, three scholarships for, 32 New South Wales, three scholarships for, 32 New Zealand, three scholarships for, 32

Nyassaland, cost of administration borne by Chartered Company for four years. 151

Ontario, three scholarships for, 32 Oriel College, Oxford, C. J. Rhodes, M.A., i88r, 20 ; history of, 20 ; Sir W. Raleigh at,.

20; other Oriel men, 21, 30; income of, 20 ; bequests to, 20-21 ; and St. Mary Hall, 21 ; views of a senior member of, 22 ; story of Keble when don of, 22 ; view of, 3*

Oxford, scholarships to hi tenable at, 23, 108 ; why, 23-24 ; Medical School, 27 Pall Mall Gazette, C. J. Rhodes and, 79 ; exponent of his ideas, 8o-8r _ Parnell, C. S-, correspondence between, and C. J . Rhodes, 120-130; subscription to, 125 ;

regrets and withdraws Navan speech, 129 " Patent," C. J. Rhodes's political, 68 : financial, i6r Peace, C. J. Rhodes's idea of how it might be attained, 59, 6r, 66; Conference at Hague*

108-109 Persia, part of Anglo-Saxon sphere, 74 Pickering, N. E . , heir to C. J. Rhodes in second will, 62 Portugal to come under Anglo-Saxon control, 74 Portuguese, C. J. Rhodes speaks well of, 163

196 INDEX.

Preferential tariff strongly advocated by C. J. Rhodes, 63, 66 Protection, hard fight, 66; C. J . Rhodes's speech against, 166-171 ; why Colonies

approve, 168; his safeguard against, 167

Quebec, three scholarships for, 32 •Queensland, three scholarships for, 32

Radziwill, Princess, forgeries of, 185 Raleigh, Sir W,, at Oriel, 20; C, J. Rhodes on his imprisonment, 181 Reincarnation, C. J. Rhodes indifferent to, 88 Republics—British self-governing Colonies practically independent, 143 Residue of the Rhodes estate left to joint-heirs, 49 REVIEW OF REVIEWS founded in 1890, approved by C. J. Rhodes, 99 Rhodes, Captain Ernest, heir of Dalham Hall, 45 Rhodes, Colonel Frank, heir of Dalham Hall, 45 Rhodes, Cecil John:

Anecdotes of: Places Zimbabye stone hawk in Council Chamber, 16; tried to visit W. T. Stead in gaol, 81; attends indignation meeting in Exeter Hall, 81; and General Gordon, 142; on hearing of the burning of Groote Schuur, 18a; Lord Grey's stories of, 181

Appreciations of: by F. E. Garrett, 11; Herbert Baker, 16; W. T. Stead, 51: "Money King of Modern World," 55 ; a mystic, 56; W. T. Stead's first impressions of, 82 ; Roman Emperor phis Ironside plus Loyola, 83; "A Grey Archangel," 139; by the Booths, 89-93, J77; Sir C. Warren, 117

Autograph of, 69, 116 Burial of, on Matoppos, 2, 182, 186, 190, 192 Characteristics of: "I find I am still human," 68; reticent, 82; deeply religious

conceptions, 82; no correspondent, 84; thinks only of a few things, 84; loyal friendship, 112; honesty in warning investors, 160-1 ; political consistency, 140; personal fascination, 142; "a great heart hungering for love," 177; free from scandal, 185-7.

Conversations with Iwan Muller, 23, 46 ; Sidney Low, 73; W. T. Stead, 79-115, 190; with Gen. Gordon, 142

Correspondence of, with W„ T. Stead, 64, 98, 99, 135 ; in the Times, 1885, 138 ; with Mr. Parnell, 120-130 ; with Mr. Schnadhorst, 130-7

Death of, at Muizenberg, March 26, 1902, 177; how precipitated, 187 ; hislast word, igo Personal history of: 1881, M.A., Oxford, 20; draws up draft of ideas, 1877, 58; first

will, 1877, 61; second, 1882, 62 ; third, 1888, 62 ; fourth, 1891, 64 ; fifth, 1893,104 ; sixth and la.st, 1899, 3-49; meets Gordon, 1882, 142 ; reader of Fall Mall Gazette, 1883-9, So; meets W. T. Stead, 1889, 82 (q.v.) : influenced by Aristotle, 84; meditates on object of life, 58, 85 ; dreams of entering Parliament, 117 : visits Salvation Army, 89-93 ; conceives idea of scholarships, 105 ; Jameson Raid, 106 ; supports Milner, 108 ; as youngster learns that truth and no race distinctions axioms of Empire, 147

Political ideas of: his ideal, 56; first draft of, 1877, 58; English first of races, 58; its expansion ends all war, 58; annex all uncivilised world and make one Anglo-Saxon Empire, 59 ; on the loss of the United States [q.v.\ 59 ; suggested method of action, 59; his patent, 68 ; his Political Will and Testament (q.v.), 64-76; his cardinal doctrines, 73 ; universal monarchy possible with local self-government, 74; Anglo-Saxons to control countries tried and found wanting, 74: summarised by W. T. Stead in 1889, 82; British ascendency gives place to English-speaking reunion, 102; on secret society and obedience, 109; on Dutch in South Africa, 113 ; on Home Rule Bill, 118.; retention of Irish Members, 120,733 ; willing to reduce their numbers, 120; remonstrates with Mr, Parnell, 129: on retention of Egypt, 130-8 ; " M y ideas are Liberalism plus Empire," 131 ; " T h e one thing I hate above everything, the policy of disintegrating and breaking up our Empire," 134; what Empire meant to him, 140 ; his own definition, 143 ; on the flag, 143 ; his adhesion to Afrikander Bond, 144; as to Portuguese, 74, 163: and the Transvaal, 108,164 ; demands free hand to impose differential duties on British goods, 166-171 ; future of England must be Liberal, perhaps to fight Socialism, 133

Political Will and Testament of C. J. Rhodes, i8gi, addressed to W, T. Stead, 64 ; key to his ideas, Jesuit organisation, differential tariff and American Constitution, 64; English greatest race, but unaware of its greatness, 68; English labour dependent on outside markets, 68 ; to end all war and make one language universal, gradually absorb all wealth and higher minds to object, 68 ; Anglo-American reunion, 73 ; Federal Parliament, sitting five years Washington, five years Westminster, 72; a secret society absorbing the wealth of the world, 73 ; appeal to young America, 74 ; to take over the government of the whole world, 74 ; Home Rule and the parish pump, 74; the three essentials, 76 ; a Free Trader who would fight for Free Trade, 76 ; would declare commercial war with United States, 76 ; eight hours day dependent on English-speaking reunion, 76

Portraits of: Downey's, 3 ; by Tennyson Cole, 26 ; by Marchioness of Granby, 50 ; in the ** Eighties," 54 ; as a boy, 78 ; autograph portrait, 116 ; in the Matoppos, 138 ; at the Cape, 141; last taken in 1901, 176

INDEX. '97

Rhodes, Cecil John—continued. Religious ideas of: ideal of Secular Church for extension of British Empire, 59: a

political Society of Jesus, 63 ; Agnostic, 84 ; on the Bible, 84 ; on broadening influence of travel and Nature, 86: on church-going, 86; on churches, 88; a Darwinian, 88; on life and death, 88; is there a God? 88 ; what does He want me lo do? 89 ; testimony of the Booths, 89-93; Divine area of action, 94; Divine method, 94; Divine instrument, 95; Divine ideal, 96; his threefold test, 97; his conclusion, 98; his policy as to education, 94; his idea in essence, 98: fond of theological discussion, 184; and Marcus Aurelius, 184 ; " This one thing 1 do," 184 ; his colloquy with the Infinite, 188-9; not an atheist, 189 ; on the future life, 189

Sayings of: on Matoppos, " Homes—that is what I work for," 5 ; on university education, 23 ; on " smug," " brutality," and " unctuous rectitude," 44; on loafers, 45 ; the essence of a proper life, 45 ; on country landlords, 46 ; " Do you ever feel mad'(" etc. " I do, at pig-headed statesmen of George I I I . , " 59; " Leave the local pump to the parish beadle," 74 ; " Don't despise money," 83 ; " Life—three days at the seaside," 88 ; a fifty-per-cent. chance tbere is a God, 89; " I am trying to make new countries—you are trying to make new men," 93 : Justice, Liberty, Peace, the highest things, 97; " Y o u cannot govern South Africa by trampling on the Dutch," 113; Gladstonian Home Rule makes Ireland a taxed republic, 118 ; " My idea—Liberalism flus Empire," 131 ; " Xo use to have big ideas without cash," 142 ; " The whole of your politics lie in your trade," 169; *' Your trade is the world and your life is. the world,"' 170 ; East Africa based on the suppression of slave trade and cultivation of cocoanut, 172 ; ".The best commercial asset in the world," 174-5: "Always do the comparative!" 181; " S o much to do, so little done," 184; " I would annex the planets if I could," 190

Speeches of; at laying foundation stone Presbyterian Chapel, 86; at Salvation Army meeting at Mansion House, 90-1 ; at prize-ghing at Bulawayo school, 94 ; published by Chapman and Hall, rgoo, 139; on United States of South Africa, 1883, 142: on the Flag question, 1890, 143, 173; on the Afrikander Bond, 1891, 144; on theDutch, 145,147 ; against race distinctions, 147 ; against Crown Colony, 148 ; on native legislation, 1888, 148 ; address to the shareholders of the Chartered Company, 1895, 149-175 ; on the British flag as a commercial asset, 173-5

Wills: first of Cecil J. Rhodes's, 1877, 61; second, 1882,62; third, 1888,62: fourth, 1891, 64 ; fifth, 1893, 104 ; sixth and last, 1899, 3 ; why altered, 103-4

Will, last, and Testament of: domicile declared in Rhodesia, 3; burial place in the Matoppos (q.v.), why chosen, 3; inscription on tomb, 4 ; the Shangani monument, 4 ; conditions for future burials, 5 ; fund for beautifying burial place, 7 ; bequeaths Bulawayo and Inyanga estates for instruction of people, 5; forms Matoppos and Bulawayo fund for burial place, 7 ; provides for planting Sauerdale {q.v.j Park, 7 ; for completing Westacre (q.v.) dam, 7-9; for constructing railway to Westacre for week-enders, 9; founds Inyanga q.v.1 fund, 9; for irrigation, 11; for experimental farming, forestry, gardening, and Agricultural College, 11 ; leaves Groote Schuur q.v.) as residence for Prime Minister of federated South Africa, 13; till then as

park for people, 16 ; founds Groote Schuur fund, 17 ; bequeaths ,£100,000 to Oriel lq.v.< College, Oxford, 20; for new buildings, 21 ; for resident fellowships, 21 ; for the High Table, 22 : directions to trustees, 23 ; founds scholarships at Oxford, 23 : suggests extension of medical school, 24 ; states his object as union of English-speaking race, 24 ; the sixty Colonial scholarships, 32 ; one hundred American scholarships, 33 ; fifteen German scholarships, 35 ; rules for selecting scholars, 36; apportionment of marks, 38; conditions of lesidence, 40; of payment, 43; of distribution, 43 ; of discipline, 44: annual dinner, 44 ; settles Dalham Hall estate on Col. F. Rhodes and Capt. Ernest Rhodes, 45 ; conditions in the codicil, 45'; no incumbrances to be created, 45-6; ten years' work, 47; service in Militia or Volunteers, 47; forfeiture of title, 47 ; leaves residue (q.v.) of estate to joint tenants who are also named executors and trustees, 49

Rhodesia, nine scholarships for, 32 ; called after C. J. Rhodes, 68 ; its extent north uf the Zambesi, 150; Matabele and Mashonaland, 151; extent of, 152; material development of,_ 154, 157; cost of administering in 1895, 154-5; railway making to, 157; a white man's country, 158; profits of, from minerals, 159; Hays Hammond, report on, 159

Rosebery, Karl of, joint heir of residue, 49, 108: quoted by C. J. Rhodes in favour of reduction of Irish Members, 121; saves Egypt by joining Gladstone's Ministry, 132 ; saves Uganda and Egypt, 169

Rudd, C. E . , portrait of, 119

Salvation Army, C. J. Rhodes on, 90-93 Sauerdale property to be planted as park, 7 Schnadhorst, F. , Liberal Whip, correspondence with, 130-7 ; meets C. J. Rhodes in

Africa, 131 ; asks for subscription to Liberal fund, 131; ,£5,000 given on conditions, 133; his defence, 136-7

Scholarships, first founded by C. J. Rhodes, for Rondebosch College, 29; in his last will, 60 were founded for Colonies, 30-1; 100 for United States, 3^ ; 15'for Germany, 35 ; how to be selected, 36; allotment of marks, 38; discussion on, 38-44; annual dinner, 44-5, 52 ; first idea of, 105

198 INDEX.

Secret Society, C. J. Rhode's first suggestion of, 5 } : the key to Ins idea, 64. 66 ; to absorb the wealth of the world, 73; success anticipated in 200 years, 76; his idea in essence, 98 ; difficulty of obedience, IOJ ; prospects of, 114

Shangani, monument to those who fell at, 4 ; bas-reliefs, 28 Shippard, Sidney G. A., the first of C. J. Rhodes's heirs, 61 Socialism, Kngland must be Liberal, perhaps to light, 133 South African College School, three scholarships for, 32 Spain to be controlled by Anglo-Saxons, 74 Spectator, absurd misconception about the Schnadhorst subscription, 130 Si. Andrew's College School, Cape Colony, three scholarships for, 32 Stellenbosch College School, three scholarships for, 32 Stead, W. T., discusses with C. J. Rhodes qualifications for scholarship. 38-43, 103;

portrait of, 42 ; joint heir of residue, 4g ; name ren.ov.id from executors, 49, 111 ; appreciations of C. J . Rhodes, 51-56, 81, 83, 133; custodian of first will of C. J . Rhodes, 61 ; left heir with " X " in a fourth will (189x^,64, 104; entrusted with political will and testament, 64; on the Rhodesian ideal, 77; confidential conversation with, 79 ; oiigin of friendship, 79; his Gospel of the P.M.G., 79 ; first meets C. J. Rhodes ,1889 , 79; through Sir C. Mills, 81; first impressions, 81-2 ; C. J. Rhodes attracted by the imprisonment of, 82; conversation with C. J. Rhodes published in 1899, 83-98 ; letter of, to C. J. Rhodes, 98 : letters to, from C. J, Rhodes, 64, 99: founds the REVIEW OF REVIEWS, 99; Manifesto " T o all Knglish-speaking Peoples,*' 99-102 ; approved by C, J. Rhodes, 99 ; " Our Ideas," 102; commissioned to communicate 0. J, Rhodes s secret to the others, 103; joint heir in fifth will with " X " and E. K. Hawksley, 104; discusses with C. J. Rhodes methods of propaganda, 104; told about the scholarships, 105; action iti re Jameson Raid, 107; last interview with C. J. Rhodes before the war, 107; made joint heir in last will, 108 : suggests American scholarships, 108 : other suggestions rejected, 103; his responsibility from 1891-9, 109; first interview with C . J . Rhodes after war broke out, 105; "insubordination" of, 103; his defence, 111: B. F. Hawksley on, 111; friendship unimpaired, 112; last interviews with C- J . Rhodes, 112-13: on the secret society, 114-15; forwards letter from C. J . Rhodes to F. Schnadhorst, 135

Stevenson, Mr., of Exeter College, on American and Colonial students, 31, 35

Tariff war advocated by C. J.'Rhodes, 66, 73, 76, 167 Tasmania, three scholarships for, 32 Transvaal, C. J. Rhodes's sympathy with flag, 143 : " I look to no political difficulty

from the" (18951, l 0 4 '• ultimatum unexpected by C. J. Rhodes, 108 Trustees under last will, 49 Tweed, Jno., sculptor of Shangani monument, 4

Uganda saved by Lord Rosebery, 16) Umzilikazi, chief of Matabele, buried in Matoppss, 4 United States, scholarships for, 27 ; why granted, 27 ; C. J. Rhodes on " recovery of,"

5g ; on the loss of, 59; restoration of Anglo-Saxon unit}', 61 ; w idening of his views on, 62 ; constitution of his text-book, 63-66 : boycotts English goods, 66 : commercial war with, 66, 76 ; fascinated with idea of world-wide dominion, 74 ; McKinley tariff, 76 ; C. J. Rhodes's ideas on, broadened, 62, 102 ; takes precautions for future tariff war with, 167 ; tariff cripples English trade, 169

University education, why esteemed by C. J. Rhodes, 23 ; must be residential, 24

Victoria, three scholarships for, 32 " View, the, of the World," 2 " Vindex" edits C. J. Rhodes's speeches, 120, 133

War, how to end all, C. J. Rhodes's " patent,1' 59, 61, 66 : South African, C. J. Rhodes did not anticipate, 108

Warren, Sir Charl es, 011 C. J. Rhodes, 1884, 117 Wealth, C. J. Rhodes's use of, 51; millionaires and their money, 66, 73 ; the seizure

of the world's, 76 ; " Don't despise money," 83; acquisition of, not good enough, 85 ; his subscription to Mr, Parnell, 120-130; secures conversion of Home Rule from separation to federation, 120 ; not clue to anxiety for Charter, 120; subscription to Mr. Schnadhorst, 131-138; indispensable to big ideas, 142; without imagination, 173-4

Wcstacre dam and park, 7 Western Australia, three scholarships for, 32 Will, the so-called political will and testament, 1891, 64-76 Women, C. J. Rhodes refuses to admit them to his scholarships, 108-9 Work essential to proper life, 45 Wyndham, George, reports saying of C. J. Rhodes, 5

" X " heir to C. J. Rhodes in third, fourth and fifth will, 62 ; why not left sole heir, 103

"LONDOS: I*KINTED HV WILI.IAM CI.OWES AND SONS, LIMITED, DUKE STREET, STAMFORD STREET, S.E., AND TJKEAT WINDMILL STREET, W,

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Documents

Cecil Rhodes Last Will Testament