olitics.

It was common knowledge that de Waal had steadfastly stood by Rhodes even
during the terrible time of the Raid. Moreover, he was a man of high
integrity, who alone among those who had attached themselves to the
destinies of the Empire Maker had never taken part in the financial
schemes of a doubtful nature which marked the wonderful career of Rhodes.
This declaration opened the eyes of many persons who, to that day, had
denied the political intrigues which had been going on at Cotswold
Chambers. Afterwards it became relatively easy for Sir Alfred Milner to
clear the atmosphere in South Africa and to establish public life on
sounder principles than the pure love of gain. It cannot be sufficiently
regretted that he should not have done so before Rhodes' death and thus
have given Rhodes--and, incidentally, the country for which Rhodes had
done so much in the way of material development--the opportunity to shake
off his parasites and become a real factor in solidifying the great area
in which he was such an outstanding personality.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE INFLUENCE OF SIR ALFRED MILNER

The occult power exercised by the League on the inner politics of South
Africa could not fail to impress Sir Alfred Milner most unpleasantly.
Frank himself, it must have often been absolutely repulsive to him to have
to do with people whom he feared to trust and who believed that they could
bring into political life the laxities of the mining camp. Though not
aware of it, even before he landed in Cape Town the Progressives had made
up their minds to represent him as determined to sweep the Dutch off the
face of the earth.

Believing Sir Alfred to be the confederate of Rhodes, the Boers, too,
would have nothing to do with him. Whilst the Bloemfontein Conference was
going on President Kruger, as well as the leaders of the Afrikander Bond,
were overwhelmed with covert warnings to distrust the High Commissioner.
Whence they emanated is not a matter of much doubt. Sir Alfred was accused
of wanting to lay a trap for the Boer plenipotentiaries, who were told to
beware of him as an accomplice of Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, whose very name
produced at Pretoria the same effect as a red rag upon a bull. Under these
circumstances the Conference was bound to fail, and the High Commissioner
returned to Cape Town, very decidedly a sadder and most certainly a wiser
man.

Now that years have passed since the Boer War it is possible to secure