l of
rich men by the mere power of riches to control the lives and consciences
of others.

The time of Sir Alfred Milner's administration was the transitory period
between the primitive and the civilised that no nation escapes, and this
period Sir Alfred used in working toward the establishment of a strong and
wise government. Whether the one which started its course of existence on
the day when the Federation of South Africa became an accomplished fact
was strong and wise it is not for me to say. At least it was a patriotic
government, one which worked sincerely at the abolition of the race hatred
which the war had not entirely killed, and also one which recognised that
after all it was the principle of Imperial government that alone could
bring back prosperity and security to unfortunate and bleeding South
Africa.

The war gave to the Empire the loyal support and co-operation of the Dutch
population at the Cape and also in the Transvaal, and the fidelity with
which General Botha fulfilled his duty toward the Mother Country in the
difficult moments of 1914 proved the strong link forged in 1902 between
the British Empire and South Africa. Now that years have passed it is
possible to look with a less passionate eye upon the past and upon the men
who took a leading part in the events which gave to the British Empire
another fair dominion. They appear to us as they really were, and we can
more justly accord them their proper valuation. The personality of Cecil
Rhodes will always remain a great one; his merits and his defects will be
reduced to their proper relative proportions, and the atmosphere of
adulation or antagonism which, as the occasion suited, was poured upon
him, be dissipated by time's clarifying influences. His real work
consisted in the opening of new sources of wealth and new spheres of
activity to a whole multitude of his fellow-countrymen, and of giving his
native land an extension of its dominions in regions it had never
penetrated before Cecil Rhodes' enterprising spirit of adventure and of
conquest sent him into the wilderness of Africa to open a new and
radiating centre of activity and development for his country. The
conception of the Cape to Cairo Railway was one of those projects for
which his country will ever remain grateful.

Yes! Rhodes was a great Englishman in spite of his faults, and perhaps on
account of his faults. Beside the genius of a Darwin or of a Pasteur, the
talent of a Shakespear