按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
their votes could be legally recorded。 I remember a piteous letter from a gentleman who had travelled all the way from Cornwall； reaching Norwich somewhere about 7 P。M。； only to discover that he must vote at Yarmouth within an hour； which of course he was unable to do。 When one considers how paratively small was the number of votes necessary to turn the scale in my favour； it is easy to understand what this blundering meant to me。 Still； for reasons that I have already given； I do honestly believe that all was for the best。
Although I might have done so more than once； never again have I stood for Parliament。 To tell the truth； the whole business disgusts me with its atmosphere of falsehood； or at the least of prevarication； and its humiliating quest of support。 In such struggles in Britain there is； it is true； little actual corruption； but of indirect corruption there is still a great deal。 From the moment a candidate appears on the field he is fair game； and every man’s hand is in his pocket。 Demands for “your patronage and support” fall on him； thick as leaves in Vallombrosa。 I remember that I was even pestered to supply voters with wooden legs！ Why should an election in a county division cost； as this one did； something over 2000 pounds in all？
Some years before this time my brother Alfred conceived the plan of obtaining some great concession of land and minerals from Lobengula。 He was； I recollect； angry with me because I would not enter into his scheme with enthusiasm； and I think has never quite forgiven me my backwardness。 But I knew a good deal about the Matabele； also I held that Lobengula would never grant him what he wanted unless it was wrung from him by force of arms。 Indeed I am convinced to this day that no one except Cecil Rhodes； with his vast mand of money； could have dispossessed this tyrant and annexed those great territories。
I did not know Cecil Rhodes in Africa； where we never crossed each other’s paths； indeed I think he arrived there only towards the end of my time。 We first met in London； I believe somewhere about the year 1888； when I was asked to meet him at the National Liberal Club。 At that time he was little known； I do not think that I had ever heard of him before。 He impressed me a good deal； and I remember his explaining to me in great detail the provisions of a measure he was introducing into the Cape Parliament — I think it was the Glen Grey Act — in such detail； indeed； that I lost the thread of the thing and grew bewildered。 Rhodes could rarely be persuaded to write a letter； but my recollection is that he could talk at a great pace when he was in the mood。
When he was in England； just before the Jameson Raid； I saw Rhodes several times； for it was then that the African people were anxious that I should stand for Parliament。 I remember going to breakfast with him at the Burlington Hotel。 He was then at the height of his success； and the scene was very curious。 Already before breakfast a number of people； some of them well known； who were not asked to that meal； were waiting about in ante…rooms on the chance of getting a word with or favour from the great man。 It reminded me of a picture I have seen of Dr。 Johnson and others hanging about in the vestibule of； I think； Lord Chesterfield’s apartment for a like object。 There was the same air of patient expectancy upon their faces。 In a china bowl on a table I observed a great accumulation of unopened letters； most of which had a kind of society look about them； probably they were invitations and so forth。 It was； I have understood； one of the habits of the Rhodes entourage not to trouble to open letters that came by post。 Unless these were of known importance they only attended to those that were sent by hand； or to telegrams； and the replies were generally verbal or telegraphic。 Perhaps this was owing to press of business； or perhaps to a pose； or to a bination of both。
The last time that I ever saw Rhodes must have been about a year later； probably when he was in England after the Jameson Raid affair。 I went to call on him on some matter — I entirely forget what it was — at the Burlington Hotel； and found him alone。 We talked for a long while； though again I forget the subject of our conversation。 What I remember is the appearance of the man as he paced restlessly up and down the long room like a lion in a cage； throwing out his words in jerky； isolated sentences； and in a curious high voice that sometimes almost attained to a falsetto。 He gave me the idea of being in a very nervous state； as I dare say was the case。
His was one of those big； mixed natures of which it is extremely difficult to form a just opinion。 My own； for what it is worth； is that he loved his country and desired above all things to advance her interests； also that he was personally very ambitious。 He set great ends before himself and went to work to attain them at any cost。 To begin with； he saw that money was necessary； so he rubbed shoulders with speculators； with Jews； with anybody who was useful； and by means of this deal or that deal made the money； not for its own sake； but that he might use it to fulfil the purposes of his busy and far…reaching brain。 He outwitted Kruger； he destroyed the Matabele； he seized the vast territories of Rhodesia； and persuaded the British public to find him the gold wherewith to finance them； most of which the British public has； I imagine； lost。 But the Empire has gained； for Rhodesia does not run away； like the capital； in over…financed and unremunerative panies。 One day it may be a great asset of the Crown； if the Imperial possessions hold together。
It would almost seem as though Rhodes was one of those men who have been and still are raised up by that Power； of the existence of which he seems to have been dubious； to fulfil certain designs of Its own。 There have been a good many with somewhat similar characteristics。 Alexander； Caesar； Napoleon； Chaka； e to my mind as I write。 Roosevelt； though his is a finer mind； may or may not prove another： at the moment it rather looks as though his cards were played； but who knows？
Had it not been for Rhodes I incline to the belief that the Germans would have taken Rhodesia； perhaps after a preliminary occupation by the Boers。 That danger； I think； was present to his thoughts and was one of the reasons which induced him to strike； and strike hard； caring nothing for the blood that splashed up from the blow。 In the same way he wished to seize the Transvaal by a coup de main； or rather a coup d’epee； but here he miscalculated the strength of the opposing forces。 Or perhaps； as he himself said； Jameson — whom I also knew and who possesses； I think； in some ways a higher nature than did Rhodes — upset his “apple…cart。” At least； whatever his faults； he was a great figure in his generation； and his name must always be remembered if only by that of the vast territory he seized； which he still surveys from his tomb…eyrie on the Matoppos。
Rhodes had his weaknesses； like other men。 A few years ago I was staying with Lord Carrington； now the Marquis of Lincolnshire。 He told me a little story with reference to Rhodes’ declaration； which Lord Carrington said he had often made； to the effect that he would accept no title or favour from Royalty。 They were both of them manded to Windsor at the same time； and Lord Carrington gave me a lively description of the intense amusement of the pany e down to dinner and in a very marked manner asked one of the gentlemen…inwaiting whether he had been careful to see that the “Right Honourable gentleman；” pointing to Cecil Rhodes； had been made fortable in every way； thereby indicating the conferring of a Privy Councillorship upon him； which he had not refused。
My City labours endured but for nine months； after which time I was delivered。 During those tumultuous days I toiled in a fine office in London； where thousands were talked of as of no account。 It was the period of the great African boom； and the business machine hummed merrily。 We made money； I remember； also we lost money。 But it was all much too speculative and nerve…racking for me； while the burden of those panies weighed upon my mind heavily。 The true…bred City man cares little for such things； which to him are all part of the day’s work； as writing a chapter of a book might be to me。 He is accustomed to take risks； and an adept at getting out of difficult situations。
At last came a time in my own instance when my partner； an excellent and very able gentleman in his own way and one for whom I retain the most friendly feelings； announced that he meant to depart for South Africa for a year or so； leaving me to conduct all the extremely intricate affairs with which he was connected。 This was too much for me； and then and there I had the presence of mind to strike。
All men make mistakes； but afterwards； so far as my observation goes； they may be divided into two classes： those who know when to get out of them； and those who do not。
Well； in this case I had sufficient sense and courage to appreciate my mistake and to retire while there was yet time。 Of course there was some difficulty； as under the deed of partnership I was bound for a period。 But； when he saw that I was determined to go； my partner behaved very well and kindly signed a dissolution。
I should add that the period which this chapter covers was marked by several events that were more or less important to me。 In 1893 my dear father died as the result of a chill which he caught in waiting about for the poll to be declared at an election in cold weather。 It was sad to see a man of his great strength and energy fading away and being so subdued and gentle； qualities which were not natural to him。 After one extraordinary recovery from the jaundice； or whatever it was that had attacked him； believing himself to be strong again； he began to travel and pay visits in winter； and thus brought on a return of his ailment。 I was not actually present at his death…bed； as I could only reach Bradenham on the following day。 He left me one of his executors and； as he was dying； told our old servant Hocking to give me his watch and chain； which I think had been his father’s before him。 I have it now； still marking the hour at which it ran down under his pillow on that night。 His last words； spoken almost as he expired； were：
“God is everywhere！ He is in this room； is He not？”
He looked fine and peaceful in death； as I think I have said； he was very handsome； and in many ways a remarkable man。 I never knew anyone who resembled him in the least or who was the possessor of half his energy。 God rest him！
Sir Theophilus Shepstone died in the same year； and； I think； at almost exactly the same age。 I mourned my old chief very sincerely。
In 1893 or the previous year I was elected Chairman of my local bench of magistrates； an office which I have filled ever since。 Indeed； when I wished to resign it the other day； on my appointment to the Dominions Royal mission； that； all being well； will necessitate long absences from England during which I shall be unable to attend to the business of the bench； my colleagues unanimously requested me to retain the position and appointed my old friend and neighbour； Captain Meade of Earsham Hall； to act for me when I was a