Cecil Rhodes “Confession of Faith”

Cecil Rhodes “Confession of Faith”

In "Confession of Faith," the great imperialist and wealthy diamond mine owner Cecil Rhodes stresses his opinion of Britain's right to conquer land in the world, and the importance of involvement by the British citizens. His beliefs were that imperialism is the key to political and economic power and shows how British nationalism led to the expansion of its territories. “ It often strikes a man to inquire what is the chief good in life; to one the thought comes that it is a happy marriage, to another great wealth, and such seizes on his idea for that he more or less works for the rest of his existence.” (pg. 243)

Cecil Rhodes wanted nothing more than to serve his country. He believes that the Anglo-Saxon race should rule the world. “I contend that we are the finest race in the world and that the better it is for the human race.” (pg. 243)

Any other race to him should not exist. Humans being born that are not going to be raised in the Anglo-Saxon race are a waste to him. He wanted to make the British Empire a superpower in which all of the white countries in the empire would be represented in the British Parliament. “Why should we not form a secret society with but one object the furtherance of the British Empire and the bringing of the whole uncivilized world under British rule for the recovery of the United States for the making the Anglo-Saxon race but one Empire.” (pg. 243)

Rhodes did want to breed an American elite of philosopher-kings who would have the USA rejoin the British Empire. His dream is made clear on how and why he wanted the whole world to be like the Anglo-Saxon race. Rhodes did respect the Germans and the Kaiser, but still thought his race and society was better. Rhodes made his point very clear in this excerpt and goes into detail on what other races do wrong. “It is our duty to seize every opportunity of acquiring more territory and we should keep this one idea steadily before our eyes that more territory simply means more of the Anglo-Saxon race more of the best the most human, most honourable race the world possesses.” (pg. 243)

For his race, he has very high standards on how to spread this belief of his. The more land the race can acquire, the better off the race would be. To Rhodes his idea of the world turning into a one-race world is his dream. By expanding and expressing his ideas and beliefs, it would make the Anglo-Saxon race even more prevailing. “The Society should always be searching for members who might by their energies or character forward the object but the ballot and test for admittance should be severe)…” (pg. 244) Ceil Rhodes was a very powerful and wealthy man in his time. He was one of the wealthiest men in the world. I think since he had so much wealth it made him come to the conclusion he could control the world and make it a one-race society. I would compare Rhodes to an earlier Adolph Hitler, with trying to succeed a one-race dominance. Rhodes has too much of a racists mind for me. God is the only creator in race, and Rhodes trying to be God is a disgrace to mankind. All races are different in there own way and have the right to live wherever they please.