Smuts was in full agreement with Rhodes's public platform of South African unity, sentiments which the young Smuts had begun to advocate in his 1888 Victoria College address and in his 1891 Ebden essay.
Smuts var på linje med Rhodes' offentlige platform af sydafrikansk enhed, tanker som den unge Smuts havde begyndt at forsvare i sin tale ved Victoria College i 1888 og i sit Ebden–essay i 1891.