The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-12
The Voyage OF the Golden Age.
STEAM ENTERPRISE OF AMERICA AND ENGLAND

Ifrcm tie Melbourne Argus, May 81
This afternoon the Golden Age starts for Panama
to open new fine OF communication between Aus.
tTalis and England. This Is an event not only Of
great importance to this colony, but Of small his
toscsl interest," 40 the first attempt span the Pa
c,fc BY regular line of steamers, and the partial
accomplishment oil scheme Of inter oceanic commu-
Dicst0D which has been cherished for the last three
hun dred years. Ever since Columbus set ont across
the Atlantic in search Of India, It has been the
diesm of commerce TO reach the East by the West;
the great American ocean from the heights Of
Dsrien, the world has looked forward TO the juno
ton Of the two oceans ct one point or another, as
the commencement Of o new era In the history Of
commerce. -0..vs.... stI r.
But, though the object has never been lost sight
Of fr.m that day 70 this, we are only now Witness
ing the first practical steps taken towards ts snc-
cstsful achieve ment. 1t has been reserved for our
own age 70 reap both the honor and the reward q
this mighty enterprise. The pe,severing enthusi.
ssm and heroic courage which have been displayed
In sesl ching for o Iakaage BY the north vest de-
serves TO be celebrated in q vhgilian or Mltonian
epic, but was only last year that the passage Vas
sctt ally dircOveIeo after useless expenditure Of
tine sind treasure, lie and labor, sufficient to have
constructed reilly available channel across the
ne ok Of tie continent
It is singular, INDEED, that such work should
have heen TO long delayed At the close Of the
tnteentb century, tie sagacicus William Paterson
planted stottish colony Ut Darien, under TIC con
victioD that II would one day become the highway
Of q cor D.politaD con merce. Through the jealousy
Of the East da Company this promising enterprise
was G. mp ettly ruined; and tho Darcn canal passed
into tb. region Of romance, whence It again prom
lees II sm,rge into the region Of reality, under
sukpists ~ leave little doubt OF its success AZ
fyDCb,ondus event il is worthy of notice that the
stet ATercsn papers brir us the intelligence that
bill for the constr notion OF the Pacific railroad has
b. en- introduced into Congress. Tho Pacific railroad
and the Darian caIal may probably, therefore, be
e. lnplstsd bout the same time and will form the
two paId hines Of com nunication ACROSS the globe.
In viz Of this, the Panama route can only be 70
gsrdtd as temporary cont enicnce, though its i'm
meniate effect will be By no means unimportant.
Hitherto The Pacific has been . field OF adventure,
ratLer than OF regular commerce. Till recently u
hsa l1tn cut of from all direct communication with
the trade and civilization Of Europe and America.
No maritime nations If importance have occupied
sry Tsft 81 the extensive line Of coast by which u
IL iIeumrcIibee, and within which IL has lain In 81
lent lei csc, rather like secluded lake than mighty
ocean. But q new destiny Is beginning to dawn
upon II. The Golden Age gees 70 break In upon IT.
location, end 10 arouse " ON its slumbers. She
Gots to iraupuiate an era in which its commerce.
will as far transcend tbat Of the Atlantic the lat
t,I sslipssd ,hst Of the Mediterranean.
The poi et thus oIentd up IL dazzling 10 the ex-
irene. America. Australia, Japan, China, India and
" the tls" sic the countries that will furni-h the
elnutt u tlsJ'w cen merce. China has popu-
lht,n OF 2C0t00i00 on her seacoast alone, and Is
tvio,p'y ON tie eve Of great changes, which must
tend a. thi,w her commerce more open to the world.
J-TGn NJ 1850 eco. ana report Gays that she has
erno'Iud to Russian envoy her intention Of per
mi'ife nee intercourse with her people. That this
must ~ maitly. ard, indeed. very speedily, become
ile policy of both China and Japan, cannot b.
doubted
A. fcr india, she only requires the means Of inter
ma communication 70 reenrich the wortd- We