The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-02

the lspgusge OF Holy Writ 'merchsnt prince" " and
the tnat have every marsed IL course alike
attest IT'S power to build up and destroy built up
Palmyra in the cesert and left her palaces marble
only 10 perish and become q Conspicuous monu-
mept ner ruins OF her former glory and Alex
ander the Great, after destroying Tyre, as rival,
iounced his great city after his own name that she
might the OF that trade bect the queen
city OF the world And then she too had her age OF glory
and OF shame. Constantnop)e followed in the train
then Venice whose glory dmmed and then obscured
ny the discovery OF The around the Cape Of Goo
hope. Then CONNIE uced struggle for that tr rsds
which enriched nations and cities In its march
Europe Lisbon reaped the first fruits oil a disco
very, the honor OF which belonged to her country
The Dutch and English her rivals, until after
conflict OF more than two centuries England trumphe
in securing every commanding point in the new route
nd controlled its making London 10 the modern
world what Tyre, Pamyra and Alexandria were to tn,
ancient In the beg nning OF the struggle for the
troll OF this commerce. Columbus proposed a hypo
theis founded upon phosophic views-that the earth
globular and that the true route TO the East
t:rougta western channel In his enor: to denonstrat
his problem, he discovered to the world "A hitherto
know hem phere lie established the truth OF his pos,
ton, hut continent iDtervened To cheek him in his
This led 10 struggle TO find passage to India
through the Western Continent and in II every effort
that q MUS could inspire, daring adventure would at
tempt was resorted To- TO solve the great problem OF
Northwest aspage. From the frozen regions OF the
Arctic Sea To Cape Horn every inlet penetrated by
the bold and adventurous navgators OF every CONNER
cal nation, each striving to give to his name and
nation the impershabls Of the discovery
For than three centuries the contest has been
cesspg while IL has been productive OF some good
results in discoveries 1t has left nothing 10 it, i'm
mediate path but monumental wrecks of unparalleled
caring. AT the very commencement Of tais mighty
struggle this sthmus where We now stand, and with 1t
the great Pacific Ocean discovered Blbao officer
Of the aud Francis Pizarro then youthful ad.
yenturer unknov to fame, but who subsequently
destined to ill so large space in the worlds history
the coDqueror Of Peru the first to penetrate the
great mystery that lay beyond the new continent In
the discovery OF the great ocean, Formal possession was
taken OF IT, acquisition to the spanish crown, by
Balbaos marching into its waters and assert the 90
minon Of the sword ts boundless This ds.
IA
to Mexico, and must have been the arst. Imme.
diately upon the discovery of this stnmus ad.
vocaes arose to yindicate its claims as the great
passway Of the worlds commerce Spain, then,
IN the very zeuith Of her glory, made it the
route Of the Of her American POSSESSIONS and
lavsbed treasures with liberal hand for Its defence
The cities of Porto Beo the Atlantic and Panama
the Pacific sprung into existence az u by msgc, and
Europe ruDg with the tales of her wealth and spendor,
dazzling ana extravagant than the widest
irons of fiction They to the European world the
Of Aladdin, to which every daring adventurer
sought entrance that he might possess himself OF their
treasures and yet this rich commerce carried be.
tween the two cities on a mere paved mule road. The
history OF this age Of the Isthmus fully establishes her
claims 10 the highest commercial importance, as her
cities rose upon her commerce alone and fell only when
the continued rapaciiy Of Europe, stimulated by extra
VACANT legends plundered and destroyed it, Spain her
self contributed TO their fall by such extravagan pr.
reused nearly all Europe against her particularly every
iawess adventuIer Drunk with her wealth and power
she put limits TO her arrogant assumpt on. short Of
locking up the commerce OF the This policy led 70
the destruction Of her cities along the coast and the
crpping OF that commerce upon which they nourished
on every sea. Porto Bello and Panama were no OK.
o.piions to the rule-they fell and in two centuries
cm their foundation scarcely preserved relics enough
to attest splendor that had once dazzled the fancy
a the world. The golden age OF the lsthmus had ce
parted but survived long enough to establish its i'm
portanee a commercial highway the true route to
India II Is a melancholy truth, which the historian
will record with pleasure tnat after this period Of
her greatness she back into state OF obscur
~ but little removed from the condition ia which her
cunquerors had originally found her. The SpaDiards ot
that age of heroes and not prac
teal men, and seldom contributed much TO the improve
meDt Of countries that ELL under the dominion OF the
swords, The glory Of the isthmua n commercial
boon rot one OF page and cultivation, and when th 4
checked and her cities destroyed TO relapse
natural result But whatever the cause, she certainly
old 50, and remained for nearly century and bali a
tero inco9nd, until public attention reused feom
its apathy to her true worth, by the Investigations
John ]. Stephens 10 whose memory TIN, no<ssnsnt Il
IN part erected. He not only investigates .pi uu
folded the commercial advantages Of te Bftmirt
but extended his operations through Central 'Anea
ca, dissntombing cities of forgotten nations Of H.
will be read with interest long the language
which u IL written shall survive He found the country
almost unbroken wilderness, but developing, 10 tue
eye Of genius and enterprise and commercial
advantages which he 80 pourtrayed 10 hI d.
Lountrymen TO action During all the time the isthmu
had ceased TO attract less the attention
Of the world the spot designed by nature and the
mutaee laws Of trade as the great highway Of com.
merce. II had always held place as the rival scheme
to the darling project Of daring navigators in their
search for northwest passage. PHILOSOPHERS aud
statesmen had specuated upon IT, and cations had
ceRned 10 give ~ passing notice. yttthe work dee
ed too supendous for execution, until Col To ten the
engineer citabus sed the world OF that folly by
pbhng the work, teaching the difference between prac
teal progress and dreaming philosophy But the road Is
made and In this uta rian age where everything de-
pends upon practical results the inquiry ARISES what
i 10 be accomplished by ity We miaht repIy every.
thing beneficial TO commerce throughout the world.
But, 10 be specific the distance between the
Indies and the ports Of Europe to be lessened at
least oneourth, and the American Atlantic cities
third The long voyages, and dangerous and boiserons
navigation around the capes, IL 20 be avoided The
whole track Of the western shores OF the two Americas
u to be brought into Immediate connection By speedy
transit with the eastern shores and with Europe Again
by shortening the routes steam be successfully
employed 10 visit the remoiest regions where
can be found-another great economy Of time. II uu.
locks the gates Of 70 the South American re-
publcs and gives them speedy TO the ports ot
the world. To New Granada, with her extended coasts
on both oceans it's advantages incalculibs II will
form in her history rom which will date that
her rfsourees, and make her socially, what she
u now by nature, a magnificent country. To
New York, 70 whom Justly belongs tb. glory
Of this enterprise, Il viii be conductor Of the
worlds richest commerce But her destiny j. hred,
nothing retard her property Nature and the laws
Of CONNIE have stamped ber the future coumerc,
emporium oi the world, and this work Is but one step
IN the accomplishment Of that design. And now
eude We have but TO remind you that the work s done
the triumph Is complete; the way o. commerce 70
lnca has been found the problem % Columbus has been
solved the cars of commerce. are rolling from TO
their waters are linked by indissolabe bonds, the
revolution IN trade j. a. hand which 10 destined
10 work out incacultble results. And II il
glory and our boast, citizens OF the United
ITS magnitude has been completed by the undivited
Efforts few Of countrymsn, under the fostering
protection Of the two directly Interested republics The
memor, of stevens Aspinwall and Chauncey, a. the
original projectors will be preserved this umeut,
10 remind the passing stranger u their deeds but they
and their associate connected they are through
tbs work With the m.rcal interests OF the country
shah i've In NJ history, and commensurate with ts
boundless expanse There deeds that outlys
mental marble, and whose and fame reach
b.yond monumental limits and freshly remembered
when the pedestal that ords their deeds has
with the dust Il was designed 70 commemorate We
have but one duty to perform, and that 20 lay
The foundation stone Of monument that Il n record TO
future generations the commercial union 0f the
great oceans
Beyond Gorgona the road IL still much Of il buii
wooden supports rsvlnes and presents