The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-10-15
THE SUEz CANAL.

A despatch from Alexandria informs II.
that M. Lesseps has passed through the
Suez Canal in a steamer from Port Said tt
Suez-that is, from the Mediterranean to
the Red Sea-in fifteen hours. 1t is i'm
possible to refuse to admit that NJ Lesseps
has accomplished one of the greatest won
ders of this or, indeed, of any age The
world laughed at him when he commenced
his undertaking. 1t was an impossibility
1t never could be accomplished. 1t was an
old thought, but it never was a fact. The
| idea was as old as, nay, older than, the
Pharaohs; but the sands of the desert had
in every instance proved stronger than
man. Such was the language common at
the time the canal was commenced. Such
has been the language held by many in
spite of visible progress and demonstrated
success. Steadily M. Lesseps has kept at
the work. He has found money and men
in spite of all detractors to carry on the
work. He has exhausted the resources of
art to find machinery suited to great emer-
gencies. He has made nature herself his
handmade. Where no stone was to be had
he has taken lessons from the monuments
of the past and converted the deep, heavy
subsoil into material which may prove as
enduring as marble or granite. The two
seas have actually met and kissed each
other, and there has been no deluge. On
the contrary, little steamer, with the en-
glneer on board, has sailed from sea to
sea In fifteen hours. 1t is triumph to M.
Lesseps; it is Triumph to French engi-
neerlng; it is triumph to modern science.
We may now take it for granted that the
opening OF the canal towards the close of
the year will be complete success. In
spite of the Sultan, the dream of the Greek
conqueror of the world will be realized.
Alexandria will become one of the grand
est centres OF commerce 1t will do more
than recover all the splendor and prosperi-
ty which it lost by the discovery of Vasco
de CANA. Trade will revert to its ancient
channels. The cape will sink into decay.
The coasts of the Mediterranean will bristle
with large and fourisking cities. A voy-
age from New York, from Amsterdam,
from Liverpool, from Marseilles to India
and the far East will be accomplished in
fewer weeks via the Suez Canal than
months via the Cape of Good Hope 1t
will multiply largely the means of COM
munication and it will enormously in
crease trade. Egypt in fact will recover
more than her ancient importance; she
will again become the seat of empire
The canal will attract Europeans and even
Americans to its banks, the worlds wealth
will find a new outlet, and it will not be
wonderful if the ruler of Egypt, whoever
he may be, soon dictates terms to the Turk.
The truth is the Suez Canal will reclaim
Egypt from barbarism. Civilization by it
lays claim to the land OF the Pharaohs, one
of the finest and grandest cradles of the
race, and through it rushes to develop the
mighty resources of Asia. 1t is a grand
success, and we must rejoice in it. But it
is also great counter stroke to our Pacific
railroad. We have our isthmus. Wemust
cut it or lag behind. We are nearer Asia
than any of the commercial nations of Eu-
rope; but we lose our opportunity so long
as the trade Of the Atlantic States must
seek Asia round Cape Horn. Let us cut
the isthmus at once. Let US have our Darien
Canal. To us this is the lesson.--N Y
HerEd.