The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-10-15
Tie suez Canal.

The following article in reference to
one of the gfandest and most ithpor-
tant enterprises Of modern times, IS
from the New York Herald. II the
reader, after perusing it, viii take up
his map of the world and seek the
points and countries named, he will un-
derstand that the magnitude Of the en-
terprise is not toyer-estimated
A dispatch from Alexandria Informs
us that NJ Lesscps has passed through
the Suez Canal in q steamer from Port
Said to Suez---that is, from the aMedit-
erranean to the Red Sea--in fifteen
hours. II is impossible to refuse TO ad-
init that NJ. Lesseps has accomplished
one of the greatest wonders of this or,
indeed, of any age.es The world laugh-
ed at him when he commenced his I'm
dertaking. 1t was an impossibility; it
never couid be accomplished. II Was
an old thought but it never was fact.
The idea was rs old, nay, older, than the
PharOahs; but the sands OF the desert
had in every instance proved stronger
than man. Such was the language COM
mon at the time the canal was COM
menced. Such has been tie language
held by many In spite of visible pro-
gress and demonstrated success. Stead
lily M. Lesseps has Kept at the work.
He has found money and men in spite
of all detractors to carry Oh 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, lie 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 engineer on
board, has sailed from sea to sea i'm fif-
teen hours. 1t is a triumph to NJ. Les
seps; it is a triumph to French engineer
ing; 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 q 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 grandest centres of commerce.
1t will do more than recover all the
splendor and prosperity which it lost
by the discovery Of tasco de CANA.
Trade will revert to its ancient chan
nels. The cape will sink into decay.
The coasts of the Mediterranean will
bristle with large and flourisliing cities.
A voyage from New York, from ASn
stcrdam, from Liverpool, fr6h NJ
settles to India and the far East viii
accomplished in fewer weeks via
Suez Canal than months via the Ca
Good Hope. 1t will multiply I'd
the means of communication aiidN
enormously increase trade. Egy
fact, will recover more than her an
importance; she will again bccom
seat of empire. The canal will at
Europeans and even Americans to-
banks, the worlds wealth will fill
new outlet and it will not be wondc.
ful if the ruler Of Egypt, whoever he
may be, soon dictates terms to the Turk.
The truth is, the Suez Canal will re-
claim Egypt from barbarism. Civiliza-
ton by it lays claim to the land of the
Pharaohs, one of the first and grandest
cradles of the race, and through it rush.
cs to develop the mighty resources of
Asia. 1t is grand success, and we must
rejoice in it. But it is also great coun-
ter stroke to our Pacific Railroad. We
have our isthmus. We must Cit 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 tis have
our Darien Canal. TO us this is the
lesson.