The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-27

The Sues Canal, viewed in connection will
the great railroad which has already for some
years connected the Mediterranean with tn
Red Sea, promises to do more than merely re-
store to the land OF the Pharaohs and the Ptole
mics Its ancient commercial importance. II will
not be wonderful if Egypt becomes the centre
Of a great empire which. while it will catch
which is dying out In European Turkey, will
also stimulate trade all along the line of the
Danube and all along the shores of the Mediter-
ranean; will draw largely and benefoially on
the resources Of Arabia, Persia, India and
even the farther East, and will prove itself the
powerful centre from which European oivlliza-
ton will go forth utilizing the vast but IN
developed wealth of Northern and Central
Africa. A splendid future now seems posi-
BILE for the ancient land Of the Mile; and, If
good sense is granted to its rulers and the
European Powers are not foolishly jealous Of
each other, there is no good reason why that
future should not be realized
The idea that Egypt is grand central posi-
ton is not new. Geographically It is the point
of contact between Europe and Asia on the
one hand and Africa on the other. Its geo.
graphical position and its rich soil secured for
it great place in early history. We think of
Egypt as one Of the earliest cradles of the
race, one of the first seats of empire, and per-
haps the very first nursery of science. Long
before the Western nations had emerged from
barbarlsm Egypt had built her temples and
her pyramids--temples which In their ruins
speak of an architectural magnifcence which
the experience Of four thousand years has not
surpassed, and pyramids which for bulk and
endurance stand unrivalled among the works
of man. When later the seat Of empire was
established in the West, the Importance of
Egypt as a great world centre was never
wholly lost sight Of. When Alexander de-
stroyed Tyre, and thus injured that great high
way Of commerce between Europe and Asia
on which had grown up Tyre itself, Baalbec
and Palmyra, be showed his appreciation of
the central position of Egypt by founding
the city of Alexandria. The wisdom of
Alexander was justified by the proud position
which Alexandria afterwards attained. In
literary and commercial point of view it had
for many ages no rival, and for population,
wealth, and imperial grandeur it had no supe-
rior but Rome. In spite Of the many vicissi-
tudes of fortune it never altogether lost its
proud place until the whole Mediterranean
trade was destroyed by the discovery of a new
route to India via the Cape Of Good Hope in
1897. The value Of Egypt commercially has
been seen and recognized by all great rulers
from Alexander downwards. If Alexander
founded the city which still bears his name
the Caesars patronized it, and the first Napo-
lean was ambitious to restore 1t to its ancient
splendor. 1t was the discovery Of the new
route to the far East by Vasco de Cana which
caused Egypt to be temporarily forgotten
The new route was fatal not to Egypt alone,
but to the entire Mediterranean trade. 1t left
Venice and Genoa to sink into decay, and
plunged the prosperous republics of Italy into
a second barbarism. Such railroad as that
which now connects Alexandria with Suez, or
such canal as that which NJ. Lesseps promises
| to open in November, would have rendered the
discovery of De Cana comparatively value
| less and thus have prevented those CONNER
cial changes and political and social revolu-
tions which followed.
The age of steam, however, was not yet
and steam was necessary before such rail-
road or such canal was possible. 1t is unde-
niable that the Mediterranean trade has in
creased nightly since the railroad was
| opened some years ago. Egypt has increased
in wealth and Importance. She has again, to
| a large extent, become the highway to India,
and the cities of the Mediterranean coast are
sharing the benefit as Of old. Useful, how
ever, as the railroad has proved itself, and
necessary as 1t must continue to be, there are
| still Inconvenience which it cannot remove,
wants which it cannot supply. The frequent
transfer of goods which is now necessary
necessitates much waste and involves large
expense. A canal across the isthmus broad
and deep enough to admit vessels of the
largest tonnage is now, as it ever has been,
the crying want. 1t is to the credit Of this
age that that want is now likely to be supplied.
If the Suez Canal is opened 10 November the
land Of the Pharaohs will resume something Of
it's ancient importance. The coasts of the
Mediterranean will bristle with fourishing
cities. Greece, Italy, France, Spain, Portu-
gal will all obtain new lease of life. Eng
land will use it to strengthen her hold Of India.
But Egypt will gain more than they ALL We
do not wonder that the Sultan has become
jealous OF his vassal; for Ismail Pacha
is already, in the eyes of Europe
and America, more important parsonage
than his master. If the viceroy plays his
cards well he may not only soon be an inde-
pendent prince, but he may soon have many
cities any one Of which will be more import
| mi than Conafoutinoplo