The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-28
English Opinion.

tfrOm the lOn0O0 Times, NOV. II.
The suez Canal Is TO be opened this day. An
enterprise at which the Phara0hs and the
Ptoleines, with other soyeregns Of the intervening
dynasties. labored at different periods and with
various success throughout The centuries OF remote
antiquity Is now announced as virtually achieved.
Not little has been written OF late 70 throw doubts
on the permanent material and financial results Of
this great under taking out In the midst OF conflict
ing opinions tins much seems now fully ascertaned,
that snlp-pOssibiy the Imperial yacht u Aigie
with the Empress Eugene on board-wn this day
pass through the Canal even II IL may be necessary
70 close again after . me lesiiy
Ing worship OF success-with lncapacity to Judge
OF things by any other standard than their market
value, or to be Influenced by any other considera-
tons than those OF the most sordid se-nterest IL
on this account that we are particularly anxious
70 do fun justice to the cutting o. the lstnmus be-
tuay succeed. We will not allow 1t TO be said that
the proof OF the canal IS In its use alone. 1t is In
1t has been alleged not unnaturaiiy, thatu NJ. de
Lesaeps' work can be turued to any practical pur-
or manly fail upon Egypt: that the glory may be
ascribed TO France, but the beneht must needs be
reaped by England.
We must protest against any such conclu-
sion being drawn In dsparagement OF NJ de Lesseps'
undertaking. The very facility with which we were
drawn into error with respect to the material FEAST
estimate OF Its practical magnitude ami Of the pos
sbls extent Of u.s. economical results t y cannot
mistaken IN his vaccinations. The fs,U0oo00 which
were expected to cover the whole expense
and 1t il by no means unlikely that fresh supplies
may be required before the end IL really attained.
Canal should not De gagged BY the common rules Of
joint stock specuiations Il cannot depend upon
the proportion between the capital originally In
vested ana the dividends that may fall to the share
holders Even il the slsooo,ooo already spent
In tho works mad TO be looked upon as
rrsvoca1y IKE mere nn n SrSps
tho DISAPPOINTMENT Of the Company would cause the
abandonment OF the enterprise. NJ. de Lesseps has
Cf hrno thtnrv hio Vvcv farm and
enthusiasm into the hearts OF the Continental
nations and OF their governments. HIS achieve
people bordering on the Mediterranean. There
has been no hesitation as to any amount OF
sacrifice demanded, and there are no limits to the
expectation Of proportionate returns. Frenchmen,
Italians and other Southern people draw deeply
upon their imagination they are hardly sickened BY
ss on 20
limits can be drawn to the future development OF
the worlds trade by calculation OF the laws which
have hitherto presided over us progress No one
knows, they think, what may turn no. Columbus,
they say set out from spain with no other
inas' and and he fell IN with Western A World
of which ne hnd never dreamt; q continent and an
ocean altogether out OF his calculation were thrown
open to hun and to his followers Who can say
what new worlds OF commercial ACTIVITY and
International communication may spring up from
this new direct waterway between Europe and
Asla-from this short cut from worlds end to
worlds end? II Is thus that people reason at pats,
at Marseiiles, at Genoa. Iriest ana Athens. the
faltn throughout II II can only be made 10 bear the
outlay OF It's daily expenses II. by dlqt or digging
and dredging and trenchIng and diEin9 1T can AZ Oil
he kept open not only Will IL, In the opinion OF Its
partisans matter little what becomes OF the original
capital but 1t viii DO long before continental people
will tire OF throwing good money alter bad. They
are determined that expense shall never stand In
the way OF success.
1t is indeed. impossible to say what may not be
done by unsnaken confidence and unwearied endur-
ance and II Is precisely to this courage and
tion to ths genius OF obstlnacy,n as 1T has been
called, exhibited Dy NJ. de Lesseps aud by his
followers throughout their long trials, that we
desire 10 pay our tribute OF sympathy and applause
before we learn the actual results OF the great
experiment. II is not enough that an enterprise
should IN itself be feasibe the man must come VINO
dares to think So and who has that In MN that Will
make it 80. such O man. evidently, was ana Is NJ
de Lesseps and IL Is certainly not In England that
the virtues OF which ne has shown himself so emil
nently possessed can fatl to be thoroughly appre-
ciated. We are aware that In Paris, In Flor
ence, and even In st. Petersburg, there is exul-
tation at the notion that, by the opening of the
Suez Canal trade NAV be turned INTO new clannes
and o heavy blow dealt 10 the nation which made
the best or the old But We VIII not allow our
selves 10 be discomposed W these liberal provnos-
iics 4 was IiSt VINO nfsr sailed round Africa or
made the first settlements 10 Ipdia. We VIII ask 10
better FAVOR at Fort said than the free competition
which avalled us SO well NJ the Cape.