The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-02
The suez Canal.

A despatch from Alexandria informs US that
M. Lesseps has passed through the Suez Canal
in a steamer from Port Said to Suez-that is,
from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea-in
fifteen hours. II is impossible to refuse to
admit that NJ Lesseps has accomplished one
of the greatest wonders OF this or, indeed,
of any age. The world laughed at him
when he commenced his undertaking. 1t was
an imposslbity it never could DO accom-
piished. 1t was an old thought, but it never
was fact. The idea was as old as, nay, older
than, the Pharoahs; but the sands of the
than man. Such was the language common
at the time the canal was commenced. Such
las been the language held by many in spite
of visible progress and demonstrated success.
Steadily NJ. 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 emergencies. 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 con-
verified 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
delnge. On the contrary, little steamer,
with the engineer on board, has sailed from sea
to sea in fifteen hours. 1t is triumph to M.
Lesseps; it is 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 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 1t 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 fourishing cities. A
voyage 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
OdpC VI uOOu AlOp0s ~ VIII muitlpJ MfBtty
the means of communication and it will
enormously increase 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 Ameri-
cans to it's 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 first and grandest cradles
Of the race, and through it rushes to develop
the mighty resources OF ASIA It is grand
success, and we must rejoice in It, But 1t is also
a great counter stroke to our Pacific Railroad.
We have our isthmus. We must cut it or lag
behind We are nearer Asia than any Of the
commercial nations Of Europe; 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.