The New York herald., 1871-12-21
The Suez Canai Tor sale-EnsIand'a
Opportunity.

was really French and mainly an imperial
enterprise. NJ de Lesseps was the visible in
carnation of the movement; but the world
was not ignorant that through the Empress
Eugenie, NJ. Ferdinand de Lesseps was to all
intcnts and purposes member of the impe-
rial family. Less has been said about the
canal in commercial quarters than ordinary
business minds were naturally entitled to
expect. 1t is now q reasonably long time
since Sedan and the dechSance, and M. de
Lesseps is entitled to some praise for holding
on to and maintaining the value of his prop
erty. In all the future the Suez Canal, as
we know 1t, must continue to be spoken of as
one of the greatest undertakings and greatest
triumphs of an enlightened and enterprising
age; and the Suez Canal will be lastingly
ard honorably associated with the name of
Ferdinand de Lssseps.
1t is coincidence not altogether undeserving
Of notice that on the same day we are ap-
prised through the Atlantic cable that two Of
the Princes Of the House Of Orleans have taken
their seats in the National Assembly, and that
M. de Lesseps, having failed to induce the Sui
tan and the Khedive to take the canal of his
hands, is now applying to other governments
to effect sale. We are not disposed to make
mere accident and nothing more. At the
came time it is noteworthy and suggestive. It
consists with general belief that the Suez
Canal is considered in England really valu-
able property. The objections urged against
it by Lord Palmerston and the politicians Of
his school were based on political, not on COM
mercal grounds. The success of the canal
was never sorrow in England. It was
rather cause of joy, because, while its con-
structioh had cost British merchants little, it
promised to be to them fruitful source of
wealth. 1t was impossible, however, for the
British government or for any combination of
British capitalists to make the canal their own
SO long as the French empire lasted or so long
as the chances for the restoration of the Bona
parties were, to appearance, immediate and
certain. Delay in disposing of the canal has,
we believe mainly resulted from conviction
that the empire might yet be restored, and that
in that case what the empire had begun and
fostered the empire might delight to cling to
and call its own and leave as legacy TO
France. But in gigantic undertaking like
that of the Suez Canal, the expenses of which
must, for years to come, be equal to the re-
ceipis, delay cannot beyond a certain point be
protracted. Although, therefore, we cannot
say that the cause of the adherents of the
~, o,,f ofE ic ko
or that crisis has been produced by the ap-
pearance of the Princes of the House OF Or
leans in the National Assembly, it is impossible
for us to overlook the fact that the Suez Canal
is in the market. The canal is in Turkish
territory; it is on the soil of Egypt; but the
Sultan will not buy, the Khedive will not buy
and so the famous Suez Canal, which for 80
many years has filled the mind of the world,
is in quest of a purchaser.
Who should buy? This question in the
judgment of all thinking men answers ITSELF
The Suez Canal to-day is valuable, immedi-
ately and really valuable, only to Great Britain.
That it should be so and not other
wise the British government knew from
the outset. AS we have said already,
the canton of that government in its policy
towards the canal enterprise resulted from
political and not from mercantile reasons.
Mercantile reasons, however, are now stronger
than they once were. British shippers have
found out that they really can reach India by
the Suez Canal--nay, that in six weeks they
can do as much actual business with Bombay
Il &ko ri fhaxy 10
in six months. The old line around the
Cape is therefore being abandoned. Elegant
steamers, big and strong enough to fight
through the Bay of Bscay and to weather the
waters of the Mediterranean and the Indian
Ocean, are gradually taking the place of the
great old hulking East lndiamen which were
wont to make the outward and homeward
voyage in twelve or fourteen months. We
know Of one British company, which was wont
to boast Of an outgoing and an incoming East
Indiaman every month which is now, taking
full advantage of the Suez Canal, doing its best
to have an outgoing aud an incoming East
Indiaman every week. To tell the whole
truth it must be added that the best and most
trusted captains of the old line are being
selected for the new. This, we think, is proof
sufficient that the canal pleases the merchants.
If anything else were required we
might add that in November, 1862 OF
twelve steamships which passed through the
canal seven were British, and that in Novem-
Der, 1870, of forty-two ships which had passed
through the canal thirty were British. In
addition to all this it must be remembered that
Great Britain has, for nearly q century, been
signing for the complete and unqualified pos
session Of Egypt, as the only possible means
of permanently securing her hold of her grand
East Indian empire. All the new trans-conti-
mental railroads projected by English engi-
neers and encouraged by English capitalists,
and their name is Legion. have India for their