Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1879-08-29
rae IsrHMUs CANAL.

0norteuluB tu0 fouao VI he'e
ing o new channel OF commerce. are
generally recognized by most civilized
countries. still the working Of the pro-
lee, a. planned. with French capital Is
basis, with q board OF European
directors and managers, and with Fer.
dinand do Lssssps. the protector OF the
suez Canal. Is chief engineer. etc., IL
meeting with great opposition both in
this country and in France. so great. In
deed, that II seems almost abandoned
for the present. The feeling in France
really appears to Be more strongly
against u than In this country,
II We may judge from an article In
La Sscuriis. . paper published in Paris,
acopy Of which we have just received and
from which Wa translate the following
extracts. From the tenor OF the article.
the use Of French capital and tho en-
ploying Of NJ. do Lesseps seem to be
equally Objectionable. as 1t places the
Panama project on the Same footing
with the Mexican when the attempt was
made to establish Macmillan as ruler.
and with the Suez Canal /; especially as
the loan for this latter purpose is to be
issued by tho same bank OF discount
that had charge Of both former projects.
Il claims that both worked disastrousiy
for France. and assisted materially ! q
bringing about the great disaster oil 1871.
Il calls n. de Lesseps the "Bonspartist
instigstor Of this new economic and
political extravaganza" and protests
against his management OF the Suez
Csnal-"a management so incompetent
that the Arst experienced navigator or
surveyor who arrived there could have
completed the canal in less than half
the time and for less than half the
money" 1t goes on to say:
"with the credulous masses III. de
Lssseps has already acquired Q rsputa'
ton a. an extraordinary man. Q new
Hercules, who has in the East, sepsrat.
cd In the midst OF romantic difficulties
Africa from Asia. In reality. the Hon
orsbls N. do Lesseps is . jugslsr whom
the force Of circumstances brought into
the role for which an Eastern education
had prepared him. In fact, the difficult
ties he had to surmount were those born
Of bis own ignorance and errors. The
prospectuses Of the project contain.
among other things. the votes OF seventy
four persons. members Of different geo.
graphical societies, in favor OF III. de
Lssseps; some ignorant Of the matter
and others too identified with him for
their votss to DO worthy OF consideration.
On the contrary. among tho dissenting
votes and among the members who did
not vote Ut all are the names OF those
Who do understand aud whose votes are
worthy Of notice. It is indisputable
that the opening Of the American 18th
mus would procure great advantages to
commerce and navigation. but that the
very modest position the French marine
occupies prevents France from being
greatly interested in such q question.
The national press is doing a patriotic
work In protesting against such an adj
venture ; IL comprshends the ludicrous
mistake France would make in saying.
in effect. to q great and powerful nation
like the United States "You are in.
competent. incapable Of executing great
things. your engineers know not enough
to raise them to the level Of the apprsn'
tics Just leaving our schools ; your
statesmen have ideas too Insignificant
therefore. holding rs null and void thsiI
worthless and ridiculous observations
We. members Of different geographical
societies. charge our sublime Lssseps,
pisrcer Of isthmuses. be who has never
seen the Isthmus Of Panama, but will
60 to visit Il the coming winter. accom-.
panied BY his little son aged six
years We charge him. at his
request. to illustrate to you how
necessary Il Is to take him there to
conduct such an enterprise. We do not
need your aid. II you will not bore with
us. we will bore without you. for Msssrs.
wyss and Reclus have sold their pa
tents and their studies to the new Peter
the Hermit. to the new Foulque. who
cries like him. God wills it, Il will
work to your advantage in spite Of your
self, and after all Is done. We will pre-
vail on him to overcome his well known
modesty. and deisu to receive the testi-
monisls Of your admiration"
Returning to the prospectuses. La
Sscuri1 claims that although one clause
calls and arranges for them to DO printed
and distributed, yet they are hidden
away in the Office Of the company. and
AN only be got at with the greatest Of
difficulty; and also that when read they
make the matter anything but clear. 1t
thinks IL would be curious to prove how
many Of the Fellows, on whose opinion
the success Of the expedition depends.
have ever really visited the Isthmus OF
Panama; ''rumor says not one" and
that among them all there are only two
who are even passed as sailors. 1t gives
statements In proof Of the assertion that
under dc Lesssps' management the Suez
canal coat far more in money and time
than II should have done. and closes by