The New York herald., 1879-07-07
M. de Lesseps and General Grant.


The famous French engineer, in the course
of the interview received by cable which we
published yesterday, remarked that he in
tends to offer General Grant the position
of honorary president" of the Panama
Canal Company. This proves that
NJ. de Lesseps, besides being great
engineer and vigorous administrator. is a
shrewd judge of the methods of conciliating
popular favor for his new enterprise. A
company with General Grant at its
head would inspire confidence in
the United States and throughout the
world, provided that he was the real
and responsible head of the corporation
and not mere fgurehead. M. de Lesseps
has something to learn of the character
of General Grant if he thinks the Gen
eral would accept the position of ''hon-
orary president" even of so gigantic and
magnificent an enterprise as the inter-
oceanic canal. If an American company,
Incorporated by the Legislature of New
York or some other important American
State, and relying on the protection of the
United States for the property invested in
foreign country. General Grant could
afford and might consent to be the
real and responsible president; but it will
be in vain to offer him the nominal presi-
dency of French company, leaving all
power in the hands Of M. de Lesseps and
utilizing tho popularity of General Grant
to ar infringement of the Monroe doc
trine. NJ. de Lesseps has more than the
proverbial politeness and address Of his
nation, and it would be great stroke if he
could disarm American repugnance to
foreign control Of the Isthmus by pleasant
com pliment to the illustrious x-President
of the United States. But General Grant is
too true an American to be caught by this
flattering bait.
What M. de Lesseps contemplates is
French company, organized under French
laws, on the assumption that those laws
offer greater security to shareholders. We
do not question their strictness and Sc
curity within the jurisdiction of France. but
how are they to be executed in foreign
country like the United States of Colombia?
Is France to step in and exercise authority
over the Isthmus? The American govern
ment will not tolerate anything Of the kind,
and the sooner NJ de Lesseps is disabused
of this chimerical fancy the better it will
be for the success of his enterprise. The
trade by which the canal is to be
supported will be chiefly American
trade, and, what is more, chiefly the
coasting trade of the United States be-
tween our ports on the Pacific and our
ports on the Gulf and the Atlantic Our
government will protect that commerce in
every stage of its route, through the canal
as we'll as in the Gulf and on either ocean.
American ships carrying American goods
will derive their protection from the
flag which they carry, and not from
any permissive foreign Power which
establishes itself on the Isthmus.
Certain it is that our government will
never permit its control Of it's own COM
merce to be interfered with or impaired in
time of peace, nor ever recognize the pre-
tension of any foreign Power to close the
canal against its armed vessels in time
of war. In sudden emergencies our
ships Of war will not be compelled
to make long voyage around Cape
Horn if we need to send naval force
to the Pacific coast. M. de Lesseps has
fallen into serious mistake if he thinks
that little adroit fattery can change the
settled purpose of the government OF the
United States respecting foreign inter-
ference with the affairs of this continent