The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-12-04
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.

The Introduction into tho United States
Henate hy Senator Gordon. and into tho
House by our Representative L. John Ellis
of resolution pledging tho full aud entire
protection Of the government to any company
that may succeed In obtaining from Neara-
gua the right of constructing an interoceanio
canal through its territory. Ia. we ancerely
trust. proof that tho matter Ia to be vlaor
oualy pushed and that Tho great work which
Ia to connect two worlds aud bring the old
and tho now together In intimate relations
will soon ho M accomplished fact.
That Tho world Of commerce should so long
have been content 10 permit this barrier to
exist. should have patiently sent ships round
the stormy oape, thousands and thousands of
mileR out Of their way and have submitted TO
tho enormous LOSSES and delays consequent
uron the dangerous and tedious route, when a
fow millions OF dollara. with tho aid Of science
could have opened this near and safe channel
and pathway 10 tho Sandwich Islands. China
india and Australia. Is simply marvellous, II
Ia true that the difficulties to be overcome are
enormous, and that even MT this late day
there are various opinions entertained by tho
FOR tho canal but 1t Ia not to he doubted that
modern aolenee and genius will prove equal to
tho task, however arduous 1t may be- and
however impossible II has boon deemed In the
past.
Lesseps has shown tho world what can be
achieved by brains and money, and tho results
OF modern science In all Its departments are
so miraculous that II Ia n bold man who would
assert that anything Is impossible.
The Old World and the New are now united
by two cables. enabling the people OF America
and Europe to converse at pleasure across the
broad and boisterous Atlantic, annlhllatlng
time and space and bringing the nations OF
tho earth nearer together. When this little
mock Of land In Nicaragua shall have been
pierced and the waters of the two grand
oceans are commingled who can estimate the
magnitude OF tho result. not only 80 far rs
our own country Ia concerned, but to the on
tire world. Tho route to tho Pacific
islands, to China, Japan. India. Austria
liza and all the countries on the coast
OF tho Pacific, both In South and North
America, will b. shortened seven thousand
miles-more than twice the distance across
products OF China and all the countries OF the
farthest East direct, instead Of as now from
New York or Europe, and through the new
gateway OF the world will pour the commerce
that for centuries has been pursuing other
and more tedious routes. Standing nearest
to this open highway, New Orleans will neces-
sariIy reap incalculabe benefits. A vast trade
will necessarily centre here, and this city will
become the distributing depot for most Of
the products OF all the countries on the
eastern and western shores OF the Pacific.
This will naturally follow, because the route
to the North and East, via New Orleans, will
save the lengthy. tortuous and dangerous
navigation around the Florida reefs. to say
nothing OF the boisterous Atlantic coast. 1t
is impossible to conceive the possibilities the
completion of this canal will open up to our
city, and In contemplating even those results
which must Inevitably accrue, we can readily
imagine New Orleans what. from her mag
nifcent position at the mouth Of the Missis-
sipp she Is destined to be, the great metrop-
oils OF the South as New York Is the metrop-
oils OF the North.
The two schemes for constructing canals
now under consideration-the one of which
Lesseps Is at the head (which contemplates q
canal through the Isthmus Of Darien1, and
the one Of which Admiral Ammen is at the
head, which contemplates the Nicaragua
route-Will both, we suspect, be pushed for
ward as rapidly as possible. The Lesseps
project has given new life to the Nicaragua
scheme, and the result will be that instead OF
one we shall In the end probably have two
interoceanic canals. There can be no objection
to that; on the contrary, 1t will be very
excellent thing, as a rivalry will be created
which will be In the interest Of commerce.
Should Gen. Grant really accept the presi-