The New York herald., 1879-08-27
The American InterOceanic
Ship Canal.
GRANT AS IT'S PATRON.
Precluding a denomination to
the Presidency.
A GREAT ENTERPRISE FAIRLY LAUNCHED.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HEAALD.l

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HEAALD.J
WASHINGTON, August g. 1879.
The announcement made to-day by Rear Ad-
serve as president of the Nicaragua Inter
oceanic Ship Company when invited by the
Board of Directors, removes the seal Of secrecy
from two important facts, the first of which is
that the quiet purpose General Grant had in
view during his tour through Europe was to
learn for himself what encouragement the con-
receive from European capitalists if the
enterprise was in American hands; and the Sec
ond is that the announcement of his willing
ness to accept the presidency OF this company
is made with his approval, and as q flank move
ment on his so-called friends, who have in spite
Of his wishes insisted on bandying his name in
connection with denomination for the Presi-
dency Of the nation. The telegram received by
Rear Admiral Ammen on the 7th Of this
month contained only two words-"I APP
PROVE" and what he approved could only
be known to Admiral Ammen, inasnrlch as the
brief reply was an Endorsement of the letter
sent to General Grant shortly after Admiral
Ammen's return from the Paris Congress, when
he represented our government i'll the delibera-
tions upon the selection of a route tor the inter-
oceanic canal.
GRANTS FAvORTTE PLAN.
Admiral Ammen, who is the most intimate
personal friend Of General Grant, they
having been boys together, has, since he was
placed upon the retired list, given his undi-
vided attention to the promotion Of the
project for connecting the waters of the
Atlantic and Pacific by canal, and from
observations and familiar relations with
the surveying parties which have, during the
past twelve years, been sent out by the Navy
Department, he had formed the opinion that,
all things considered, the Nicaragua route was
the best. During the Presidential terms of
General Grant they had frequent consultations
upon the subject, until it became' known that
the Nicaragua route was generally regarded by
our officials as the most natural for the line of
an interoceanic canal After his return from the
Paris Congress last spring the impression
made upon Admiral Ammen's mind there was
engineers in this country, in effect that
the De Lcsseps scheme was wholly at vari-
ance with the true object to be sought in build
ing an interoceanic canal and that the time had
arrived to counteract any effort which the
friends of the Isthmus scheme might put for
ward.
CONSULTATION AT THE ANTIPoDEs.
Admiral Ammen saw the Importance of COM
municating with General Grant at once, and in
his letter he gave simply details of the stua-
ton, setting forth the necessity and the advan-
tage OF his taking active interest in the ques-
ton and asking that, if he was willing, as sug-
gested, and thought proper, he would send his
approval of the suggestion by cable.
But there were, in addition to the Admiral's
letter this subject, two other letters con-
veyed to General Grant in the same envelope
One was copy of letter from distinguished
gentleman in public life to Admiral Ammen,
expressing his aversion to General Grant hav-
ing anything to do with the projected canal
and insisting that he should hold himself free to
promote the interests of the republican party.
TIME TO LET HIM HAVE PEACE.
tIa orA
to this letter, in which he sad-'I think that
General Grants past services as military
man and President of the United States for
eight years should exempt him from any further
demands upon his time for public life, and leave
him free agent to act on whatever demand
might be made by any enterprise asking his SER
viccs.'
1t is this that General Grant has approved,
and he promptly endorses the letter of his
friend Ammen, and authorizes him to say that |
his engagements are closed. and that he must
not be considered u candidate for any political
office in the United States
When asked if he recognized the style of Gen
cral Grant IN his reported conversation with
the Viccroy of Tcntsin last June, Admiral Am
men repied:-"Every one who reads what Gen.
eral Grant is reported to have said, will rccog-
nize in il his method of expression and his char
actcr of thought"
REMOVED FROM THE POLITICAL FIELD.
'ls there anything more you would wish to
add in connection with this important subjectr
81 know of nothing ut present; in fact you
know all. My purpose in bringing the subject
to his attention at the earliest moment was to
relieve him from an annoyance concerning po-