New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-12
corrHE IND TIE p4A4yA CANAL.

PROFESSOR PIATT or THE YALE LAW SCHOOL RI
CALLS THE GREAT POETS KEEN OBSERVATIONS
ON A PROJECT TO DIG An Is1HMUs CANAL-HIs
CoNFlDENCK THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD
INSIST on ITS CoNTROL-ENGLAND AND 4 SUI
CANAL.
To the EdftOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: The public subscription for shares in the
Panama Cana project of VI. de Lesseps having been
opened in Europe and America and the President
having reafIirmed il MS Message the POSITION taken
IN his previous communication to Congress, " that
it il the right and duty of the United States to as
sert and maintain such supervision and authority
over any iuteroceanc canal across the ishmns that
connects North and South America will protect
our national interests" may be Of interest to re-
call what was said by Goethe On the subject more
than fifty years ago The following is from Ecker
mans report Of a conversation with Goethe under
date of February u, 1927, the translation being
that OF OxentUrd:
Dined With Goethe lie spoke much. and with admira'
tiOu Alexander Won Humboldt. whose Work on CuDt
ana Columbia he had begun 10 read auu "fose Te"s -
project for making passage through the Istinus
hin, HnTpoIdt :" said tiorthe mas with a great
know lrdge OF his suDject gwen other points Nhcft Dl
making VI streams winch How into the Gun OF
Mexico, The emo may be pei nas DetleI a.-lsu Ian a.
Panama this Is reserved Tor the 1utuft anu ioI al
ising spirit. SO much however Is certain maj
# they succeed in cutting such canal that
ships OF any burden aud sze can De nav
Ibe Pacific Ocean tnnumerable benefits would result 10
the whole human race, civnZcd ahd unclVliised Bul
suouid wonder n the United states were 10 ie an Op
Dortulty escape getting such WOrk INTO ther own
that his young state, win us
eeied to West Will. IN tbirtY or iOrtY
occupied aud peOplcti the Idrsc lSct Oh auu
beyOnd the 10 Ky Mountains IL may Furthermore De
the whOc coast OF the Pachc ocean,
where nature has already formed the most c1pacious
and secure harbOrs, important cOmnerclal towns VIII
gradually the fuI neTance OF great inter
course between China and the East Indies aud the
United sta,cs la such a case would not only be de
sirable but almost necessary that more rapid com
muulcatIOn should be maintained between Tue eastern
shores Of North America DOtb % merchant
ships nc-Of-War, has hitherto been possible
win tedious disagrteable aud expensive voyage
round Cape Horn. therefore repeat thii d L. absolutely
for the United States to effect passage
from d. Mexican Guf 10 the Pacnc OcedE; ana ain
certain mat tLey viii do IT.
Would that might live TO see IL !-bnt | shall not
I should uke To another thing-a Junction OF the
Danu0e and The RAiue. But this Undertaking u 20
gigantic that doubts OF It's completion partlcu-
fasiv when I consider our German resources And
tbdy, aud lastly, L should wish TO see England Ia
nossesson OF "a canal through the isthmus OF Suez.
Would conld live 10 these three great works lt
won well worth the trouble 10 Last come nifty years
Tor the very purpose"
Ii should be borne IN mind that these views were
expressed by the poet more than twenty years be
fore the territory that constitutes California,
Nevada Utah, Arizona, New-Mexico and Texas was
acquired by the United States and half century
before Lord Besconsheld decided to purchase Suez
Canal shares. Very respectfully yours,
JOHNSON 7. PLAT.
Neu-Havta Conn, Dec z, 1850.