Morning journal and courier., 1880-01-24
DE LEssEPs, PROGREys.

De Lesseps, the vivacious and persistent, is
 evidently having things all his own way on
 the Isthmus. The accounts of his reception
 his proposed canal the people are. Before his
 arrival at Panama he was met by the Presi- | dent of the State and other officials who had
 come to escort him to the city. At the Pana- ma station other officials and large con- course of citizens greeted the arrival of the
 distinguished visitor with speeches and other demonstrations of welcome under an open
 tent which had been erected for the purpose
 after which they were conveyed in carriages,
 escorted by two battalions of the Colombian
 Guard, to the Grand Hotel. Here banquet
 was served, at which the President of the
 State, the secretaries of the Government, for
 eign consuls and the members of the recep-
 tion committees assisted, giving occasion to
 more speeches, and lasting until a late hour of
 the night From the railroad station to the
 hotel the houses were decorated with flags
 Flagstaffs had also been erected at convenient
 distances along the streets, displaying the
 flags of France and Colombia each staff also
 bearing shield with the name of some pro-
 moter or engineer of the different schemes for
 a canal across the Isthmus. There were the
 names of Balboa, dating back to 1513; Dam
 pier, 1569; Patterson, 1898; Donozo, 1761
 Ariza, 17S3; Lloyd, 1929; Garelia, 1853
 Totten, 1850; Trautwine, Hughes and others. Arches also graced the streets. On one was inscribed Colombia salutes Ferdinand de Lesseps." On another, at the Grand Hotel,
 "Panama congratulates her illustrious guest. " Fireworks were exhibited on the plaza of the Cathedral during the evening, the band of the Colombian Guard filling up the intervals with fine music Ths whole city was in commo tion and the utmost enthusiasm prevailed un- der the fatteriDg promises which have been held out by M. de Lesseps in regard to build ing the canal
 The formal inauguration of the work was an interesting and impressive event. The first sod was turned by Mile. Fernando de Lasseps, young daughter of the Count. An address was made by M. de Lsssep5, in which he announced the fulfllment of his promise to begin practics work on his great canal enterprise on Janua- ry l, 1880. He remarked that his labors were begun ''under the authority of tho republic of the United States of Colombia, with the benediction of Monsignor, the Bishop of Pan anna, in presence of the delegate of the gen eral government, and of those of the States of Colombia, and with the assistance of the | members of the technical commission charged | with the definite studies for the Universal | Inter-oceanic Canal" Nj. De Lesseps ex- 1 pressed his entire confidence in the success | ,e %Lo e,,ka {o xp1, ha had ka1 the closing years of his life, and had no hes l itation in counting upon ample assistance in | the financial world for the means to open an | other great highway to the commerce of the | world. His Grace the Bishop then formally | his benediction upon the enterprise | and the blessing of the universal church upon l the Iabors of science for the benefit of com | merce- Addresses were then delivered by | ex President Ortega. Secretary Facio, Ar aujo, Ossa and others.
 NJ. De Lesseps and his party were not all lured from business by the festivities which | them. Two days after their ar rival at Panama the frst meeting of the Canal | Commission was held. and in three days there after the surveying brigades were at work. l By this lime considerable progress must have | been made.
 One cannot but admire the energy and en- terpriss of the great Frenchman and also wonder at the supineness which has prevailed | among those by whom the interests of the United States in this matter should have been better and more promptly cared for. For tunately an efficient committee has at last been intrusted by the House of Representatives l with the special consideration of all matters relating to the inter oceanic canal, and some action will probably be taken soon. Some thing should have been done long before. for it is evident that our national interests forbid the completion of the work in the spirit in which DeLesseps is prosecutingit.