New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-29

the protracted term when lie was hiaNns mo
nreGmnary arrangements with capitalists anu
Governments. and digging his trench through
sball,v mere and shifting sand, his patience
was never exhausted nor his amaDlllty
clouded. Repelled by the opposition wlich
bis enternrise encountered from foreign resi-
dorts no won the enthusiastic support OF the
V;cerov's officials and the sympathy OF the
native nopulation. The hexibility of his nature
and the consummate tact with which he toler-
ated Oriental traits of character made him not
only conspicuous figure, but popular per-
sonace in Egypt. He mingled freely with all
classes placed implicit confidence in the shelkS,
and adhered to his plans with mercurlai
faith i'm his success which had a charm 1or tue
Oriental mind.
These remarks owe their significance to the
fact that NJ. de Lesseps for the first time III
his public life has lost his temper The erra'ic
dispatches which he has sent to Paris during
the last month have revealed his mental per
turbation. and now we have distressing ac-
count of violent alteration with the french
Consul and the Egyptian Governor at Port
Said. These officials, alarmed 10y the threats
of tbe Arab population, made arrangements
for the occupation of the city by snan
fleets NJ. de Lesseps, having secured from
the Arab commander guarantee OF safety ioi
tbe French residents and from Arab a declar-
alton that the Canal property shouiu no' oo
injured so long as there was no foreign occu-
patton, has called the Consul fool lor play
ing into the hands Of the English and has en-
deayorcd to prevent the landing OF marines
The remOnstrance seems to have aDashed INC
French Admiral, but the Egyptian Governor
persists in demanding an Immediate occupa-
ton of the city, and the English Admiral sus-
tains his Judgment To complete NJ. de Les
seps's discontinue, British corvette has en-
tered the Canal without paying tolls ana MS
protest has been treated with contempt Inc
Guarantees which he has received from Araol
will lie worthless as soon as Port Said anu
Ismailia are occupied by foreign garrisons'
Conseouently NJ. de LessepSs peace OF mind Is
DESTROYED. His temper has given out. Inc
bonhomie and imperturbablity characteristic
of the man have deserted him.
NJ. de Lesseps may be pardoned, however
if his amiablity has been momentarly I'M
haired when the safety of the Suez Canal IS
menaced by the indscretion of its defenders
That work is his, in a sense IN which no other
Great achievement of modern engineers has
been theirs No other European OF his time
had the qualities which were required Tor so
complex and labOriOus an undertaking as the
pierclng of the isthmus. 1t is not saying too
much when we name HIM as the only man who
conld have built the Suez Canal. French
canitalists NAV have contributed their savings,
ingenious engineers may have helped him III
his calculations, and the British Government
NAV have to-day proprietary rights IN two
ffths of the stock but it remains what 1t was
in the beginni ng-his work, the product OF his
genius energy, patience, good-nature and
faith. The cities which have sprung up along
fine line of the Canal were created by him.
Port Said, where he dug basin in the sand,
and running out two great piers into the Mcdi-
terranean made harbor for the largest ships
and a site for fourishing city Ismaila, the
halfway house Of Canal traffic, built on the
desert and now fronting an inland lake and
shaded with fresh-water vegetation; and III
place of the ruins of Suez, a modern town with
massive embankments and safe roadstead
These cities are his, for he has seen them rise
from the sand at his bidding, and he has sought
to defend them and the waterway which con-
meets them. Apprchcnding catastrophe SIM
liar to that which befell Alexandria, he has
made terms with the military rebel VINO has
established dictatorship i'll Egypt lie has
more confidence in the guarantees of the leader
of the soldieT-mob than i'll the presence of
! small European garTisOns, which cannot adj
eouately protect the great interests created by
| his industry and sagacity. TO England he
owes nothing Orientals he has always found
/ faithful to their engagements with him.
There are not wanting practical reasons to
confirm VI. de Lcsscpss judgment. The Eng
| lish troops are not prepared to occupy the
! istbmus in force. The Teiniorccnients will not
! be on the ground within IL fortnight, and pre-
mature demonstration may have the effect Of
/ infaming the passions of Arabs followers.
/ The banks of the Canal may be mined III sew
eral places the water supply of lsmailia and
| Suez NAV be cut off, and the Port Said aque
duct be tapped, and the signal may be given
| for wanton destruction of life and property
! in the cities. Until an occupation can be
planned with CELEBRITY and overwhelming force,
! the risks of military intervention are appalling.
NJ. de Lesseps's apprehensions cannot be dis
missed as groundless, although his confidence
/ in Arabs good-nature and authority over
! Arab blunderers may have an Oriental elastic
! ity. Whatever may he the issue III tho 18TH
mus, it is to be hoped that the collapse of
| historic temper may not be irretrevablc.
| ---
! WORRYING Il DRY BONE.
| Tho 11iss,,o y for whch orr Democratic