The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-19

Was his head strong enough at that
time 10 calculate. weigh, and carry the
eXtruslc and intrinsic difficulties Of such
an enterprise and was he young enough
10 give al t.e necessary activity OF mind
and body. ta. indispensable amount OF
Thought, reflection and business genius
for the slrm0uAt.f. Of such obstacles
and the fuihnmelt of such conceptions
Was he misled by his eldest son. NJ.
Charles De Lesseps. and did he incline
too much 10 his ideas on account Of pa
tarnal affections Did he think that the
magic of his name alone was required
for the success OF the scheme. and that
he could implicitly rely. for the work
upon the intellectual and physical sup
port Of his son. who In reality was the
one who had watched and studied the
surveys. being on the spot, and thus able
% form his own judgment? Did he ex-
poet, too, the combined help Of great
many who had sworn fidelity TO him
Did he withdraw too late. disappointed
I'm finding his son only honesty, good viii
and integrity, without n mind equal 10
the undertaking. and IN the men on
whom he relied only selfishness which
looked 10 their own interest and worked
for their own futures 10 the detriment OF
puAHc welfare2
Was he disappointed I'm the government.
which. instead of eiviug him IT'S moral
support and its peCuniary all, as the
Empire had done for the Suez Canal.
had 10 be bought. selling Cor an almost
Incredible sum ira protection ana the
silence Of n number. still unknown. OF
its most prominent members? Was 10
the wasted money or the brides, incon-
testably enormous but really inevitable
in an enterprise Of such vast magnltudel
Could IL have been the unhealthy climate
forcing q frequent change Of engineers
and lahOr1rs, who were paid fabulous
WAGES. but who, not even having time TO
become accustomed % and interested In
their work spent their fow months OF
employment in laziuess dissipation and
degradation. having only one idea. that
OF making money the easiest way and
spending IL iu orsicSl
Could il have been the material I'm
possibility Of opening the canal, on ac-
count Of the stupendous work and the
difference I'm the level Of the seas. max
Inc the investment a doubtful one. as
millions had already been spent and UNI
known millions would have to be? Where
can be found the cause Of the failure?
is II in the answer 20 all or these ques-
lions combined? IL may be. l leave 10
every one the privilege OF forming his
own opinion, remaining myself entirely
convinced OF tho honesty and integrity
Of both the De Lesseps
What fault can one find IN them eN-
cept that of having been too conhdent7
OK course too much confidence. based
on doubtful foundations, may become
crime. when so many are involved I'm
the success or failure OF an enterprise.
Bur De Lcssore. in my mind, never real
tied tie doubtfulness Of the basis on
which he started. nor the dangers by
which he was surrounded. He began
with the utmost confidence in his final
success. He kept IL during the entire
struggle, and made every one who ap-
preached him share it.
lie may have had moments OF anguish
and terrible anxiety, but the recOllec-
ton OF past difficulties. always overcome,
and crowned with final success. made
him feel master Of the situation. and II
ever ne realized G doubt ~ into what n
pit he had been drawn. IL was too late
10 retrace his steps.
The calculations and figures showing
the profits Of Suez were glittering before
his eyes, binding them 70 danger. and
opening them only to happy results for
the Panama Canal. Yes. | venture 20
saws that even II NJ. De Lesseps felt his
mistakes, which 10 some Of us seem
great. il was too late. For they came so
gradually one by one. that he never was
conscious OF their greatness and was prob
ably as much surprised ms any one else
when finally the company suspended pay
mont
The way write may seem 10 some very
partial to NJ. De Lesseps. and 10 be die
tated by the tics OF great and strong
family Friendship But when / confess
that / myself suffered pecunlarlly by the
Panama failure. think it viii show
plainly my mpartiality. ar any rate. |
try 10 be only the Interpreter OF public
opinion in general and IN particular Of
the suffering class which, by It's silence.
in the midst OF its ruin showed more
than by any demonstration IT'S considera-
ton and esteem for the man. Nothing
I'm the mind OF the majority will ever
make them believe that 'le Grand Fran
Gals" has not always been thoroughly
honest. I'm earnest and most honorable.
a great man. greater still In his mis-
fortune with the only fault. unpardon-
able in France. of having been unsuc-
cessful MAURICE DE MAUNY.
willows Court. Va. Jan. 1903.