Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-12-08

place, his life work-the stupentious Sue,
conccption-has been a brilliant success
The world. which has not even one word
OF sympathy for him who fails, is ever
ready to PROSTATE itself before him who
triumphs. But this worship Of the great
Frenchman,' as NJ. dc Iesseps is now gen.
orally called. is to he attributed more ia
the admirable traits of character of the
man himself than to the merit Of what
he has DONE
And yet but eight years later, on Feb.
y, 1873, this same Ferdinand dc Lesseps,
who had been for years the idol of the
French people. was sentenced to imprison-
ment for five years for the part he PLAYED
In connection with the Panama canal
loans. The unfortunate old man. strick-
en- by the disgrace that had come upon
him like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
and borne down by the weight of four.
score years and eight. gave way beneath
the blow. His mind was shattered and
the sentenced was not enforced.
Building of the Suez Canal.
de Lcsseps was among the first to urge
the expectancy of constructing a canal
across the isthmus of Suez, connecting the
Mediterranean with the Red sea. After
unrcmitting efforts for many years he OBJ
tanned firman from Said Pasha in 1854
and enlisting French and English capital
lists undertook the work, which was Wig
orously prosecuted to completion DESPITE
many obstacles that would had discour-
aged less rcsniute man. Aug. ID, 1869.
the waters o: the Mediterranean mingled
with those of the Red sea, and the formal
opening of the canal was celebrated with
great pomp and rejoicing at Suez, and on
Nov Is the canal was formally opened Ito
Port Said
A lew days after this event NJ de Les
seps married Mile Antard de Brapard. a
young creole of English extraction and
considerable wealth. He received honor
airy decorations from nearly every govern
ment OF Europe. Queen Victoria's was
his nomination of an honorary knight
grand commander of the Order of the
star OF India The freedom of the CITY of
London was also presented to him In
1913 he was chosen u free member of tn.
french academy. Turning his attention
to the new world, NJ. de Lesseps under.
took the construction of canal across
the Isthmus of Panama The original
capital OF the company, 100000 900 francs,
was exhausted, when the subscribers re-
fused TO advance more money and the en-.
terprise was abandoned.
His Own Fort ,ne Absorbed.
DE 1esseps' private fortune was also
absorbed in the undertaking, and he was
left comparatively poor. He continued
his efforts To procure means with which
to prosecute the work, but capital was
timid, and he was unable to procure the
necessary assistance.
Then came the report of fraud in con-
nectiou with the Panama canal loan and
lottery schemes. At first but a murmur.
1t became Il rumble which deyclopcd into
a roar when Deroulede committed suicide
and the damning revelations against
prominent Frenchmen were published.
The storm shivered honored names and
tore exalted regulations to tatters in it's
Jury, which eliminated when the aged De
Lesseps stood with bent shoulders, moist
eyes and quivering chin to hear the presid.
ing magistrate pronounce the words
which confied him to prison cell for five
years. DE Lessaps was stunned The
sentence had destroyed his desire to live.
and thenceforward up to the time of his |
heath life was to him but series of mo- |
chanical processes. De Lesscps had ex-
pericnccd the exaltation of honors: he |
also felt the hopeless despair of disgrace.