The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-07
The lsthmian Canal the Pro-
ject Of Centuries.
SCOTCH EXPEDITION
Fi|ibusterers Capture the land When the
United States is About to Build
Canal But are Made to Abandon
itWith Great Loss and Misery.

The enthusiastic interest OF the
American people respecting the construc-
ton by the American government. Of
great Intcr-Oceanic Canal. either,
through the San Juan river and Mica
ragua lake, or cross the 1sthmus OF
Panama, recalls former efforts which
have been put forth to coonize and
develop that section 90 the continent,
prominent among which was the great
scheme Of William Patterson, native
Of Scotland. q little moro than two
centuries ago, during the reign OF VII
liam Of Orange. The story Is told by
Macauley, in his infmitable style. and
herein condensed for tho readers OF The
Times Dispatch.
This man Patterson. had won more
than local renown in successfully estab-
fishing the Bank Of England. but had
been left out Of its directory and officers
at the organization, his only capital
consisting Of mother-w1t and Scotch
shrewdncss. and being sent adrift. set
about discovering and maturing another
enterprise which should not only enrich
himself beyond the widest dreams, but
his immediate associates and Scotland,
also, what though his country has not
been endowed by nature with fertility Of
soil or congcnial climate. the richest
spots on the face OF the earth had been
barren rock, surrounded by the sea, that
the shells Of Tyre were piled UP to
dizzy height On that sterile crag were
woven the robes of Persian satraps, and
slcilian tyrants; there were fashioned
silver bowls and charges for the ban
quets Of kings; and the Pomerian am
Der was set in Lydian gold to adorn the
necks Of queens. In its warehouses
were stored the treasures Of Egypt,
Arabia, India, and Britain, and in its
ports were anchored the great ships Of
the world. Venice and Amsterdam at
tained similar grandeur and empire des-
pite adverse surroundings-was there any
been endowed with greater activity, fore
thought, ingenuity. or self-command
than the citizens Of Edlnburg or Glas-
gov. In all these qualities the Scot had
never been surpassed; all that was nee
essary was that his energy should take
a proper direction and that patterson
undertook to supply.
ISITIMuS OF DARIEN.
Columbus had hoped to establish
communication between his quarter OF
the globe and India, across the great
Western Ocean. But he was stopped by
an unexpected obstacle. The American
continent, stretching far North and far
South into inhospitable regions, present.
ed what seemed an insurmountable bar
rier to his progress Patterson now re-
vived this project Of Columbus persuad-
vading himself and others that 1t was
possible to carry that project into effect
in such a manner as to make his country
the greatest emporium that ever exist
ed - 80 globe. styE.
To arrive at this. 1t was necessary to
occupy in America some spot which
would be a resting place between Scot
land and india, notwithstanding. that
much Of the habitable portions had been
claimed or occupied by some European
power, Patterson imagined that there
was one province. the most important Of
all that had been overlooked. The 18TH
mus which Joined the two great conti-
nents of the nav world remained unap-
propriated; the mountains, and forests
OF Darien were abandoned to rude tribes
which followed their own usages and
5obeyed their own rrinces.
11~ had been in that quarter of the
world, in what character Is not stated,
whether as missionary or pirate, and
had brought away none, but delightful
recol1ac4;o~r
The heavens were capacious and Sc
cure; the sea swarmed with turtle, and
all food products; the country was so
mountainous that within nine degrees of
the equator, the climate was temper
ate, and yet the inequalities Of the
ground offered no impeachment to the con-
veyance Of goods. Nothing would be
easier than to construct roads along
which mules, and even wheeled vehicles,
might In the course OF single day
pass from sea to sea The soil was rich.
and fertile with all the choicest produce
tons of tropical regions, and yet this
exuberant fertility had not tainted the
purity Of the air.. A residence on this
isthmus would be a paradise. A colony
planted there could not fail to prosper
even If Its reliance was agriculture, but
this was secondary.
Let, but that precious neck of land
ba occupied by a hardy. thrifty race,
and in few years the whole trade be-
tween India and Europe must be drawn
to that point. The perilous and tedious
passage around Africa would be abandon
ed, and the merchant would no longer
expose his cargoes to mountainous bill
lows and treacherous seas. Time. labor,
and money would be saved. Returns
would come in rapidly: fewer men would
be required to navigate ships; the loss
OF a vessel would be a rare event: trade
would double, and would all pass through
Darien.
KEY OF THE UNIVERSE.
It would become the key of the universe,
and would give law to both hemispheres,
and. without shedding one drop of blood,
eo'<ho'tsit hii o'4ipt'o do ePAeho!u us any
that had ever been founded. Darien
would become the great free port, and
all the wealth Of nations must pass
through her gates. and on all this, a toll
would he paid which would remain to
make her rich beyond the dreams Of
avarice.
These magnificent plans were only ut
first partially disclosed There was to be
q colony; a vast trade was to be opened.
but the name OF Darien was as yet pro-
nounced only In whispers by Patterson
Enough was disclosed to awaken cupidity
and his most confidential friends.
and excite boundless hopes and desires,
TOW we'll he succeeded Is shown by the
memorable act to which the lord high
chancellor gave the royal sanction on the