The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-14
PEACEy GREATEST VICTORY.
Bunau-varilia Describes the Event for
which He Waited Thirty Years.

--~--NN
To THE EDITOR or THE sUN--str: Yes
terday was day OF glory!
have sailed across the continental
divide on the first ocean steamer, the
Cristobai, which crossed the Isthmus Of
Panama from the waters Of the Atlantic
TO the waters OF the Pacific.
1t was not the inaugural trip, which
Is TO take place on tho fifteenth, and for
that reason the ship did not go through
! the channel from Balboa barbor to the
deep water Of the Pacific.
But for the engineer, IL not for the
authorities and for the public. II was
| indeed the ringing OF the bell which an
nounced that tho dream of ages had
become fact. And this bell has rung
In the first year Of the firth century
since the discovery Of the Pacific!
1t was day Of glory also for the Amer
lean nation which generously gives this
great waterway to the world without
any special privilege for herself or her
citizens and without any mercenary
consideration in view.
1t was q day OF glory for the great
engineer. Colonel Goethals, who car
ried to successful issue the stupendous
enterprise.
1t was day OF glory also for the
Genius OF the French nation. which first
attacked the great task, which discov.
cred all the technical solutions OF a
nj nb
BILE of realization.
In spite OF the yellow fever. IN spite
Of all the obstacles then in the way.
accumulated by Nature and Man. 1t
would have been easy for tho French to
open their canal In 1891 had not the
| money been wanting In 1888. II the
canal had been In the hands OF a Gov
eminent with unlimited financial re-
sources, instead OF being In those of a
private corporation, the credit OF which
became extinct In 1883. the Panama
Canal would have been a fact twenty
two years ago.
Yesterday was therefore day OF
glory for the French Genius because
1t was the day OF the vind.cstion OF the
aim for which 1t has so long and so
stubbornly fought. II was a day OF
glory for Ferdinand de Lesseps and for
his noble and generous son Charles de
Lesseps. who was the real head of the
old company and who can alone witness
the long hoped for day Of victory.
I had yesterday the supreme 10y NJ
seeing this glorious vindication when
months only separate me from the thlr-
tieth anniversary - my departure from
France FOR the service OF this great
conception.
But with this supreme JOY was mixed
yesterday another sentiment.
As an echo TO the cheers saluting the
victory OF Man over the American Cor
dllera I thought heard the distant
| rattle OF the French mitraileuses de-
! Tending the holy soil OF the Fatherland
| against the German aggressors
On the same day when was ended
the great war initiated by the French
Genius against Nature for the benefit
OF Mankind another great war was be-
| gun, the war against the intolerable
German military arrogance and autoc-
racy.
And the day that war began I was
not in France to do my duty! was
in Panama.
Since the beginning Of my official con-
nection with the Panama Canal II has
| caused mo an iinceasipc sariaa 90 ,,,oro,
hardships, sufrerings and trials.
Never was the trial so cruel. never
was the tribute paid by me to the great
enterprise so costly, as on the very day
of the final triumph.
on that day, which have been await
ing for thirty years. I was separated
| by Ave thousand miles from my place OF
! duty in France. I have been expecting
for forty-four years to fulfl that duty.
and the service OF the Panama Canal
has prevented me from fulfilling it on
| the day OF call.
! What a tragic coincidence. but also
what symbol OF hope
What an auspcious and happy fact.
| the beginning of that war for the vim
dicatlon of the dignity and power of
France on the very day her Genius re-
ceives the most complete vindication,
thanks to the magnificent performance
Of her historical friend, the United
States Of America.
ON my return to Panama. after pass
ing through the canal my grief was allie.
Waited by a cablegram: My son and my
son-in-law gone to the front. II | am
not there to take my share OF the peril,
they will do both their duty and mine,
while am haster hing to their side.
Yes. indeed, II was a day Of glory!
PHILIPPE BUNAU-VARILIA.
| Colon. August 4. 1914.