380 VISCOUNT FERDINAND DE LESSEPS. 



that they are working for all mankiiKl." His labor then was drawn 

 from many races, but did not include the " sambos," " bravos," coolies, 

 and mongrels of Panama. 



His sympatliies were always with the fellaheen, even to his own 

 prejudice. He had lived among them, they had served him, and 

 when the struggle came for the possession of the canal he did not 

 ask that it should be French, but that it should be neutral under a 

 pledge from Araby Pasha, the chief of revolting fellaheen and Arab 

 troops. One can hardly conceive of a professional diplomat so blind 

 to his own interests and the interests of the Compagnie Uiiiverselle, 

 but, like his grandfather of the Seven Islands, "he was generous even 

 to fanaticism." 



It must not be overlooked that the Suez Canal is an extension of 

 the Mediterranean and an improvement upon the old route of trade 

 between Europe and Asia, along which ports have been made, ware- 

 houses established, and political relations adjusted. Its opening was 

 an easement to all the world. Its construction was sure, because it 

 was the next legitimate step forward under the pressure of an enor- 

 mous demand. It was, as it proved, no experiment. Tlie ground 

 had been profiled and bored, the climate had been tested and found 

 healthy and clieerfu! ; and laborers were near at hand, not likely to 

 suffer in temper and spirits from the slight change of scene. In short, 

 there were no dilficultie.s, except familiar vicissitudes — and the pride of 

 kings. 



The successful opening of the Suez Canal, near the close of 18G9, 

 induced throughout the world, perhaps for the first time, a conviction of 

 common interest. The struggle in Egypt had been with tiie common 

 enemy, and the victory belongs to us all. It was the old allegory 

 adapted to our age, with Count de Lesseps in the part of St. Michael. 

 Among the Mohammedans, as among Christians, there are sects that 

 believe in an internal sense of the word. To these, human life and 

 history, and all events, both great and small, are allegories, and he 

 who catches so much as a glimpse of the esoteric meaning of the piece 

 plays his part like a god. This is the source of enthusiasm. 



Some newspaper men are comparing the traffic of the Sault de Ste. 

 Marie with that of the Suez Canal. — as if these two works were of 

 the same world-wide interest, or of the same dramatic import. There 

 may be more tonnage passing through the lock at the " Soo " than 

 through the desert of Suez, and there may be more yet passing through 

 a city street, but the gonfalon was borne by the Compagnie Universelle. 

 I During the construction of the canal, we never heard of a single 



