M. de Lesseps, at the recent meeting of shareholders in
the Panama Canal, expressed the most absolute confidence in the opening of the Canal in 1888. He stated that all American opposition had disappeared, that shipowners were at last con- vinced that sailing ships could go through, and that the railway interests bad become aware that the Canal would not compete with their lines. He had ample funds in hand, and his applica- tions for more were always accepted ; and so much work was already done that the Columbian Government had handed over to the Company one-third of the immense acreage they are to receive for completing the work. Above all, the entire plant necessary to complete the undertaking was now upon the ground. M. de Lesseps is always sanguine, as he has good reason to be; and he has certainly achieved two remarkable successes, which he did not mention. lie has disarmed inter- national jealousies, and he has secured labour. It was believed that this would be the weak point of the scheme, but M de Lesseps' offers have attracted thousands of the very men he wanted, the free blacks of the West Indies, who are accustomed to dig, who were .born under the sun, and who either do not die of malaria, or do not care if they do.
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