children will. The governments of Costa Rica and Nicaragua are favorable. They would be the gainers. Our capital, our enterprise, our industry would go in and make a garden on

canal, a garden from sea to sea. Coffee

would be raised and other tropical crops

enough for our own use and to supply other nations. It would be a great gain to the Pacific coast. When I talked to Stanford of the Pacific road, in the anticipation that his railroad interests would make him inimical to another trans

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

159 port route, I found that he favored it. It would divert the tea trade from China. Ammen made a calculation showing that in the carrying of wheat alone enough would be saved to pay the interest on the eighty millions of dollars necessary to build the canal. And wheat is only one of the many products that would be benefited. I estimate eighty millions as the maximum figure. I counted the cost. Then I added twenty-five per cent. to the cost to cover waste and profit, then a hundred per cent. to allow for the unusual difficulties in the way of labor in the tropics. It would aid in solving the Chinese question. California would find a place for the Chinese laborers who are now worrying her. The more this question is studied the more our people will see its wisdom. Public opinion should be educated so as to press the subject upon Congressmen. The press could do no better work than to agitate the question. The only people who would be injured would be some of the South American States. My opinion is, it would add largely to the wealth of the Pacific coast, and, perhaps, change the whole current of the trade of the world."

An allusion was made to the differences of opinion that exist among a people as numerous as the English on great questions, and especially on the Eastern Question. "I did not know much," said the General, "about the Eastern Question until I came to Europe. The more I looked into it, the more I was drawn irresistibly to the belief that the Russian side was the true one. Perhaps I should say the side of Mr. Gladstone. On the Eastern Question there is more diversity in England than elsewhere. As I was traveling through the East, I tried hard to find something in the policy of the English government to approve. But I could not. I was fresh from England, and wanted to be in accord with men who had shown me as much kindness as Lord Beaconsfield and his colleagues. But it was impossible. England's policy in the East is hard, reactionary, and selfish. No one can visit those wonderful lands on the Mediterranean, without seeing what they might be under a good government. I do not care under which flag the government flourished, English or French, Italian or Russian, its in

BISMARCK AND GAMBETTA.

161

This led to a rambling talk about the countries of Europe which the General had visited. "The two sections of my tour," said the General, "which, as a mere pleasure-jaunt, were most agreeable, were Sweden and Norway, and Egypt. If I were to indicate a model European trip, I would say, Egypt in the winter, Sweden and Norway in the summer. I would like nothing better than to take a dahabeeah and go up the Nile next winter. It is the perfection of winter climate, just as Sweden and Norway have the perfection of summer climate. England was of course the most enjoyable part of the trip in other respects. It was the next thing to going home. Scotland was especially interesting. I enjoyed my visit to Dunrobin, where the Duke of Sutherland lives, and also to Inverary, the home of the Duke of Argyle. I was prepared to like the Duke of Argyle from his course in our war, and I left Inverary with the greatest respect and esteem for him. I met no man in Europe who inspired a higher feeling than the Duke. I received nothing but the utmost kindness from every Englishman, from the head of the nation down. Next to my own country, there is none I love so much as England. Some of the newspapers at home invented a story to the effect that the Prince of Wales had been rude to me. It was a pure invention. I cannot conceive of the Prince of Wales being rude to any man. I met him on several occasions in London and Paris, and he treated me with the utmost courtesy and kindness."

'Speaking of the notable men I have met in Europe,” said General Grant, "I regard Bismarck and Gambetta as the greatest. I saw a good deal of Bismarck in Berlin, and later in Gastein, and had long talks with him. He impresses you as a great man. In some respects his manners and his appearance, especially when you see him in profile, remind you of General Butler. Gambetta also impressed me greatly. I was not surprised when I met him to see the power he wielded over France. I should not be surprised at any prominence he might attain in the future. I was very much pleased with the Republican leaders in France. They seemed a superior body of men.

VOL. II.-II