Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-19
WhaI ECXEl

What next? was the exclamation ofa friend,
on reading the intelligence brought 10y the last
mail from Europe, that the capital of the
Transatlantic Submarine Telegraph Company
had been all subscribed, and that the proiec-
tors confidently expect to place Europe and
America in electric communication by the 4th
of July, 1857 Wen may one who remembers
when steamboating was but an experiment;
when crossing the Atlantic by steam power
was ridiculed as a chimerical idea; when men
who talked of propelling the largest ships
against wind and tide, ADD of making roads on
land on which passengers would be carried
swifter than bird flies, were regarded as
dreamers whose heads were filed with imprac-
ticable fancies when telegraphing Was not even
dreamed of, and news passed between the old
and new worlds at the rate of abOut four trips a
year-well may such a one eXclailn, in view Of
present facts, "Wbat Next"
They are not very old who remember back
beyond the age Of ocean steamers, railroads,
telegraphs, steam presses, aud OF nearly all
the wonderful "fast" machines and economi-
cal inventions which date their origin in the
present century. What a host of discoveries
from the spinning jenny to the sewing
machine; from the taking Of portraits almost
Instantly in the sunlight, to the communica
ton of thought with the speed of the light
ning's FASH
But what next? Mind has not reached the
limits of its powers. Nan has not won his
last triumph over earth and ocean, space aud
time. His ambition is not satisfied; it il but
stimulated to loftier conceptions, TO grander
enterprises, by each new success. The secrets
of Nature lie has as yet, but partially explored;
its laws are still but imperlectly understoodby
him. Through ages to come, the work OF dis.
cOyerv will go on. New wonders in creation
will be revealed to him; and though still ac-
curing greater power over material things
aud creator knowledge of the works Of the
Infinite, he can never reach 2 point beyond
which there is nothing to be discovered; moth
ing more to be done.
May we not indulge the speculation invov-
ed in the question, "Shall mau's discoveries
and tr.umphs in the material world result W.
an entire revolution in his moral character
Shall his deeper researches in the Book of Ma
ture bring him into closer communication with
its infinite aud all wise Authorl
VII the skepticisn which has, in too many
instances, marked his first imperfect readings
of the evidences Of creative skill give way, on
fuller knowledge, to revereut and adOrlng
wonder, and lift his spirit from tile ebony re-
gion of Doubt into the brighter atmosphere OF
an undisturbed Faith, which realizes the exis-
tence and presence everywhere of the great
First Cansel
IL is the moral rather than the material re-
suit which dignifnes mans advances and dis
coveries. His mora! triumphs are his great.
est. There is 10 meaning in the phrase Thu
man progress" if we Eliminate from it the idea
Of moral Improvement. Enjoyment happi-
ness, being the end or aim after which man
strives, there can be 10 true, enduring, ever
increasing enjoyment which is not linked with
his moral nature. The material perishes, the
spiritual perishes not.
Generations of men pass away, but tho fruits
of mind remain. The knowledge acquired IS
perpetuated. Principles of truth, once enun-
ciated, become the basis Of future effort. II Is
thus that civilization advances; that science
eularges its domain; aud that men acquire new
views Of life, and OF lis duties. May we not
hope, then, that the superior enlightenment
aud the wonderful triumphs OF this age are
bat the evidences of mans more rapid pro
gress towards the consummation OF that often
prophesied and GROWING glory-the union OF
the whole race in the sentiment and reality Of
a common brotherhood, acknowledging cola
mon Father.--N. \. StR.