Daily national Democrat., 1858-09-29
Grafton.
By HON. 3. D. WHEELER.
Ladies and Gentlemen

lrelahu-a country lllustrlous alike for its
hospitality, its sutferings, and its genius The
great work is finally completed Science,
aided by art and pressed into actual service
by the business energies of England and
America. has achieved signal triumph. The
great cable is laid, and along its line, like a
swift-shooting meteor, thought flashes from
shore to shore. The success of the great en-
terprise is everywhere hailed rs an omen aus
plcious to the perpetuity of peace, liberty,
and national fraternity. The friends of edu
cation, science, arts, and commerce, are every
where exultant and happy. In every city,
town, and hamlet, in both hemispheres, where
the tidings have spread, they are received
with enthusiasm. Bonfres are lighted, ban
ners displayed, music discoursed and happy
throngs congregated throughout Chrsten-
dom. in honor of the event-the supplying Of
this important link in the great chain of in
ternational sociability 1t is not theu,at all in.
appropriate for us, though far removed from
the homes of our youth yet, thank God,
still shadowed by our noble banner, the stars
and stripes-to Join in this celebration, there
by evincing an enlightened appreciation of
the achievement itself, as also our admiration
for the public spirited men who have execu-
ted it.
A few years since, and the idea of con-
structing any machinery, capable of transmit
ting "A message across the Atlantic in few
moments of time, would have been secuted as
an absurdity and the originator OF so fool
ish a scheme denounced as an enthusiast
and dreamer. Men,in all ages of the world,
have inclinel to skepticism, being slow to
believe what was not demonstrable, unless it
would operate to their immediate advantage,
or excuse fault in their own lives. The
King of Siam rejected the testimony of the
Dutch Ambassador, that in his country, wa
ter was sometimes concealed into solid
mass Thomas would not believe that the
crucifed Redeemer had risen from the sepul.
chre, until he had seen the wounds in his
hands, and thrust his fingers into his side (;
the educated world would not endorse the
spherical philosophy of Columbus till he had
uufolded to their gaze new continent; nor
would the crowned heads of Europe concede
that man was capable of self government, un-
| til Washington had written a treatise on po
litieal liberty with the point of his sword.
But the days of skepticism, so far us the
achievements of science are concerned have
nearly passed away; and now, on the pre-
sentation of a new proposition in science, We
have no right to demand positive demon
stration of its truth, but are justified, by the
ring negative demonstration before nc UiU
disbelieoe
! have styled this great event; perhaps
the greatest known to the history Of mnn.-
| Events of more or less interest to the differ
ont tribes and nations of men have been con-
stantly occurring from the earliest time; and
history, to whose ample stores we are indebt
ed for all that we know of the great past,
teens with important and stirring Incidents.
1t unlocks the arcana Of departed centuries,
and permits US to gaze in upon their wonders.
1t has told us of the rise and splendor of
great nations, and of their decay of contend
ing armies and triumphant navies; of the be-
sieging and sacking of cities. and the wanton
| destruction of entire communities; of start
ling convulsions of nature, and of evil signs
among the stars. But, in all these revela-
tions, it has failed to produce a single event
which, in point of direct influence on the so
cial, moral and political affairs of mankind
at large, equals the one we have assembled
here to celebrate.
1t was a proud day for Greece, and hap
py day for Greeian liberty, when the field of
Marathon was won; the establishment Of
Magma Chdrta was great point gained in
the progress of English liberty; and the sur
render of CORVALLIS was a virtual rccogni-
ton Of American independence yet these
events were local in their direct effect, and
operated only to confirm pre- existing prin-
ciple; and, whilst the results flowing there
from were of the utmost consequence to the
nations concerned, the events themselves can
not be accounted anything more than physi
cal triumphs.
The present event is entirely different
! from any that has gone before. Its effects
are worldwide, and important; acting upon
the moral and intellectual man in almost all
the walks of life. The mere laying of the
cable is not, in itself very wonderful
achievement; but when we consider the
magnitude of the undertaking, its connection
with the higher walks of science, and the
important part it is destined to act in the
great drama of nations hereafter, it rises
into absolute grandeur. 1t is nothing new
that electricity exists, and that, for the use
and convenience of man. That such fluid
or element existed was known to the ancients
more than six hundred years before the
Christian Era; and its inconceivably rapid
| passage over a metallic conductor, was dis.
covered more than a hundred years ago
but its adaptability to the uses of man in the
rapid Transmission of thoughts, was never
demonstrated till the successful experiment
of Prof Morse, in 1887. The first telegraph
established for the actual purposes of bust
ness, was erected in 1914, connecting the
cities of Washington and Baltimore, The
working of this line having been perfectly
| successful, the announcement of the result
gave birth to thousands Of telegraphic en-.
terprizes on both sides of the Atlantic; and
! to'day, throughout the civilized world, tele'
graphic wires are stretched in every direc-
! tion, the speedy bearers Of the thoughts of
men, snd the disseminators of human intel
ligence.
The announcement of the successful LAYING
of the cable is not only satisfactory, in the
highest degree, but is suggestive of many e.
fections both serious and agreeable. 1t is
another evidence of the inherent power and
! progressive character of the human mind:
it stamps it with the seal of Immortality 1t
bids us hope; it. revives the dying energies
of thought; enlarges the reall of action
points to untold triumphs as yet concealed
in the bosom of the mysterious future; and
whispers in our ears that Man is, indeed. but
little lower than the Angels. The lightning
of heaven, through the imperative demands
of science, has forsaken its home among the
stormy clovis and bowed its proud neck in
meek submission, to receive the yoke of man,
heneeforth to do his bidding. 1t was first
lured from its native skies by the great
FRANKLIN subdued, cultured and tanned by
the immortal MORSE; panoplied in bands Of
steel and driven through foaming ocean by
the distinguished FIELD. What an illustri.
GUS trio What three imperishable names
Names that will live high on the calendar of
fame, as the friends of peace, the pio
neers of useful enterprise, whilst civiliza-
tion has a name and an abiding place
FRANKLIN, MORSE and FIELD-names that
have passed into history and, to-day, enjoy
their full measure of true renown. These