The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-15

AMERICA.
We transfer to our columns to-day an article from
the London Times on the prolific subject of the At
antic Telegraph The Times had heard of the great
celebrations in this country tho accomplishment
of the work--how our leading men, cities, towns,
and, in fact, everybody, had been sending in con-
the Niagara--how Old England had been wholly ne
elected, not mentioned in the midst of the
general congratulations. The Atlantic cable, the
Times infers after seeing the tone of public mind of
this country, is purely American enterprise and
those who were engaged in submerging it entitled
to the entire credit Of the work Mr. Field and the
officers of the Niagara, it would from what has
been said of them, had much more to do in connect
ing the two continents than in reality they could lay
claim to. There is good deal Of truth in the Times
criticisms in this respect. We took occasion to hint
in the very face of the Sensation movement that
Mr.. Field, very enterprisng and worthy man, had
been thrust into prominence than could be
agreeable to him, considering the part he actually
performed in the great enterprise which reflects 80
much credit upon the intelligence and liberality of
the age. We in the United States have no right to
lay any exclusive claims to the account of the cable
works, unless we can base them upon the discovery
Of the principle upon which they have been construct
ed. As machine, our sensitive cousins in England
are Justly entitled to the credit of its construction
and it is certainly very hard for the old telegraph
discoveries to be ranked if not forgotten in the
congratulations of the public by the gentle
men who acted with British capitalists in project
ing and completing the work. The Times forgets
that to America should be given all the credit of the
original electro magnetic discoveries which have GER
tainly led to the completion of the present cable
communication between the two continents Of
what value its electricians to Professor Morse
and others twenty years ago2 1t was Professor
Morse and his eminent associates who taught Mr..
Bright, Professor Thompson, Mr.. Canning, and Mr..
Clifford to perform the high duties devoved upon
them in laying the cable. Mr.. Field certainly knew
more Of merchandise and bank accounts, and the
profits and perils of invested capital than the prnci
pies Of eectro-magnetsm. The officers of the Mag
ara who unustly treated by the Times, are GER
ainly entitled to tho credit of having performed in
faithful and discreet manner the work assigned
them II has proved good service that they per-
formed because it resulted in complete success; and
it was an enterprise so novel, interesting and valu-
able to tho whole human family to reflect more or
less distinction upon every person connected with
it. There is no special credit which can be rightly
appropriated in such work that it was chiefly pre-
pared in this or that country. Whatever of skill,
science, and hberality demanded and contribu-
ted by our brethren in England to render the prepc
1atims complete, they should have the full benefit
Of 1t was far more their enterprise, if we look to
the hazards involved in it and the amount of capital
invested, than But, after ALL the real credit of
the cable is due to America. 1t was here that the
principle was proclaimed upon which it was con
structed Il was here that the public was con-
WINGED by practical demonstrations that it could