The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-22
1hs Atlantic Telegraph GrauuaI Enecs
IN shs Euxupsaa Mind.

1ns AuAnzio TeleervPh-lts @ rauual Effect
IN sns Euxepsaa Mind.
Our people are divided In opinion in regard
to the amount of enthusiasm the laying of the
Atlantic cable appears to have drawn forth on
the other side. As there had been no boui !,
Submissions, professions or speeches, man
bold that the British people are not aroused to
lively consideration of the great deed accom-
plished; while in the United States in single
cay, every intelligent community was not only
acquainted with the fact, but was thrown into
perfect ecstacies at its announcement. We
think, however that John Bull has thus far
done very we'll He has certainly shown con-
siderable pocket enthusiasm, for be has run up
the value of the telegraph shares from one to
two hundred per cent in less than two days,
ind 60 one can say we have done that yet.
II lie, however, with but dim light we can az
yet explore the future consequences abroad of
the new electric pathway of human thought,
snnih,latirg time and distance. Though Europe
has been s)owin perceiving what it leads to,
she will pnauestionably be greatly governed
hereafter in Der conduct and opinions by its in
fiuence The effects upon the various classes of
which her populations are composed will, Of
course, be somewhat diHereQt. A spontaneous
unity Of appreciation cannot be expected from
them, as has been displayed by US.
1t must not be forgotten that the rulers and
magrates Of the Old World see, and have long
seen, in the working of our political system, q
dangerous innovation upon their own-a de-
monstration of the folly of their privileges,
titles, rapk-for the developement of national
greatness and prosperity; and who regard our
successful vindication of selfgovernmeat as
iull Of ultimate danger to themselves. 1t has
no doubt been part of the policy of the lead
ing statesmen Of Europe to disparage the con-
dition Of the people of the United States, to
critcise and obstruct the policy Of our govern
ment, to foster in various ways every internal
difference and dissension that babe fair to break
up our institutions or our Union, and to dispute
and embarrass our simplest and fairest claims
We can imagine, then, that this new bond be-
tween two great nations speaking the same Ian
guage, and speaking it freely, too, bodies them
no good. We canrot expect the press or the
people where these men bear sway to enlarge
much, as yet, on the advantages of the At
lantic telegraph.
The Statesmen and diplomatists of Europe,
whose interests are bound up in those of the
dynasties they sustain entertain also distrust-
full feeling, which must affect their opinions and
their conduct in relation to the telegraph.
They see the coming and inevitable preponde-
rance of political power westward taking its
way. They have, till quite recently, ignored
this country. Their world has been Europe
and the dependencies of Europe. A family
compact boundary on the Rhine or the
Danube, the settlement Of q duchy, or
the marriage of princess, has been work
enough for these hereditary statesmen and their
most astute cabinet ministers. These men, stiff
in the lace and principles of antiquity, do not
care about charging their diplomatic field be-
yond the sphere Of their precedents or their
power Of control. 1t is plain spoken, hard
handed and unceremonious customer they have
now to dead with. To them it is wondrous if
not an appalling sight to behold q new and
active nation covering a continent with towns
and cities like magic; with q large and intelli-
gent population brave and ambitious; navy
that disputes the empire of the seas, and u ma
tional army of millions rather eager than other
wise to try its strength; confederacy Of States
growing larger every year and stronger every
hour, animated by o life and energy unknown
in the Old World; the home of the greatest and
most useful inventions and discoveries of the
age; in short, the best exponent Of humanity,
the best friend Of its cause and the best pro-
moter of its interests
We are too near Europe already for the CON-
fort and tranquility of its rulers and its states
men. The telegraph will not increase their en-
jeyment of their hereditary power. But there
is class-the class Of the governed, the middle
class between the aristocracy and the beggars
Of their country, the producing, working
thinking and acting class in these foreign
countries-who submit from generation to gene
direct interest or influence; who through the
dim and intercepted light by which they have
gszed at the experiment OF agreat confederated
republic and popular sovereignty, will hail an
event which conveys the pulsations of their
hearts instantaneously to our own.
And to oil the classes we have mentioned. as
sooR as they can realize the fact, the lay
ing of the Atlantic cable will be like
the awakening from q long and stupid
dream. Hitherto the electric spark has
been our domestic servant, Of local util-
ity, and abroad the stipendiary aud the
serf of governments 1t has now become a
chain, crossing the depths Of the ocean in
security and safety, and overlapping the bar
riers which divide the world. However the
men Of Europe may have felt towards us, they
have now great fact before them, and consider
ing the relations borne to II by Franklin, Morse
and Field, an American fact, at the contempla-
ton of which they may well pause to take
breath. The despotisms Of the Old World are
now fastened to the car of liberty by an invisi-