The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-03


The Gable Cclcbrntion-The Carnival and the
banquet.
The celebration Of Wednesday and the ban
quet last night will long be remembered in
New York. Next to the laying of the cable
itself, they form one OF the most remarkable
events in our annals. Compared with the
display in our streets on Wednesday, all
former ceremonials Of a similar character sink
into insieniGcance. in magnitude, in univer-
salty of sentiment, and in intensity Of feeling,
it has never been equalled, and will, we believe,
never be surpassed. More than half million
Of people, embracing representatives from al
most every nation in the world, united in this
graId jubilee; ard amongst this vast multitude
there could not be found q single individual
whose heart did not respond to the general feel
ings Of joy and thaukfulness which persaded it.
OF no other event which history records can the
same thing be said. The pageants of royalty
may attract the masses, but they generate among
them only scorn and bitterness of feeling. Eccte-
siasticsl ceremonials may compel reverence, but
the infdel and the scoffer are too frequently to
be found in the ranks Of the faith
full. Even national rejoicing+the Fourth
of July Of course excepted-are not
exempt from dissonance Of feeling. There are
few events that stir the heart of people
which do not bring disappointment to parties
and Individuals The triumph of patriotism is
the humiliation of personal ambition, and when
nation rejoices it may with truth be said that
politicians mourn.
For once in the worlds history we have had
an event to celebrate which brings regret to
none, which wounds no feeling or interest ex-
cites no individual or national susceptibilities,
and suggests no apprehension for the future.
The results to which it points are SO vast In
their promise Of good and so neutral in their
chances of evil, that there is not DOM for the
existence of any Of the selfish sentiments in re-
gard TO them to which poor human nature is
prone. 1t is this fact which brings home to
every one the convicton-solemn and cousol-
ing in its infiuence-that the event thus COM
memorated marks the commencement of one of
those transition phases Of the human mind and
condition to which the Sacred Writings point.
Omnipotent indeed must have been the inHu.
ence, and marked the Divine intention, which
could have brought about this demonstra
ton. 1t was not its multitudinous aspect,
its unity of movement, or its exuberance of joy,
which impressed the spectator most. 1t was
the startling and unaccustomed sights that met
his eye: the assemblage of emblems which he
bad hitherto been accustomed to consider hos
tile to bis political faith and the presence Of a
foreign military array which it was supposed
could never again have been tolerated on Ame-
rican soil. And then, strangest of all strange
spectacles, he beheld British soldiers followed
by British society bearing the crown of their
political allegiance, surmounted by liberty
cap-thus giving practical realization to the
result anticipated from the Geographic union Of
the two hemispheres-that the political pre-
JUDGES of the Old World would speedily yield
ascendency to the superior political enlighten-
ment Of the New.
No where could this memorable event have
been celebrated with greater effect or with
more appropriateness than in the country which
has given shelter and home to the politically
oppressed. Here, and here only, could the
representatives Of the different nationalities,
and of their various political creeds, unite in
one common expression Of joy and gratitude
for a result which promises TO redress the
wrongs and heal the wounds Of those who have
suffered for conscience cake. Like the slken
rope which bound Chaucer's priest to heaven
the telegraph cable is to the foreign exile the
bond which revives all his ancient ties and af-
fections BY promoting the spread Of civiliza-
ton and correct political ideas II viii uproot
tyranny, destroy priestcraft and promote the
cause Of pure religion. Through Its instru.
mentality years Of long and weary watching
will be anticipated, and the firm Of faith be
blessed by the realization Of his hopes
Whatever, therefore, may have been the
shortcomings as pageant of the recent
celebration, the philosophical mind cannot
fail TO recognize in II one Of the noblesst
and sublimest manifestations that hes
ever been witnessed In this or any
other country. II was not the less impressive
because 1t was locally characteristic, aud ex-
hibited some e. the humorous peculiarities Of
our people. We would not have omitted them
IL we could, for their presence showed that the
popular heart was stirred 10 point rarely
witnessed in these days Of sham political demon
strations, and that II was thoroughly penetrated
with the Importance of the event which
IL commcmoratcd. A striking evidence Of
this was the enthusiasm which was every
where exhibited along the line Of the procession
when the Canadian militia made their ap-
pcarance. Its earnestness proved that the cable
had already done half Its promised work. and
that the link which is TO bind forever in har-
mony the two greatest commercial nations Of
the world, had found secure hold in the
hearts Of our people.
When the account Of Wednesday, and Thurs
day proceedings reaches Europe, II will show
that the progressive spirit which hasraised us to