Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-09-17

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The truth which have been discuss
ing is conspicuously apparent in the his
tory of that great invention the magnet
ic telegraph, whose recent triumph in
crossing the Atlantic has been tie oeca-
sion of exultation throughout the eiviliz-
ed world. The telegraph belongs to |
class of .inventions which have this OBJ |
vious usefulness in common, that they
tend to civilize mankind by bringing men
nearer together. Highways, bridges,
railroads, steamships, belong in the same
category. The more isolated men are,
the more inaccessible they are to each
other, and the less intercourse they in
fact have with each other, the less is the
love they bear one another and if there
be no intercourse at all, mutual disre-
gard if not positive dislike springs up, by
an almost inevitable law of our fallen
nature. Cowpers mournful lines
Lands intersected by a narrow firth
Abhor each other; mountains interposed
Make enemies of nations which had else
Like kindred drops been mingled into one
are not less true than they are poetical.
But let those narrow friths be spanned
BY bridges, let those mountains be traver-
sed by roads or by railways, and the ma
lions become one in feeling and in sym
pathy, and they are prepared to become,
in due time, one in fact As they learn
more of one another, they understand
each other better, discover amable traits
of whose existence they had not conceiv-
ed; social, literary, and commercial in
tercourse takes place, friendships are
formed, intermarriages succeed, and by
these silent but constantly active means,
the antagonism is gradually made to give
way to harmony and fraternity. Com
munion makes union. Everything that
facilitates communion tends to unite the
human race into a common brotherhood.
Railroads, steamships, and telegraphs,
are among Gods appointed and potent
means to civilze the world, and so to
prepare the way for its Christianization.
OF the telegraph, more than Of any
other of the inventions Of science, it
may be said that in its origin, its progress,
and in the conducting Of it to this last
and greatest success, there has been a
constant recognition of the truth that
the chief end of man is to glorify God. :"
It's inventor was a Christian as well as
man of science none the less Chris
tian because he was learned, none the
less learned because he was Christian. In
him we have an illustrious instance Of the
union of the most profound knowledge
with the humblest piety, each of them
made stronger and more sGrviceable by
the union. During the whole of the long
series of experiments which were Ne
eessary to bring the invention into a con-
dition of practical usefulness, it was his
constant prayer that Providence might
Guide to such a result as would most com
pletely subserve the interests of man anC
the glory of God. Had he not beer
huoyed up by religious faith as well as by
ecientific enthusiasm, he would have sunl
under the weight of anxieties, perplexi
ties, disappointments, and tolls. He en-
dured all these as seeing Him who il
Invisible, and when at last his labors wert
brought to a successful issue and th'
magnetic telegraph was an established
fact, his heart beat not more highly will
justifable pride that he had secured 70
bis name conspicuous place in the cat
alogue of ilustrious men, than with graf
itude to the God without whose aid b
was conscious that success would nc
have crowned his efforts. 1t was sure
ly most appropriate that the first mes
sage ever sent over the telegraphic wir
should be the admiring exclamation
What hath God wrought And q
each new increase of the usefulness
the Invention, and especially at this greG
achievement which has Just taken plac
we have new occasion to exclaim :. wha
hath God wrought !" for though ma
has been the visible instrument of al
complishing the work, nothing less tina
the invisible hand of God working wit
him could have carried it to successfl
result. This has been seen, felt, an
acknowledged by those who had the wor
in charge. The master spirit of ii
Atlantic Telegraph enterprise, like ii
inventor of the telegraph, was a Chri
ban like him also, the son Of a Chri
tan minister. In his first announcemeI
of the completion of the undertaken
while paying proper tribute to the e
ergy, industry, and skill Of every ma
On board the feet, he did not fail to az
that by the blessing of Divine Prov
dence the expedition has been success
Jul" The commander of the Niagar
found bis heart so full of the same fee
ing, that in his dispatch to his famil
be says almost nothing of himself al
them, but praises God for the prosperi
that has attended the undertaking.
God has been with US. The Telecral
Gable is laid without accident, and
hlm be all the glory" was the warm {
preston of the sailors heart. The SAT-
acknowledgement of the good Pro-
deHce Of God has everywhere appear
N connection with the great rejoicin
oi the nation. While bells have be
fung, and cannons fired, to give vent
an enthusiasm which could not sufiiciei
= express itself in words, prayers
thanksgiving and songs of praise ha
Been offered TO God at religious and
'eiary festivals, in prayer meetings a
p thousands OF churches. Was It a me