The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-23

pHTty be once FORMED, anu, sVauo'uB "iooi irom
all factions, keeping clear of the faint of poll
tics, and animated with single purpose-that
of putting honest men into ofice-and we may
arrest The tide of fraud aud crime which is
sweeping over this unfortunate city.
Tine Atlantic Teses,.Rh n Conflict between the
Csmpanies Diaimiwg so Connect
In another part of our paper will be found IA
interesting controversy in relation to the great
enterprise which ia on the eve of connecting the
European continent with our own. 1t is not,
we are happy 70 say, speculative difference as
to the proximate success of the work. Il Is, on
the contrary, one which assumes the certainty Of
its speedy completion, and which in this con-
viction raises question as to the partition of
the profits which this line is destined to bring to
such Of the American companies as shall have
the good fortune to be placed in connection
with it.
The points of this dispute are contained in
memorial and remonstrance, the one from the
Magnetic and New England Union Telegraph
companies, praying Congress for protection,
| and the other from the American Telegraph
Company, in opposition to it, The memorial
| charges that combination has been entered
into between the last named company,
| the New York, Newfoundland and Lon
don Telegraph line and the Atlantic
| Telegraph directors to force the petitioners
to surrender their property into the hands Of
| such combination on their own terms, or to des
| troy its value altogether. The memoralists
deny that it is their desire to seek the interpo.
sition of Congress to protect them against COM
petition in the United States, or the Withdrawal
| CT the aid OF government from the Atlantic Teie.
| graph Company. All they ask, they say, is to
! be protected against combinations for the pur-
pose Of expressing or destroying them, between
| parties operating in the United States and not
Of the United States, and to be put on an equal
| footing with all others in their connection with
foreign lines entering the United States by sea
or land. In addition to this demonstration
against the Atlantic Telegraph Company, We
perceive that a memorial has been sent in to
Congress by Mr.. T. p. Shaffner, praying that
the subsidy granted by Congress to that com
pany shall be general in its application to all
Atlantic ocean telegraph lines.
Now, we desire to take no part in the conflict
of interests to which the Development of this
gigantic project has naturally given rise. We
| are enemies to monopolies of every kind, and
we shall ever take decided part against any
attempt to convert government grants for pub
Lie objects to the benefit of individuals. 1t is in
the furtherance of this purpose that we devote
| so much space to dispute which, but for the
ultimate considerations involved in it, would
have but very little interest for us
When we take into account the vast influence
which the ocean telegraph will exercise over the
| destinies OF the world The immense amount of
capital that II will involve, and the extent OF
the commercial rivalries and jealousics that
| will be aroused by its operations, it be-
hooves US to be very careful how we
hazard an opinion in differences like that to
which we refer We are friendly nevertheless,
to the full and dispassionate discussion of the
| subject, because we believe tina ~ Is only by
such means that questions of which we had no
previous practical experience can he subjected
to fitting test.
Whilst, however, we desire to preserve an i'm
partial balance between these conflicting int
rests there are facts upon record that We cannot
ignore Against he complaint OF monopoly
preferred against the Atlantic Telegraph Com
pany we have this safeguard in its character
that its tariff is to be regulated by the two 60
vernments. and that so far as the ocean line is
concerned no more than a fair remunerative
profit can be realized by the stockholders.
Whether his enterprise Ia entitled to an cxclu-
sive gran is Of course another matter. We
believe that this question is Of but very little
importance go far as the realization Of rival
claims il concerned. As the pioneer line 1t en-.
joys vantage ground from which, owing to
the nat raj diriculties Of the other routes pro-
posed, Il viii be liaicult to displace It.
II may be that 40 fort will be made to con-
vert I'M mop0p0l.cs he American and foreign
telcgavha that wal be placed in connection
With "a, Atlantic line. This Is the gravamen Of
/ III conpliint Of the memorial Of the Magnetic
anl Now England Union Telegraph companies.
| We are sorry to see this opinion prevailing
amongst the stockholders Of those companies,
and we should be gricved indeed to meet with
facts that appeared to justify such conclusion.
When, however, we find that, owing to the con-
nectiop between the companies complained of,
dispatches can be sent between Nova Scotia and
New York at rates sixty five per cent lower than
under the old arrangements we may be excused
for doubling it's entire justice, as well as for
questioning the policy Of extending legislative
protection to any particular interest, either
home or foreign. We believe that the univer-
salty of the system Of telegaphic commuuica-
ton all over the world will conduct us as in all
other matters Of International necessity TO uni
formity OF arrangements, and that IL will be i'm
possible fU any of the companies engaged
in the.c enterprises to maintain a position
Independent of the general interests
II, however, commercial rivalry or the blind