The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-21


fact that those organs Of public opinion which
did foresee what will surely occur, have no love
for the coming events. The telegraph belongs
to the practical working men of the age.
1t is mighty instrument Of power in the
hands Of the Manchester school Of political
economists and statesmen, and will carry
them to ascendancy in England. II is the
nervous cord Of the cotton bands that unite
the practical men Of America and England.
1t has no sympathy or aid for the crowned heads
and aristocracy, the glitter and insel Of Europe.
This, the London Times and other organs of class
interests have foreseen, and they have grown
nervous over the fact. They know we'll enough
that school to which they do not belong is ad-
vancing in England; and that the laying Of the
Atlantic cable brings America, with her i'm
mense and growing weight, into nearer and
closer union with that school. The merchants
of Liverpool saw this when they run up the
Union Jack over the Exchange, and rejoiced in
it's halls at the success of the cable. The quick
witted Irish saw it when they gave what the
Times called "a well mcrited ovation to Mr..
Bright But the English generally were too
stupid to see it, or to give well merited ova-
ton to anybody.
The excuse that the English are an older
and a soberer people" is pure fallacy and hum
bug. 1t is q common thing for Englishmen
to personify their national characteristics in
the figure of a stout bullet-headed old
fellow, with big paunch, a red
nose, and long purse; but personifcation
never grows older or soberer. It is simply the
representation of the mental characteristics of a
people. In every nation the great mass of the
performed by the young men, before the hopeful
visions Of youth have faded and they have lost
their earnest faith in glory, politics and specu-
iation. The men Of action in every country are
very nearly ofthe time of life and the age of
the nation has nothing whatever to do with
them. Their energies may be repressed and
their impulses restrained in action by absurd
class legislation and social distinctions but these
make them no wiser nor more staid. Nelson
was post captain at twenty-five, Pitt was
Englands greatest Minister at twenty-five, Ma
poleon changed the face of Europe at twenty
eight. Individual quickness Of intellect, ready
appreciation of practical advantages, and a
power of rapid deduction of effect from cause
belong to the mental organization, and have not
the slightest connection with the question
whether the political constitution of the country
has stood hundred or a thousand years.
The cool assurance with which the English
journals claim that everything is done by eng
al lsoh nj y;oh l.
extremely refreshing. We have not space to des-
cend to the minor points in the field of tele-
graphic discovery and Development and
therefore confne our remarks to the major ones.
Franklin, an American was the first to bottle up
the lightning. When electricity first began to
ton, the American government was the first to ap-
ply public money to the experiment; and no sooner
was 1t demonstrated, than the American people
took hold of the telegraph and applied il to all
the practical arts Of life TO an extent that is not
yet equalled in any country. When an Atlantic
telegraph was talked about, Field an American,
at once went to work to put IT into practical ope-
ration. The charters and grants from the several
States and Provinces were procured by him; and
American capital, skill and enterprise perfected
the telegraphic communication with Newfound-
land Then he went to England with large sub
scriptons to the ocean line; and in getting the.
rest Of the money from English capitalists, be
had to accept English stupidity with it, and cede
TO them the management
English stupidity failed TO 10y the cable, and
year was lost. An American was then made
general manager; be got an American mechanic
to invent new machines for paying II out,
and on the first trial disaster came Then
the English diroclore Insisted upon giving up the
enterpriso, OIL -elIn- Ont at a great sacrifice
Three An, .icans, Field. Peabody, and Lamson
insisted that Tie thing could be done and should
be dom. Tncrc vss no such word as fail for
them. The English stockholders reluctantly
consented, and some Of them sold out at seventy
in the market They went to work and laid the
cable. Then English stupidity must have the
working Of It, for IL had stipulated for chat when
il put In its money. The English electricians
wen. to work with the cable and failed. They
have 10 give 1t up to Americans again, and az
aeon as the American instruments can be con-
veyed to Trinity Bay the cable viii be set at
work, and America and Europe placed in daily
communication. Thus the whole thing in its
practical performance, is an American enterprise
from beginning to end And the result will be
that /. will pour flood Of American ideas into
England and all Europe that will give a new life
TO the men Of work, and raise them in the scale
Of social and political influence far above the
gilded butterflies Of worthless and selfish ris-
tocracy.
SENATOR DouGrAs IN WALL SrREEr.--A good
deal has been said relative 10 certain applications
made by Senator Douglas TO the capitalists Of
rArooi lnar1 frnrn CT l.a..1l..l