Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-18
The Great Consum nation.

The Transatlantic Telegraph is now an
| accomplished fact The prov hecy OF science
| has become the record Of history, aud the
march of human achievement in the suhju-
cation of matter has made mighty ana ma
I esrc stride upon the worlds theatre.
/ As yet j, is too early to undertake an ap-
| probation Of the results that are destined to
/ flow from this unparalleled enterprise. 1t
would indeed be singular If alone OF human
coptrvances it should prove an agency Of ur-
mixed blessing, and that, while tending to
fix cosmopolitan impress on The civilization
of the age, it should be found at the same
time to enlarge the field of view and deepen
| the insight Of those called to mark the events
! of the stirring time in which we live. Con-
yerting the whole face of Europe and hmcri-
ca into one vast sensorum for the reception
! of constantly accruing intelligence, it may
be doubted whether the Atlantic Telegraph,
| by the diversity and multiplicity OF such
througing mpressions, will leave the same
room for calm and sober reelection upon
those tendencies Of the ago which lie beneath
the surface Of current events. The vastness
and completely Of the pbenom ena which will
daily pass before the mibd may seem almost
| incompatible with the formation OF deliberate
opinions upon any Of the separate topics,
which at best can receive only buried al
tention much 40 those who live amid 1.-The
| fluctuations and tho vast concerns" Of the
| crowded city ere, from the very necessity If
their position, less richly endowed than the
danzans Of The country with both the iacl.I-
ties and the taste for careful! scrutiny o!
all questions arising IN the social, moral, or
political world. The events Of tic time pass
before the eye like SO many dissoviaG views,
each !eaYin. transient impression on the
mental re,ina.
But we are glad to believe that the posi-
tive and incalcuiab!e advantages which are
likely to flow from this benCiceut conception
of genius will greatly overbalance any con-
tingent penalties at the price Of which its
enjoyment may he purchased. As bond
of peace between the United States and
Great Britain, its capacity Tor good Is potent
and inestim able. The sun % longer ueed 60
down on the wrath Of either, if provoked by
some unintentionai cause Of msunGerstanG-
ing, and hence, in the presence Of common
motives for the preservation Of peace and
good neichborhood, it would seem hardly
possible that the transient gusts Of interna-
uonal passion shouiu ever nc'cu''et ueSe"'
rate into sentiments OF invcterate and accu-
mulated hatred lis uses for the purposes of
commerce, finance and social intercourse are
too apparent to need either comm ent or emu
meration.
1t remains for US only to hope that, in all
its varied capabilities, the Atlantic Te!e-
graph, which more than a year ago rose be-
fore the vision OF one Of New highlands most
gifted orators under the sinilitude Of ''gi'
gautic Ocean Harp" may eyermorc continue
to swell lis deep diapason, producing q
melody GA the sea more magical than old
mythology or modern fable ever ascri5et to
siren or mermaid"-a melody which taking
it's keynote from that OF the Angels heard OF
old on the plains OF Bethlehem, shall inau-
eurate the dream Of the poet in
"Ths parliament of Man, the Federation Of the
World"--Ndt. int.