New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-08-11
THE CABLE AND CIVILIZATION.

WOfheu Delter WIN cacn Gays use Is aIcsuy pre-
sumption that it will last for years 1t may not be
too bold, then to speculate even thus early some
Of It's probable effects on civilization.
The secret of civilization is intercourse The people
who live separated from one another by oceans
tains, rivers deserts, tribal distinctions prejudces
jeaousies, hatreds interchsnging nothing of mate
rial or intellectual kind, are barbarous. Civilization
comes with sympathy between numbers. 1t begins
with the distribution Of products; it continues with
the communication Of interests and the multiple
cation of mutual relationships it reaches perfection
with the spread Of knowledge and the diffusion of
ideas. The civilized man is the man who lives on
terms of civity, order, goodwill with his fellow
creatures No one can estimate the value Of the
Atlantic Cable as an agency in establishing such
terms of living. All other agencies rude beside ii.
Steamships and railways are good for coarse work.
This is good for fine work. With all our boosted
facilities, intercourse is still exceedingly imperfect.
No elements of knowledge art, sympathy, are per-
feoy diffused There are centers OF light and wastes
of darkness There is an outlying barbarism in the
precincts of great cities like New-York and Brooklyn.
The medieval times are perpetuated on Manhattan
Island and Staten Island-witneSs the specimen Of
humanity which the Health Commissioners Unearthed
in the early Summer, and the quarantine difficulties
in the first cholera week. There is vast store OF re-
sources but the benefit is not for the whole. The tel
eTaph wires operate fire conductors through small
Districts and equaze discovery, intelligence, senti-
ment through special communities but there is much
to be done before nation feel the pulse Of an
other A bitter experience has shown Us that En-
gland and America have, as yet, no common under.
standing and no common heart. They are too dis
tant There is something that does not escape through
newspapers and eters-knowledgc and experience,
ignorance and stupidity, rancOr and antipaby accu'
muate and 10 sufficient medium exists for their dis
charge oyer large surfaces or from remote points. At
this iuncturc comes in the Cable. Tho very knowl-
edge that it there stretching its sensitive nerve from
hemisphere to hemisphere is cvilizng in its effect.
The thought of it lying there the bottom Of the
deep threading tho mysterious passages OF submarine
life ready TO transmit the pulsatons Of humanity
across the invisible mouutain.ch chains, the ulheardot
abysses. the wilderness Of sand and sea.weed and
rock lighting up the fathomles dark with its streak
of electric flame disseminating space and time OF
their power 20 separate; hand OF steel that never
looses its grasp; a girdlo never Embraced; silver
cord Of amity touching two contnents-the mere
thought that IL is DONE and done by the w0rld-cOn-
qucring wit of man, is more than oiyilizing, it is
humanizing II enlarges our conceptions of human
power intelligence, and skill; it strengthens and
deepens the faith in the unity that prevails Ideally
snd shall prevail actually in the enterprises and in
tcrests of mankind; suggests the unity of nations
and the brotherhood Of men; il makes us feel more az
home with foreign peoples il extends the circle OF our
sympathy, and wokens a warm fraternal sentiment
toward the dwellcrs at the ends of tic earth. The
imagination becomes excited by visions of harmony;
the touch Of the cord makes hearts beat with pro-
phetie hope OF better things to come.
And why not The element of quckness and fre-
qucucy that the Cable introduces into our foreign in
tercourse cannot be too highly estimated. II is
everything. The critical moments are but moments
Whatever happens, happens in moment, and the
point Of supreme Importance is the seizure OF the In
slant. The world moves not once in three days but
every second. Three days later from Europe is Just
three days too late sometimes for the transmission OF
momentous tidngs on which the security Of govern
ments and the peace OF nations may hang. The
steamer may leave just an hour too soon and may
in just an hour too late for the word of power TO
prevail Events big with consequences, or that would,
If improved be big with consequences TO great CON-
munitics, NAV occur and pass unimproyed between
the sailing Of two ocean steamships. The word in
season nav be worth columns day too late. Many
time during the past six years that word IN season
might have saved millions in money and bitter msun
dersiandings that money can make amends for
What clouds of black and blasting fury might have
discharged themselves harmlessly through that slen
der wire What fiery currents Of national hate mi CHI
have found silent and swift passage along It's thread
What friendliuess might have been preserved as the
continents whispered to one another in the moment OF
doubt or agony What the Past groaned 10. the want
Of the Future will rejoice in. When Puck shall have
SET his girde round the world in forty minutes and
the planet breathes its secret day by day to listen
ing cars in Paris, London, NewIork, aud all through
the dwelng-places of men, the human Sympathies
will begin to pour as evenly and steadily through the
world of men as the magnetic currents flow round the
globe Tides of sentiment aud conscience viii have
their regular cbb and flow. The moral wealth of one
quarter will be transmitted to the parts that are NOR
ally poor The effect on the detection and arrest of
crime will be of immediate and vast importance. Tie
world will become whispering gallery with focus
at each large town. and every sigh or groan that bur-
dens the breast will he heard and listened to.
We are speaking in view of the future time when
Atlantic Gables shall be multiplied so that the people
can use them. The successful experiment involves
such future. The single costly line prophecies
score of less costly that shall transmit not the
messages of the statesman or the millionaire but The
thoughts and reflections of the multitude.
No doubt the Gable is but au opportunity which
some Rothschd may buy up and use for his financial
ends, which cabinet minister may take possession OF
at critical moments and employ for party purposes,
which daring adventurer may succeed in suborning