The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-28

The Revolutionary Power sf che TeIegrs pin.
! Among the many agencies Of civilization
which human science and skill have developed
within the present generation the telegraph
certainly stands pre-eminent in value and
Importance. 1t Is revolution organized. As
its operations are felt day by day we
are brought more intimately into connec-
ton with the belief that without the tele-
graph we should be living, as it were, in a
different world. In olden times it would have
taken month to inform us of what is tran
spring in Europe. Now the intelligence is
communicated almost as fast as thought is
conceived. Take the revolution in Spain, for
instance, which is the European event just
now. While the leaders act in Madrid,
Napoleon thinks and plans In Paris-thoughts
and schemes based upon their hourly action
No waiting for couriers across the Pyrenees,
nor even the more rapid transit of the railroad.
A moment of time puts the leaders of the
revolution in communication with the man who
is designed at the proper time to become the
master Of the revolution.
In the United States, which covers an area
hearty as large as all Europe, there exists an
instantaneous communication of ideas from
ocean to ocean, and from the northern frontier
to the Gulf, that pervades every business and
every interest in the country. The telegraph
steps in between cliques of spectators and
honest dealers, demolishing often the greedy
expectations of the former, but perhaps as
often enabling them to carry out the most
nefarious plans. 1t speaks, at thousands OF
miles distance, between the buyer and the
seller, making offers in trade and concluding
bargains. It brings Wall street, with all its
speculations, jobs and fluctuations and all its
iniquities into the marts and exchanges Of
every city in the Union, thus making all
branches Of commerce general and not merely
local. Between government and government
the interchange is SO rapid that the public
are becoming relieved from the incubus of
official documents which it was once neces-
sary to peruse In order to comprehend what
was going on in the negotiation of any inter
national question. Now we know in the morn
ing exactly how Mr.. Reverdy Johnson settled
the Alabama claims in his genial after-dinner
fashion yesterday. We are put in possession
of the condition of Lopez and his enemies, the
allies, in Paraguay, almost as soon as they are
aware of the situation themselves; Of the
proclamations, militia reviews and prepara-
tions for defence on the part Of Captain Gene
raj Lersundi against the Cuban revolutionists
the election returns from the cities and he;
roughs of Great Britain; how heads We're
broken in Drooghssdda md windows were
smashed in Bolton few hours before As far
as distance is concerned the telegraph places
us almost as near to Europe and Asia as to the
extremes of our own Continent. Distance has,
in fact, become an imaginary thing, for the
electric messenger spans the world Of space as
quickly as the brain conceives a thought. How
infinitely more important, then, is the tele-
graph than railroads or all other modern means
of communication! How essential, Also does
it become that this mighty engine Of progress,
this great machine, which may be made sub
missive to man for good or evil purposes,
should be under the control of the government
for the benefit Of the whole people, and mo-
left to the mercy Of spectators and extor-
tionists.