The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-30


accomplished In nine or ten days. There
s s.,s ssssp . Sss an,
Of wrS to nepRsn nstantaneoasly with
the good fortune to live to the good old age OF the
venerable Professor still hope 70 see some such I'm
provement as win enable US to carry on uiuG voce
We snail then have merchants on this side OF the
water discussing their affairs with those on the other
shall hear perchance, Of some love-stricken youth
OF London or Paris whispering soft n0things
along the cable TO one OF those bewitching syreIs
OF New York. (Appause.) suppose 1t Will be at so
much an hour-Qaughter) tempting him all the
while TO throw himself upon the gull which separates
them. lLaughter.) We shall then have Statesmen
aye, and IN those days OF progress even states
women-secretly discussing international questions
at so much q conference -llaughter)-and we, poor
Of being exploded altogether. But l must not take
up more or your time, which will be better en-
ployed by those friends and colaborers Of
anxious to speak probably OF the high qualities
which adorn him. / cannot, however, slt down
able through the kina Invitation have received
to contribute my mite OF that admiration and es-
TEEN for Professor Morse which must be fell by all
OF posterity. Great applause.)
1.-THE Army and Navy of the United States" was
the next regular toast and was briefly responded to
Major General IRWIN MCDOWELL, who said in the
course OF his remarks that since the invention OF
gunp0wder there had been no such effective agents
OF warfare brought into requsitlon as were intro
duced by those three great men-Morse, Fulton and
Stephenson.
the CHAIRMAN rose and said -
GENTLEMEN-Allow me now TO invite your atten-
ton to the next regular toast. God has given I'M
in promoting the happiness OF His creatures And
In nothing that belongs 10 eartn can the human
Pc more soenes apa @
works Of invention. Science and invention may be
called, perhaps not unity, the creators and the ser
wants or civilization. Sometimes invention by
sort of intuition OF principles, has grasped results
ana seemed to antipate science. More usually SCI
ence, by the patient investigation OF truth and the
for the triumph Of invention. All invention
is realized science. tApplausel And this il
fatigue Your attention with ancient and mod
ern devices for communicating intelligence at
distance; but 1t seems proper to notice here how
altes have contributed to that wonderful art and
instrument by which the world Ia now bound with
occur to any one at all familiar with the history OF
the telegraph. Among them can pause to mention
only those Of Volta the Italian, to whose discoveries
the battery Is due; Oersted the Dane, who first
discovered the magnetic properties OF the elec-
trio current; Ampere and Arago, the Frenchmen,
the same subject; then sturgeon, the Engishman,
who may be said to have made the first electro
magnet; next, but not least lustri0us among these
some OF those searchers for truth whose names VIII
be long held in grateful memory and not among the
least OF their titles to gratitude and remembrance
viii be the discoveries which contributed 10
the possibility OF the modern telegraph. But
these discoveries only made the telegraph possible
needed man to bring into being Ne new art and
the new interest to which they pointed. And 1t Is
the provldential distinction and splendid honor OF
the eminent American who Is our guest tonight
that happily prepared by previous requirements
and pursuits, he was quick to seize the opportunity
and give the world the first recording telegraph.
Fortunate man thus TO link his name forever with
the greatest wonder ana the greatest benefit OF the
age! But his work was not done when In
plan OF the lrst telegraph. Long years Of
patient labor and constant perseverance were
needed to bring the telegraph into use. Its first
messages were not transmitted until 1874. Even
them with something like prophetic inspiration, he
grasped the future and predicted the telegraphic
connection between Europe and America which it
was reserved for another distinguished American,
kindred In spirit ana kindred In resource, to ac-
complish. Here must pause, not, however, with
out uniting all your aspirations in the fervent wish
that our honored guest may live long and happily
TO enjoy the distinction, reverence and gratitude ne
the toast:MaonT Guest frofessor s. i. b. Morse. inc
man OF science. who explored The laws OF nature,
wrested Electricity from her embrace and made IL
missionary in the cause OF human progress"
Professor MORSE rose amid great applause to re-
spond and salds--
tiENTLEMEN-ln rising to respond to the sentiment
you have been pleased TO put forth, scarcely know
In wAat terms to thank you, and feel somewhat at
a loss to determine IN what manner adequately TO
answer your expectations in anything may utter
Various and conflicting memories crowd upon me ut
this momcnt-memories which this demonstration
has qulckcned into life. What train OF thought,
what incidents OF the past, in the brief moments
allotted To me, can select from this mass OF reco-
lections which may contribute either 10 your profit
or your pleasures BY this demonstration YOU have
put me into the delicate position OF Geographic
standard bearer, not merely for my own country
but Tor the world, and yet this position, I'M
supported by certain well acknowledged facts.
might seem TO SAVIOR OF presumption. May |
not, however, save my self from charge OF
anf.a
judice, II fall back on the well pronounced verdict
OF other nationsl Leaving out OF view the personal
hcnors awarded to me by SO many OF the sovereigns
OF the Old World In conierrng upon me the crosses
or various orders OF knighthood, aud national scien
tihc medals let me refer 10 the Congress OF tile
European nations convened III Paris In 1855, nj the
suggestion Of the Emperor OF the French the special
object OF which was to devise some collective act OF
the nations" "testfying the sentiment OF public
gratltuder TO me for my invention. Ten OF the
principal nations accepted the CALL ana by their
ambassadors formed this congress. The result OF
their debates was unanimous vote OF four hundred
thousand francs TO be presented TO me (usng the
language OF their accomplished President, the late
Count WalewskD las an honorary gratuity and as a
reward altogether personal for my useful laborsr-
"a collective token OF the public gratitude justly
citeu by my lnyention.D
In 1855 an International Convention was assem-
bled in Paris, representing twenty nations, comprs-
ing nearly all Ii not all the nations OF Europe. IA
one OF the results OF their deliberations tns conyen
ton decreed In its third article:-"The apparatus
Morse is Professionally adopted for the service OF all
the international linesr Still more receny-in the
spfuix OF TIE present yedr-dnOtuer INTERNATIONAL
Telegraph Convention was assembled In Vienna,
which has confirmed the previous decree and added
another apparatus, an American modification OF the
telegraph announcing that the Morse and Lhe Hughes
apparatus adopted for the International lines.
These simple historical facts think, are sum-
cient 10 rescue both you and myself from
any charge Of presumption In claiming for
the United states the position Of having given
TO the world the modern telegraph. IN the
minds OF some, however. perhaps the question may
be nrItated, Whence and when did the telegraph,
now universally adopted throughout the world,
originator Is II an invention originating here or
was IL foreign oinvention, first imported from
abroad, receiving improvements on this side OF the
water, and then returned TO the Eastern continent
These questions, think, be satisfactorily solved
Let me premise that the instrumentalities for the
purpose OF intercommunication at a distance, which
have been used from time immemoria, are naturally
divided into semaphorc and telegraphic--thc for.
mer, az its name indicates conveying q signal,
evanescent In lite nature the latter. az its name
indicates. permanently recording sign. Although
both these systems have been confounded under the
general name OF telegraph, none are strictly tele.
graphic but those which propose aud accomplish a
permanent record. In considering the question OF
the paternity OF modern telegraphy, therefore this
essential distinction should be borne In mind and
In claiming for my country the paternity OF the
af fho I'M INN AT fhe