New-York tribune., 1868-12-30
LyflYcY or THE TELEGRAPH


The speech of Prof Morse last night upon
the origin and early struggles of the Electric
Telegraph was not only OF rare interest and
value for the facts il presented, but admirable
as a model of style. II asserts the paternity
If the Telegraph with manly modcsiy, not on
his own behalf. but for his country. The facts
which show that mankind arc indebted to Prof.
Morse alone, and 10 America only through him,
for the invention of the Telegraph, have been
so thoroughly imbcddcd in history, that it is rs
easy tn question the existence OF Napoleon as
to dispute them Prof. MoIsc's quotation from
The Congressional debates, showing the ud!cule
with which the proposition to aid his invention
was received 10y such politician, as Cave john
son Of Tennessee, sam Houston OF Texas, and
Mr.. Stanley of North Carolina. forms one OF the
most instructive episode. in our history. Had
the question been one relating 10 the quality
Of Old Bourbon, OF the most approved modes
OF killing Indians. or catchln. fugitive negroes,
HonoIables Houston. Stanley, and Johnson could
have voted inteligcntly upon H. But ~ merely
related 20 one of the greatest inventions oI
modern times, which within twenty years would
be worth hundreds OF millions o. dollars 10 is
inventors. and Would become rare and
iucstimablc blessing To mankind. IL was such
a triumph OF Genius rs would enable the Hon.
Cave johnson himself, while sitting in the Capt.
tol. to send instantaneous messages 10 Canton
or Calcutta. He therefore proposed that tho
avpropriaGon should be equally divided be-
tween Prof Morsc's experiments in telegraphy
and some wandering chmlatan's exhibitions of
mcsmerism. The reception given to the theories
of Columbus or the visions OF Galco,
four centuries ago. was perhaps more
apprecatiyo and less stupid than the
treatment of Prof Morsc's invention by
nearly half the American Congress. 1t only
illustrates the fact that few men ever attain
excellence in more than one department of
thought or action. and that therefore, among
an assembly OF men whose whole study has
been how to get and keep in Office, We are sure
TO find a large minority, and are lucky if we do
| not find a majority, who really do not know
ANYTHING else. Fortunately, in this case a ma
| iority of six members had gmmerng idea
of the value OF telenaphy. Even after the ap
| preparation had been made aud tclegramS had
| been sent and returned between Washington
and Baltimore the same illustriOus Cave john
! son, then become Postmaster General, passed
over in silent contempt proposition 10 sell
! this infinitely valuable discovery to the Gov
crnment for the paltry sum of 100000 lie
did not deem it even worthy of courteous re-
| ply but reported to Congress that he "was not
satisfied that, under any rates that might bc
adopted, the telegraph could pay expenses"
In the light Of facts like this, can We dispute
that Mr.. Dickens's portTaturc of American
politicians. as given in Martin ChuZlcwit, has
many striking originals Was not this Cave
! johnson. who looked on the telegraph with IA
! much intelligence rs a Callre would regard a
printing press, zone of the most remarkable men
:" of our country?' Andhave we not Cave John
sons in still greater prominence and abundance
| to-day
Prof Morse has been decorated by many
sovereigns since his great invention became
| n success But it cannot be doubted that the
honors with which he was received last night,
at q banquet presided over by the head of one
of the coordinate branches of his own Govern
ment and attended by many of the most emi-
| nent of his countrymen, will seem to him the
most grateful of all tue distinctions that .haye
crowded upon him.
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