The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-06-12
THE MORSE STATUE.
THE INACCURATE ADDRESS
Mayor Halls Reception on
Behalf Of the City. p.
The Reception in the Evening.

statue of Professor Morse was taken on
truck from the foundry at half past
seven this morning, and conveyed to
the site for its occupancy in Central
Park. 1t was set up on the pedestal
at half past ten, ready for the unveiling
ceremonies at 4 o'clock this afternoon.
At ten o'clock this morning the
telegraphers inaugurated the days pro.
ceedings by starting at ten o'clock on
three hours excursion on the bay, on the
steamer James Fisk. from the foot OF
Chambers street. Everything was ar.
ranged to make it most enjoyable oc-
casien.
The unwilling Of the Morse statue
takes place to-day, when father Morse
takes formal farewell of his official con-
nections with the telegraph, with which
his name has been connected for the
last quarter of a century. All the trains
arriving here last night and this morn.
ing brought crowds of telegraphers to
the city to witness the unveiling, and to
attend the reception in the evening, at
the Academy OF Music, and day OF
enjoyment for all.
LATEST.
New YORK, June l0.-The Inaugu,
ration ceremonies commenced at 4
P. NJ. by music, and an address by
Governor Hoffman. The statue was
then unveiled, and William Cullen
Bryant, delivered the inaugarate ad-
dress. He said, substantially, that he
did not propose to enter into history
of the telegraph and its inventor. 1t
was coldly and doubtingly received at
first, but it gradually gained public
favor till at length it was adopted by
the civilized world. 1t is nearly half a
century ago since became acquainted
with the man whom thus invention has
made famous in all countries. He was
then an artist, but fortunately for the
world and his country, he left that
profession for a pursuit in which
he has risen to more peculiar
eminence. He was always Of an organ.
izing mind, and by cemenling together
all the young artists of his day, he
succeeded in establishing the Academy
OF Arts OF Design, which has since
grown TO such noble dimensions. The
voyage made by Mr.. Morse from Havre
to New York, in 1882, marks an impor,
tant era in the history of invention.
During a conversation with one Of the
passengers, an idea struck his mind that
the steady current of electric fluid was
source of continued rapid motion,
which might be applied TO a machine
for conveying messages from place to
place, and inscribins them on tablets
at the place OF destination. We can
fancy the inventor as he lay in his berth
revolving in his mind the mechanical
contrivances by which this was to be
effected, until he saw before his mind 8
eve all the countries Of the world inter.
sected with lines OF electricity
which would bear messages to and
fro with the speed of lightning.
1t was not until 1885 that Mr.. Morse
found means to demonstrate to the pub
lie the practicability of his invention,
by the construction Of a telegraph pole
at New York University, which re-
corded messages at their destination.
The public, however, still seemed indiE
ferent; people could not realize the
greatness of the enterprise. He perse-
vered, however, and in 1874 all doubts
were dispelled by the establishment of
telegraphic communication between
Baltimore and Washington. France
and other European countries soon
adopted his invention, and WED with
each other in rewarding him with
honors. Every telegraph post and sta
ton is moralized to his honor, and
every wire hung from post to post, as
it huns in the wind, murmers his
eulogy. Every wire occupying the bot
tom Of boundless abysses, carrying the
electric pulse charged with human
thought, is testimonial to his great
ness. To-day we express our admlra-
ton for his genius, and our gratitude
tor the benefit he has conferred upon
the world, by erecting his statue; and
long may we keep with us what is
better than his statue-the noble original
After Mr.. Bryant closed his address,
Mayor Hall received the statue on
behalf of the city of New York, in the
following words: Although Morse
lives, New York enshriues him. She
commentaries him as the scientific
associate OF the departed Fulton, whose
statue must before long look from yonder
observatory over rivers first conquered
by steam. One Middle State city loves
to remember how Franklin, her citizen,
modestly passed the portals OF the tenn
pie of clerical scenic; how citizen
whitney developed cotton; an empire
Western city, how citizens Morton and
jackson blessed humanity, and Elias
How lightened the toll Of the poor.
Some Of these Americans changed the
atmosphere of social life, which is not
in any respect. as it was to the elder
generations of the union. Their
genius blessed food. raiment and loco
motion, but New York cherishes
more fondly and gratefully the
thought that the genius Of her
citizen, Morse, put all those inventions
in the world andis last bringing together
all the people who were dispersed at
the Tower OF Babel. The city of New
York pledges herself to the donors who
make her their trustee to guard with
pride this statue of her honored citizen
of him who achieved, indeed, eminence
among her artists. aud now respect and
love in her social life before he was
awarded those special honors which
the world now render him, and which
this days ceremonies so appropriately