Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-04-20
Honor to Whom Honor Is Eur.

| II fOlHSSOf Ioalnuel l.. ID. Morse
was handed down from heaven by
the Almighty himself as the tables o
the law were handed to Moses, OF
| Mount Sinai, amidst thunder anc
lightning, we could not bestow upor
him more honor, fame and wealth
than the world, and particularly the
American people, have thought prop
er to give him for simply introducing
other peoples discoveries
If professor Morse was the first in.
ventor, or discOverer of the electric
fluid if he was the first to collect
and conine it; if he was the first to
construct device to make signals by
the use of electricity and the magnet
or, if he discovered any new fact in
science which was unknown to the
world before him, he would be more
deserving of the honors so extrava-
gantly lavished upon him.
1t is q peculiar trait of the Ameri-
can people which they have inherited
from their birth, to pour out their
whole store of praise and honor upon
the first man who has the boldness to
set forth his claims.
The idea of communicating thoughts
by means Of electricity did not first
occur to Morse it was entertained by
many others before he was known to
have entered the field. The first &c
count we have of Morse saving any
thing about the possibility of con-
structing an electromagnetic tele-
graph was in 1882.
Mr. Ronald erected eight miles of
insulated wire in his garden, and by
means of which was enabled to dis
patch signals, an account of which he
published in the year 1928, or nine
years before it was spoken Of by pro-
fessor Morse. Other similar inven-
tons appeared in Europe and France
in the latter part Of the eighteenth
century. 1t is, therefore, impossible
to determine to whom the first
thought came but certain it Is that
Morse was not the first to conceive
the idea of constructing the electro
magnetic telegraph.
Professor Joseph Henry, in 1881,
produced a practicable electric-tele-
graph by the use of which he was
enabled to make ineligible signals,
and | would ask-can the Morse tel
cgraph do any more? But this is not
all Professor Morse, in constructing
his machine, copied every essential
part Of Hcnrv's instrument, and with
out the use Of Ilenry's inventions and
discoveries in the field of electricity,
neither Morse nor any other electric
telegraph could operate. 1t is to be
understood that Professor Henry was
indebted to no one for the construc-
ton Of his practicable electric tele-
graph, but his own energy, skill and
perseverance.
Professor Morse announced his in
vention to the public in 1887. Hon.
Levi Woodbury., then secretary Of the
treasury, on the 10th of March in the
same year. issued a circular request
ing information in regard to the con-
struction of telegraphs in the United
States, to which Professor Morse re-
piled, giving an account of his in
yention, its advantages, probable ex-
pense, &c. Thus it was brought into
notice. In l844 Morse, by the prac-
teal aid Of the government, succeeded
in bringing into public and practical
operation that invention for which he
is now so highly honorcd. Now since
the most essential parts of Morses
instrument were copied from Henry's,
and as the Morse instrument was not
patented until 1910, is it not plain
that if Henry obtained patent upon
his instrument in 1881, that the
Morse telegraph would be 'laid upon
the shelf" The logical conclusion,
therefore, is that Professor Joseph
Henry invented the electromagnetic
and Professor S. f. B.
Morse, by the assistance of the gov
introduced it to the world.
M. G.. K. |