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378
The Story of the Atlantic Telegraph
·
Henry M. Field
4
In
attempting
to
chronicle
all
this,
the
relation
of
the
writer
to
the
prime
mover
has
given
him
facilities
for
obtaining
the
materials
of
an
authentic
history;
but
he
trusts
that
it
will
not
lead
him
to
overstep
the
limits
of
modesty.
Standing
by
a
new-made
grave,
he
has
no
wish
to
indulge
in
undue
praise
even
of
the
beloved
dead.
Enough
for
him
is
it
to
unroll
the
canvas
on
which
the
chief
actor
stands
forth
as
the
conspicuous
figure.
But
in
a
work
of
such
magnitude
there
are
many
actors,
and
there
is
glory
enough
for
all;
and
it
is
a
sacred
duty
to
the
dead
to
recognize,
as
he
did,
what
was
due
to
the
brave
companions
in
arms,
who
stood
by
him
in
disaster
and
defeat;
who
believed
in
him
even
when
his
own
countrymen
doubted
and
despaired;
and
furnished
anew
men
and
money
and
ships
for
the
final
conquest
of
the
sea.
If
history
records
that
the
enterprise
of
the
Atlantic
Telegraph
owed
its
inception
to
the
faith
and
daring
of
an
American,
it
will
also
record
that
all
his
ardor
and
activity
would
have
been
of
no
avail
but
for
the
science
and
seamanship,
the
capital
and
the
undaunted
courage,
of
England.
But
when
all
these
conditions
were
supplied,
it
is
the
testimony
of
Englishmen
themselves
that
his
was
the
spirit
within
the
wheels
that
made
them
revolve;
that
it
was
his
intense
vitality
that
infused
itself
into
a
great
organization,
and
made
the
dream
of
science
the
reality
of
the
world.
This
is
not
to
his
honor
alone:
it
is
a
matter
of
national
pride;
and
Americans
may
be
pardoned
if,
in
the
year
in
which
they
celebrate
the
discovery
of
the
continent,
they
recall
that
it
was
one
of
their
countrymen
whom
the
Great
Commoner
of
England,
John
Bright,
pronounced
"the
Columbus
of
our
time,
who,
after
no
less
than
forty
voyages
across
the
Atlantic
in
pursuit
of
the
great
aim
of
his
life,
had
at
length
by
his
cable
moored
the
New
World
close
alongside
the
Old."
How
the
miracle
was
wrought,
it
is
the
design
of
these
pages
to
tell.
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