In the acknowledgment made by Mr. Washburne, in the opening of his
paper, that “the world is indebted to the genius of a citizen of the
United States for the practical development of the electric telegraph as
a means of communication,” we heartily concur. That citizen is still a
member of the Company to which his great discovery gave birth, and on
whose success he largely depends for support. To it he gives his ripened
genius and matured wisdom, justly priding himself upon the success of
his invention, and desiring for it the largest and widest use.
But Professor Morse needs more than the simple honor of making a great
discovery and of placing it at the disposal of his fellow-men throughout
the world, and when it is considered that the effect of the system
proposed to be inaugurated by Mr. Washburne’s bill would be the
inevitable destruction of all existing telegraph investments, and
possibly the impoverishment of the great inventor himself, the
compliment seems a barren one indeed.