Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Published Writings
  3. Periodicals
  4. Journalism
  5. per.01268

A Fitting Occasion for a Celebration and Ovation

About This Item

  • Title: A Fitting Occasion for a Celebration and Ovation
  • Date: 7 July 7 1858
  • Creator(s): Walt Whitman
  • Whitman Archive ID: per.01268
  • Source: Brooklyn Daily Times, 7 July 7 1858: 2. Our transcription is based on a digital image of a microfilm scan of the original issue. Microfilm of original issue held at Pennsylvania State University Libraries. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the journalism, see our statement of editorial policy.
  • Editorial note: This piece is unsigned, as was the case for most of Whitman's journalism. However, this editorial is part of a series of texts that deal with a coherent theme that has been identified by the Whitman Archive journalism team as likely authored by Whitman. This decision is based on a combination of historical and (auto)biographical accounts, similarity to contemporary Whitman writings, a history of scholarly attribution, extant clippings retained by Whitman, computational stylometric analysis, and, in some cases, manuscript evidence in Whitman’s hand.
  • Contributors to digital file: Kaylen Michaelis Brandi Faulkner Stefan Schöberlein Karie Cobb
  • Cite this page: Whitman, Walt. "A Fitting Occasion for a Celebration and Ovation." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 16 July 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: per.01268.xml (TEI)
image 1image 2image 3image 4cropped image 1

A FITTING OCCASION FOR A CELEBRATION AND OVATION.

It is singular that we have as yet heard nothing of any intended public celebration of an event for which all are daily looking with anxiety. We mean the arrival on the American shore of the Atlantic Cable.1

Our people are not easily surfeited with noise and display, and are usually ready to offer an ovation on the smallest possible provocation, and they will surely not allow one to pass upon which the civilized world will have greater cause for congratulation than has been afforded by, perhaps, any other event in ancient or modern times—an event that, unlike most others, has not a feature that can give rise to a feeling of regret.

The successful issue of a political struggle is a subject for rejoicing, but connected with it are the evils which led to its necessity. A victory accomplished by a nation's arm is matter of rejoicing, but our joys should be mixed with mourning for the slain, and the hundreds of sufferers from the horrors of war.

The connection of the two continents, will be a triumph in the arts of peace unalloyed by any such considerations—it will be a rivetting as it were of the feelings of peace and good will, now happily existing between us.

We are led to these remarks by perceiving that even the phlegmatic John Bull,2 is making preparations to welcome the hoped-for arrival of the Agamemnon3 in Valentia Bay.4

The principal directors and officials of the company were proceeding to Valentia, and advices from Ireland state that the Lord Lieutenant would be in attendance on the arrival of the squadron for the purpose of inaugurating the line by a message of peace, in the name of her Majesty, to the President of the United States. It was also expected that Prince Alfred,5 who was cruising about the coast of Ireland and in the Admiralty steam yacht Black Eagle, would join the squadron engaged in laying the cable.

Surely, we say again, Brother Jonathan6 will not be out-done in a matter so much in our own line, and the officers and crew of the Niagara will not lack a fitting welcome.

Notes:

1. The Transatlantic Telegraph was the first cable connection between the United States and Europe, built by Cyrus West Field and the Atlantic Telegraph Company. It sent its initial message—a note from the British Queen—in 1858 and, although the cable spanning from Canada's Trinity Bay to Ireland was only in operation for three weeks, had a major impact on transatlantic relations of the antebellum period. [back]

2. John Bull was a fictional representation of the United Kingdom, similar to the United States' "Uncle Sam." [back]

3. The Agamemnon was a British Naval ship that linked one end of the transatlantic cable t othe Americans' end in July 29, 1858. [back]

4. Valentia Bay was the bay of the Valentia Islands in southwestern Ireland where the transatlantic cable was linked to. [back]

5. Prince Alred (1819—1861) was a German-born prince and the husband of Queen Victoria. [back]

6. Prince Alred (1819—1861) was a German-born prince and the husband of Queen Victoria. [back]

Back to top