The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-18

spoke of the humlliating shifts and expedlents our
writer's are driven to, in their helplessness and
restitution, to keep their families from being turn
ed into the streets. AT the same time we proposed
IN resuming this important discussion, to notice
the objection which has sometimes been urged
against copyright law.
The most specious of all objections Is, that 1t will
make foreign books DEAR because 1t is SAID, that if
no American publisher could reprint European
book without first making bargain with the author
oft, he would, when he became sole proprietor Of
the same, charge exorbltant price for 1t as to
place 1t beyond the reach of the great mass OF
readers. Now, we shall very shortly prove that
this reasoning is falacious TN toto But, in pass
ins we remark that if foreign books could be sold
at high price here, it would be all the better for
the morals and principles of this republic. We
have shown that, for the most part, these books
are acting like slow and insldous poison on the
heart of the naton-that the more foul and obscene
their character, the more indusriously are they
scattered throughout the country. AS general
rule, these works are corrupting TO our moral and
political characters. They belong, for the most
part, either to the licentious or monarchica school,
and therefore, if they could go to the bottom ofthe
Atlantic in their transit, everybody would be the
multiply those atrocious books which poute the
young heart, 30 long as he can put sixpence in
his pocket for every mind that Is inundated on his
altar of Mammon.
But il is great mistake to suppose that If the
American publisher held the exclusive copyright Of
the foreign book, he would put it at high price.
He dees not do so with his American book, whose
copyright he exclusively owns If we look over
I'll, A.. Il
raj rule, American books are sold as cheap and
often cheaper than the English reprints. No
American novelist has been brought out in SO SUI
perb, and consequently expensive style, as
Hewitt, Tiotson q Co. are bringing out the Waver-
ley novels. Even Washington Irvlng's works, just
published in so beautiful style by Putnam, are
sold cheaper than Layards Ninevah, prated
book, which Is issued by the same house And
yet, to Irving, the publisher pays heavy copyright,
and TO Layard nothing. Many of the pirated
books are dearer than the American books. For
instance, a shabby edition of IIallam's Histories,
pirated, sells for money than a superb edition
of Prescott, which the publishers pay heavily for
The Boston houses, make no difference in price
between books they pay for and works they rob.
Here is the 2j cent edition Of Jane Eyre from the
New York press. Boston sends out an edition for
g. and it succeeds. Next comes Shirley, from the
same graphic pen, and how does 1t appear! The
cheap edition for 81 cents (; and on the same day,
from the same house, comes out the library edition,
well printed and well bound for dollar, and both
do well.
The fact is, that the system of publishing has
been brought to such point in this country, that
book that is well worth publishing must have two
editions. The one cheap, in paper covers, to be
bought by the common reader, because 1t is cheap)
and read and cast aside. Our rail cars and steam
boats are filed with them. The other, In perma-
nent and attractive form, on good paper, in legble
type and well bound, TO go into public and private
libraries. Now, we assume, (what all the publishers
tell us to be true) that IN all cases they make the
book as cheap as they can, and fair margin
for profit and, therefore, they treat the copyright,
book and the pirated one exactly alike.
Let US take strong case. Suppose the HarPers
had owned Shirley; could they have treated 1t
differently Ifthey had printed only the handsome
edition. they would have restricted its sale to the
independent class-but they sell one hundred thou
sand more copies of it by bringing out the plain,
cheap edition. and thus both classes Of readers are
satisfied 1t would be so with all selling authors.
Ii is so in England We see, by the last English
newspapers, that Mr. James, (who is troubled
with a species Of literary dysentery, and produces
a romance with more ease than is worth speaking
Off has fallen from Elk dollars a novel down TO
twenty-five cen,s-he Is bringing out an edition
Of his novels for the million.
You will say, then, that II the foreign book is
printed just as cheap under a copyright as II is
now, the American author will have just much
to contend with as at present. No; when only one
American publisher can reprint a foreign book, the
other ninety-nne viii be compelled TO take up our
native authors, because, otherwise, their presses
will stand idle. Why is !, that you seldom hear
OF an American publisher asking a native author
for book, under the present system1 Why, every
steamer brings them more foreign books than they
can reprint; and while til have their hands full,
they Will not ask for more work.
The objection, therefore, ,hat books would be
detrer under a copyright, falls to the ground. Our
system, IN al things, IL to cheaper every comior;
and luxury Of life. The grea, scope Of our me-
ohanics genus IN every department of life, is to
improve The quality, augment the quantity, asd
lower the price And il would be the same In the
book business.
But there Is another argument lying under the
surface here, in favor Of an international copyright
law, still more conclusive. Some year ago, when
the fret agitation Of tins question came up, the
publishers went against II to man. Like any
other thieving fraternity, they did not wish to be
made smenabe to the law-they wanted to prose-
cute their dishonest calling unmolesied. Bat the
very moment they discovered that the thIeving
system was getting TO be Improbable because so
many were going INTO It, and that per consequence
their capital stock less secure, they all came
out to man in favor Of law which would COM
pel them al TO be honest. The old adage was
once more verified, that honesty is tie beg, policy.
Why, even under the piracy system, the publishers
ewing Qike ST. pauls heaihen) no law, become a
iaN to themselves and they attempt to create
publ opinion against cutting in upon one another.
4 ne ~ they Che big pirates) try s, that the one
VINO gebthe book first has a right to it-and If
eno'her an rival edition comes out, they Call 1t
l-shonolahI, To he tho Etst 10 nnnnnnca a lnr. !