The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-12
OPP snion to international copyr,Rht.

sutu py h'E hisuespu'u Hrms, together |
9Th memorial to the Senate against the |
proposed copyright treaty. After the sam
pie of Philadelphia honesty and Phladel-
phia public spirit with which the late Erie dis
turbance furnished u.s. no one can be surprised
at bearing that these five Philadelphians are
out full tilt against the recognition ofth rights
Of authors. Four out of the five are unknown
to fame and in this instance their obscurity
viii shield them from the odium naturally at
taohing to dishonesty. The fifth-and probably
the prime mover in the matter-is Mr.. A. Hart,
late partner of H. G. Carey, whose recent let
ter on the subject of copyright has so gravely
impaired his reputation. He must answer for
the whole With such gentlemen as Messrs.
Magarge. Collins, Sherman, and Ducomb, we
care not to NEEDLE; they may be highly re-
spectacle individuals for, aught we know, and
possibly have been led into this matter more by
stupidity than positive want of principle-bus
whether they are worth powder and shot may
be safely questioned at this distance.
Mr.. Hart, therefore, we will say, starts with
declining to 'discuss the question of the rights
OF authors" He then goes on to deny their
their recognition by law This has been the
invariable course Of the opponents of ioterna-
tional copyright They dare not say out, in a
manly way that they stand up for robbery, like
it. thrive on it, ana don't want to have it abo-
ished or suppressed. This would hardly serve
their purpose; so they decline to discuss'
the broad merits of the question aud take
ttyro IN ho in ytrhic ia
brought up Mr. Hart for instance, has gained
him fortune by stealing and piratng the
works of British authors. Those conversant
with the business can tell how much he made
by that ore foray on the modern British essay
lists A handsome sum, no doubt and it was
only one Of his thefts For ever so many years
he has pursued the calling of literary high
wayman; and having. through the imperfectlons
of the law, escaped the penitentiaries and State
prisons where other thieves are confined, ranks
as q citizen of credit and renown in Philadel-
phia. 1t is now proposed to abolish the system
of spoliation and rapine on which he and his
fellows have thriven so gloriously; and Mr.. Hart
courteously declines to discuss the question.
He continues to steal, and begs the Senate to
ing his little monish;" but declines to discuss"
the merits of theft in the abstract. Over his
own signature, in circular widely distributed
throughout the country Mr.. A. Hart tells us
that he would rather not say whether he thinks
stealing right or wrong. Most cautious Hart
Most worthy citizen
Mr.. Hart calls upon the Senate to suspend its
oofio ba r;oht buc nd f,rf
reasons. He has mo definite information as to
the character and provisions" of the treaty.
Two cents invested in a copy of Wednesdays
HERALD will obviate this difficulty. He de-
mands that questions involving "the legal rights
and affecting the labor and capital of our citi-
zens" ought to be the subject Of ordinary and
open legislative action" What legal" rights
will an international copyright affect Does
Mr.. Hart tn nix that because he and Others have
been suffered to pillage foreigners by the way
side for SO many years, they have thereby ac-
quired illegal right" to steal
The vague alluson to labor and capital
is explained in a following sentence . The
manufacture of books is business involving
millions of dollars, employing the labor and
citizens, whose interests cannot fail to be in
uriously affected" by the proposed treaty.
Here is statement of fact on which we join
issue directly with Mr.. Hart. We deny that
the thousands of our fellow citizens who
derive sustenance" from +" the manufacture of
books" will be injured by the treaty On the
contrary, we maintsin that they cannot fail to
be benefited 10y it. Mr.. Hart has obviously
never heard of Mr.. Everett's amendment to the
treaty. In his eagerness to preserve his booty, |
he has overlooked the fact that if the treaty is
all foreign authors will themselves |
make arrangements with publishers here to
have their works reprinted; and republcatons |
will be much more frequent than they now are. |
Unless foreign authors do this, they will derive |
no benefit from the treaty; and it is surely not |
reasonable to suppose that they will wantony |
neglect to avail themselves of q privilege they |
have so long sought. Under the present sys-
tenn no one but the publishers are interested in
republishing British works. Under the new
Dne, both authors and publishers would feel
direct interest in encouraging republcations;
and it can hardly be doubted that more books
would be reprinted here, and more work given
TO the thousands of our fellow citizens
whose interests Mr.. Hart so benevolently ad-
vocates.
This is the only argument the foes of inter-
national copyright ever had our readers are
now able to Judge of its value. We do not ex-
pect to convince Mr.. Hart. The mind of the
author of the circular and memorial now before
us is not to be reached by reasoning. He
pleads for
His bargains and his wellwon thrift,
Which be calls profit
and you had as well lecture stone wall as
assail him with logic or appeal to his sense of
principle. fit type of the old race OF publish
ers, who regarded authors as mere slaves. to be