The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-10-21

pired we shall have it without further
payment. We cannot pay you in money,
we will pay yOu in time" | submit that
this is a fair bargain. A new thought de
veIoped, explained, described, illustrated,
put on record for the use of the nation
this on the one side. The right to the ex-
elusive benefit of this new thought for
limited time, and protection in that right
this on the other. This is the patent
system. A fair contract between the in
ventor and the public-ideas paid for by
time. 1t is manifest that the utmost good
faith is required upon both sides. On the
one hand there must really he an lnven-
ton no stealing of the ideas of other
men, no crude notions resulting only in
experiment The inventor must have
there must be prOtectiOn-nO infringement,
no piracy, no stealing of the soul OF the
invention by clothing it in immaterial
changes of form.
TO secure this fair dealing we have, on
the one side, the Patent Office, with its
examiners, its drawings, its models, its
books and its foreign patents, to scan and
test the invention. On the other side we
have the courts of law to protect the in
vcntor and punish the thief. 1t is posi-
bic that these inStrumentalities may do
their work imperfcctly. This may some
times happen; but to the extent to which
they do it, fair contract for an honest
and useful purpose is made and is main
tanned. This is the American system.
Under its protection great inventions have
been born. and have thriven. 1t has given
to the world the steamboat, the telegraph,
the sewing machine, the hard and soft
rubber 1t has reconstructed the loom,
the reaping machine and the locomotive
1t has trained up each trunk of invention
until it has become a graceful tree with
many branches, adorned with the fruits of
many improvements and useful mOdifca-
tons. 1t has won from the older homes
| of the mechanic arts their richest trophies,
and, like Columbus, who found new
| world for CASTLE and Leon" it has Gre
ated new arts, in which our nation has
neither competitor nor peer. Without
| the protection of our Patent laws, no such
| exhibition as this would have been posi-
ble By far the greater number OF the
| inventions which now crowd the shelves
| of the Patent Office would be missing.
No doubt many weaklings would
thus have been spared contact
with cold and unfeeing world (;
| but many vigorous children, that have
i come 10 Il IODuSJ UidHnOoO, WOulN
have persisted long since for want of susie
nance Men will not take the risk of in
PRODUCING new inventions, of educating the
people in their use, of overcoming oppO
sition and prejudice, unless they can be as
surcd of reasonable protection in their
work until their capital has made return
They will not sow that others may reap
and, when the land is ready for the har
vest, come forth with greater capital and
more laborers, and thrust aside the pic
neer who has borne the burden and heat
of the blowing and cultivating For the
proper administration of such a system n
l have attempted to sketch, it is manifes
that much skill and honesty are needed in
the Patent Office, in all its departments
Speaking for the gentlemen associated will
me, believe them to be both skilltul ant
honest. They pass in review many valua
bic interests They are ATTENDED by ;
body of skillful practitioners. They are
beset by an array of eager inventors.
in the examination of 10000 application
they make no errors, they would deserve
statues of gold. That they make no more
and that in all these years and in all thei
number wel-founded charges of cOrrup
ton have been few and far between, ar,
strong tributes to their integrity and abili
ty. On behalf of this great American bu
rcau OF invention, l bring you greeting to
) night; on behalf of the 100000 American
inventors whom it represents, bespeal
for it your cordial support and sympathy