Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-24
W &c e. ER
Carey on International Copyright.


do something on hearing that the question was
again stirred in congress, for the old gentleman 5
self-delusion is so great, and his egotism so
morbid, that he actually supposes he has de-
feated all the attempts to secure such law Mr..
Carcy's expression of this egotism is often very
comical. His altagonism to an international
copyright law began in self-interest; be was head
OF a publishing house in Philadelphia which
proposed to enrich itself by republishing English
books on medicine and surgery, without paying
copyright; and the house in question (Which is
still in the famiy') has done this greatly to its
own profits, and does it still. But, meanwhile,
his hettcr,iudgmcnt has been dcmoralized more
and more by 4 constant growth of morbid
cgotism which is now even more active than
self-interest We dislike to mortify Mr.. Carey's
self-cstecm, fol ii appears to give his old age a
sort of happiness; nevertheless, we know lust
what we say in assuring him that his utterances
against an International copyright law have had
very little influence. Ii there had been no other
obstruction, such a law would have been estab-
lished years ago.
His new pamphlet contains nothing but his
old strain repeated with few variations Part
of it is dated in 1867. We infer from his PAM
phlets that Mr.Carey is incapable of treating TIE
subject honestly. He trifes with the right of
property he assumes that the successes of a few
authors represent fairly the general fortune of
literary production; he represents that an inter
national copyright law would raise the price of
books, that this is what the advocates of such a
law desire, and studiously misrepresents this
paRtof the subject; he disingenuously compares
the expensive English editions of Tennyson's
poems with the cheaper American editions, but
without taking notice of fact which shows the
dishonesty of his argument, namely, that equal
ly cheap American editions of LoHgiclow's
works are constantly in the market; and so on
from beginning to end. 1t seems impossible for
him to treat the subject properly, either in stat
ing facts or arranging arguments. If his posi-
lions were just and should be logically carried
out destruction Of the right of property would
not be confined to literature. 1t would reach
patent rights and repeal laws which project the
rights ofinventors. American inventions would
be made "free plumber" in Canada and in Eu-
rope, ahd get only very cold favor at home
One ri Mr.. Carey's notable devices for treating
This COPYRIGHT question unjustly, is a constant
conceaAment of the fact, that publishers, with a
tasF exceptions, now put in their own pockets,
not only their own legitimate profits on repub-
lished English books, but also the additional
sums which should he paid to authors. As a
rule, book.buycrs gain nothing by the opera
ton. Occasionally publishing houses quarrcl
some book repubished by one is issued by the
other at the lowest price possible, this being re-
garded as an effective war mcasure but such
war measures of publishers do not show the
rule by which prices are regulated although
Mr.. Carey's argument assumes it as the rule
He actually cites the rival issues of short story
by Dickens TO illustrate the "cheapness" of re-
published English books. He would do much
better if be would cite the scale of prices
adopted by the old firm of "Carey & Lea" for
NTepnblished medical books by English writer's,
ohSWhich no copyright was paid. This would
tell Spother stOry-such story as cannot be
allowed, in the pamphlet before us. The truth
is, the price Of reprinted English books seldom
varies much from that of American books on
which copyright is paid; and international
copyright would simply interfere with the Gus
tom Of putting in the pockets of publishers
what belongs to authors. Some American pub
fishers do now pay English authors for their
works without being under legal obligation
to do so.
We say again Mr.. Carey's treatment of this
international copyright question is dishonest.
We suppose he has become incapable of treat.
ing it fairly; and, in his pamphlets, this is no.
where more apparent Than in his very disngen-
uous and INSCRIPTIONS endeavor TO persuade
his readers that international copyright would
raise the price Of books. Pursuing this aim. he
goes so far as to assume that English authors
would dictate the prices at which their book
shouldbe sold; an absurdity of which he ought
to be ashamed, especially because the bill to
which bis pamphlet has direct reference, pro-
yided expressly that foreign authors should not
be entitled to copyright in this country, if they
failed for three months to make satisfactory
terms with some American publisher. Bat the
same dishonest spirit regulates all Mr.. Carey
has to say on the subject, and, for this reason,
we judge that he thinks much more of a certain
Philadelphia monopoly Of the republication of
English medical books than Of fair statement and
argument. lie does not venture to meet frankly
the arguments against his position. He men
tons the report made in congress, in 1868, and
makes one or two quotations from il; but he
cannot afford to show readers of his pam.
phlet how the question is presented in that re-
port, nor allow himself TO cite and discuss its
arguments. He finds it more satisfactory to as
sume thar somebody viii regard him as an ora.
Gle and listen to what he says without criti-
eism.
i'm Amor
bootjack, OF sewing machine, can 90 to England
with his invention aud have his right to prom.
erty in it protected, because our laws accord
similar protection to English inventors; but if
he uses tmc and money to produce an import.
ant book, any English publisher may take il
from him without ceremony, his right of prop
erty in it not being projected there because our
laws refuse protection to English authors. If
Mr. Carey's position were correct and reason
able, this discrimination against literary work
would be just. If the discrimination is unjust
tand amere statement Of the case is sufficient to
show its iniustce), pamphlets written to sup
port i are no better. Their disngenuous spe-
cial pleading can not change the merits of the
question nor influence anybody who seeks 10
understand it. They are written to uphold puh.
fishing monopoies, and care very little about
the robbery Of literary workers PHILADELPHIA
publishers never fail TO be foremost in opposing
international copyright We believe, however.
that one important publishing house in that
city has changed its views on this question. II
is hoped that Others may have the grace TO do
SO; but it will seem miraculous when the house
that monopolizcs the republication of medical
works, ceases to be the first on hand at Wash
ington TO lobby against any movement to enact
an international copyright law.
Hartford people are absorbed Just now with
architectural problems. They are to have a
new state house there, for which the city pro-
vides The site and half Of the million dollars
which it is proposed to spend on the building.
The site first selected was part Of the city
park, but this, as we understand, is not likely
10 be used, since il has little to recommend
It but the fact that it is already the property
Of the city, and the cost Of the building there
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