The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-19
international Copyright-Appleton and
ssGinx's Baby.0

ssGinx's Baby"
Wednesday from Mr. Jenkins the author of
''Ginx's Baby" gave pretty accurate insight
into the views of foreign writer's on the present
state of our laws with regard to the rights of
foreign authors. When men are smarting
under a sense of wrong inflicted they are sell
dom dispassionate in the statement of their
case, and Mr.. Jenkins may have been some
what too severe in comparing Mr.. Appleton to
the scoundrel in Gil Bias who extorted aims
through the influence of his blunderbus. Yet
If we examine the subject judicially, and take
as our guide the commonly accepted princi-
pies of right, we shall be forced to confess
that the irate Englishman has no little justif-
cation for the serious charge which he brings
against the American publishers. We can
pity the moral obliquity of the man who
argues that authors have no right to
the creations of their brains, unless,
indeed, he be prepared to accept the
logical sequence that the publishers have no
right to the works they may print. In fact
unless we deny the right Of property alto
gether, 1t is impossible and illogical to argue
that authors ought not to enjoy what they
create. While other toilers, the product of
whose labor we are told is sacred, merely
convert an already existing material into a
new form, the author coins thoughts and
fancies that without him would have no exist
ence for the amusement or instruction Of man
kind. He creates absolutely, enriching the
world with new ideas aud if any property
has claim to be considered sacred surely 1t
is this. This view will scarcely be accepted
by the publishers of Philadelphia, whose rep
resentative before the joint committee of
| Congress denounced the rights accorded even
to our native authors. Mr.. Hazards morality
has the rather questionable merit of
consistency. Not content with the present
privilege which the publishers enjoy of ap-
propriating the property Of foreign authors
this honorable representative of publishing
morality would like to be at liberty to prey
upon American writer's. That such pro-
position should be seriously and unblushingly
made, ought to be at once warning and an
incentive to us to put an end to system
which 80 blunts the moral perceptions as to
render it possible that a presumptively re-
spectable man should dare publicly to urge
| the plumber of one class of citizens for the
benefit of another.
There seems much difficulty In agreeing
upon such q bill as will satisfy all parties !;
but If the publishers of Philadelphia are
serious in the propositions put forward in
their name we see no reason why
auy effort should be made to satisfy them.
| The question at issue Is one which
affects the honor of the American peo-
ple, and which admits of but one simple
solution, 80 far Is the rights Of foreign
authors are concerned These ought to be
guaranteed as fully as those Of the American
citizen in all cases where reciprocal protec-
ton can be secured. The other questions
which are intimately connected with that Of
authors rights belong rather to the industrial
policy Of the country than to the abstract
principle for which we contend. A proposal
which seems to meet all the requirements OF
the case has been submitted to the committee
} appointed by Congress to report on the best
} way to reconcile the different interests. II
grants full rights to foreign authors on con.
dition of having their works published and
, manufactured in this country. We look upon
:. this as reasonable and satisfactory solution
of the difficulty. 1t will protect the publishing
t industry Of the country, and, what is of still
t more importance. will opeu new field for ths