Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-14

fNe7sny M0g0zssae and Chambers Jour-
nat for time hourished marvelously,
these dreams and experiments were never
substantially realized. A step in this
direction to-day has been taken by the
issue in London of Dicks cheap classics,
and, thanks to want of this interna-
tional copyright, in this country by the
issue of our cheap pamphlet libraries,
and In New York by a new firm issuing
more substantial works for compare
lively nominal price That such want
is reality, and the endeavors to APP
pease it are appreciated, the avidity
with which these works are bought up
proves beyond doubt. With all the
| modern facilities for printing, these pub
fishers can scarcely keep apace with the
demand. In nearly every household all
over the length and breadth of our broad
land these works have an abiding place
and are read and have vast influence
where before, when protected by copy
right and issued by millionaire publish
ers at unreasonable prices, not book
was to be seen. People read who never
read before, and their ranks are increas-
ing rapidly.
Now most of these cheap works are
reprint of foreign literature, made pos
sible by the lack of an international
copyright law, which makes them ac-
cessible to any printing firm, and old
standard works of our own country whose
copyrights have expired. Should an in
ternationai copyright law become estab-
lished, upon the instant, a greater part
of these cheap works would have to
cease to be, their publishing falling into
the hands of grasping firms, who would
issue them at exorbitant prices, denying
them to any other firms to be pub
lished, except by the paying of a large
royalty, making it impossible for them
to be printed at less price than their
own. That publishers and authors would
scruple not to carry out this law to it's
fullest extent, none who knows anything
of human nature and the fierce opposi-
ton and persecution to these "cheap"
publishing firms will for an instant
doubt. 1t would make a monopoly pos
sible of the food for the sustenance and
development of the soul, as our mer-
chants and dealers make such combi-
nation in our corporal food ! Demon
stration three.
Now, from these facts I oppose an in
ternational copyright law. Instead of
making such law, abolish our home
copyright laws. While conducting to
the welfare of the Individual or the few,
the rights of the great masses are ig-
| nored. 1t is inherent in nature that the
few must be governed by the desires of
the many the few are the rich publish
ing houses and authors, the many the
vryb0 &c, 1ot
be supplied.
That authors and publishers have
| rights which the masses are equally
bound to respect don't seek to deny
That they suffer certain wrongs which
deserve to be righted is equally self-evi-
dent. But to the proposed plan of right
ing these wrongs and securing these
rights by an international copyright law
object. Give to an author copyright
law by which the fruits of his labors,
than which none are more arduous,
equally with the inventor of more ma
terlal wares, may be enjoyed by him
self. That patent-right laws are just
| and beneficial alike to both inventor and
public is patent to all, rewarding, as it
does, the inventor for his labors and in
surfing to the public more useful inven-
lions In the future by encouraging his
exertions. Equally just and beneficial
would be copyright law for the author
| as an inventor OF yet more important
and lasting works. Moreover, let not
the law stop with securing to inventors
and authors the control of their labors
tor ten or dozen years, but let it be for
their Life and descend to their children
and children's children through all pos
ter1ty. How unjust would we regard
our laws were they such that o man,
after toiling and depriving himself to
buy up little home for himself, should
be able to retain it for only few years,
and should forfeit it to his children at
bis death AS arduous are the labors
OF an inventor and author, yet this very
law is their protection to-day. Give in
stead wiser, more just and natural law;
as emanating from themselves, the crea-
alton OF the exertion of their own brain,
equally with the home secured by the
manual tolls of the laboring man, is it
wholly and everlastingly theirs and their
descendants. Yet that the rights of the
masses may not be infringed upon, re-
strict the control of their inventions to a
AOScOhe1OiO auo 1cSsolGIulttGS USE. LIEU
them have only such royalty as may
be just, consequently placing it within
the reach Of the hrrmblest purchaser,
yet give them this royalty always As
it is, knowing that their Inventions are
to be under their control for but short
time, and that what is to be made out of
them by them must be made quickly,
they resort to an extortionate purchase
price as the means to secure this. In
consequence, for years the great mass
of the people are deprived Of their just
ly-entitled use of an authors or invent
or's works, while the author or inventor
themselves do not really reap the full
and just benefits of their labors. This
I! was illustrated in the sewing-machine
which at first was beyond the reach of
those who really needed it by reason of
it's purchase price, but who could have
enjoyed it all these long years without
injustice to the inventor bad our patent
right laws been more equitable. This
same short copyright, as have above as
serted, is the cause of our high-priced
and scarce books of to-day. A medium
course by which none are wronged, but
all righted, is inherent in the nature of
things, and let us apply its principle to
our laws, particularly our copyright