New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-08
ENGLISH AUTHORS And AMERICAN POB-
LISHERS

A LETTER FROM Mr.. w. CLARK RUSSELL.
10 me Edfto" Of The TrtbWne
SIR: / have seen cory OF IHE TRIBUNE IN
which there is short article referring to my letter
10 Tie AtkcnGaRl and charging me with splteiul-
,,ess No SIR Indignation, If you please but not
.pitefuluess. Messrs Harper inter pref my letter as
n charge against them individually. IL is true
their name was mentioned by the reporter whose
article referred to but my comments were meant
for the whole of the American publishers, not Tor
Nessrs Harper only. l find that Messrs. Harper
have maid Messrs. Sampson Low for certain nights"
In ,y novels; but have they ever sent me a six
ncuceY Have any of the people Who have reprinted
NV stories acknowledged my unexpressed claims
surely not the less absolute because L cannot en-
force them-by renting "a cent of tho proceeds to
met Lot any Of your readers put himself III
M, Mace let him think OF books as boots as flour,
ms casks of pork let him reflect upon others MAX
ing money out of his labor without his partlcpa.
,ion nv so much as one farthing; ana then let him
resent NY indignation against your publishers IL nc
can Twas born in New York for years my father
was COMPOSING songs-popular now as then-ir
celebration of your marvellous Western empire;
and | never hear of America without a disposition
20 null OF my hat to the colossal name and the
MAGNIFICENT memories of peace industry and the
promises of gigantic prosperity 1t bears with II.
But have not a right--as OIe who has 10 get his
living with mis- pen--to NOUN that the Stripes and
Stars-embem Of liberty when flying all
buman interests but one-shOuld be no better than
the black hag-the pirates iag-lts stars deaths
head its stripes cross bones-when it is hoisted
over the estate Of literature
Why should this be Your Congress is composed
of many men Of honor-overs Of iustlcspersons in
capable OF conniving ut wrong Why do they
leave this great international grievance unre-
dressed 1t is not a question for English and Amer
lean publishers to SETTLE but for the representatives
of two great peoples to deal with members aud
Senators who Will no longer endure that an INDUS
try-ca il literature If you villa poorly paid and
bitterly worked industry-should suffer from neg
lect oil the application OF those laws without whose
rigorous acceptance or enforcement human society
Itself would crumble and perish. | am honored,
immensely honored. by American applause; but
my landlord will not take your appreciation in
raymeut of rent and II ! have nothing better to
otter my butcher for the legs OF mutton have had
from HIM, must expect 10 be sued. Surely there
can be 10 difficulty IN framing law that shall
pr0tect the interests OF authors aud publishers
both sides The Americans insist upon having their
literature cheap; but they get only only the
cheao: they have 10 pay prettily for
native talent; and for the life of me ! cannot
derstand how the most moral the most sagacious
the most spirited people the face OF the earth
not onl, suffer their publishers TO keep native let
tiers depressed and obscuIed by filling the markets
chase read and review those works which they
know are Just as much stolen property the
spoons and watches which lie hid IN receivers
back ROOM Cheap literature Is good but let it
be honestly come by; otherwise II is the most ox
pensIys thing under heaven as being obtained at
the cost OF a most noble country's honor. Yours
obedicntly, WCLAkk RUSSELL.
don, nav. "a. 1882.
IA sufficient to Mr. RusselEs special griev-
ance is contained In a note recently addressed TO
The Atkenoam by his brother author r. w. Robin
son. Ill" says Mr.. Robinson, I'm future agree
ments with English publishers for his stirring
stories he will merely add the clause, The author
yesares to hiseg all foreign riqhts feel confident
he will be enabled 10 treat direct for advance sheets
with almost any American publisher whom he may
select TO represent him." Mr.. Russell writes I'M
reasonably. He could hardly expect the American
publishers to make double payments for his stories
One to him and one TO his English publishers
81 find the Harpers have paid my publishers for
certain rights in NY novels, but have they ever