New-York tribune., 1886-02-22
THE COPYRIGHT QUESTION.
WITH NOTES ON THE QUESTION OF AMER
ICAN MANUFACTURE.

20
The degree of interest which the British public
takes in the question of international copyright
~ indicated by the length of the recent American
aispatch in The Times. A column and hai on
Saturday another column yesterday anu al
editorial discussion of the subject to-day ni1'ne
also a column and half. II other papors h"'0'
for the moment less to say about H. tn"V Is oiS
one more illustration of the childish jealousy Wh''n
binders English journalists from acknoWleus'ns
an obligation 10 their rivals. Inc i-"si'
re,ds with n certain amazemcnt some OF tno
accounts embodied in these kilograms lie uoes
- t,rov, know the distinguished people VINO
80 oollod upon TO testify before the senate
committee IL is doubtful " neither he ever beiOTe
heard OF Mr.. Teller. who appears as chatPio" Vi
the American reader and OF cheap DOCKS N'i'
Gardner G. Hubbards name seems to be even c's
familiar to the British public. Ills argument that
international copyright wonld enhance the cos'
of books for the benefit OF few persons is thousht
inst as good on argument against domestic copy
right. or against property of any KIND teePhohe
patents included.
H. Mr. Iovelrs anpearance that adds flavor 10
the dscnssion while is the actual Introduction Oh
two copyright bills in the Senate and the eiaoorSto
discussions in committee which seem TO tue lhclou
ulous Engshman to make the thihS iooN io'-
The zeal and honorable public spirit OF senator
Uavley and Senator Chace are alike recos"'H'"
The lime says Mr.. Hawley represents tho AiiiT'i,"
Copvright League had until now suPposou '
Mr. Hawley represented the state oil Oo"uc'''C""
II is not usnal IN this country to speak OF Coe'
of Parliament as the representatives oi ~ i,'"t0
association or league no matter how bonoraOio IVS
b;acts No offence was meant, but slips OF inc pen
on such matter might be avoided
The American Copyright League Win "no'0
main obisct / have the strongest sympa1uS' mas
always seemed to me to have fallen uh'or ''i0
dominion of the free-traders. The business mo"
have got the better of the authors, as they uSu"i!
do and under the gulse OF a measure Iol HoN
convrirht these free-tradng gentlemen have pu'
before Congress ii scheme conceived ana careluii!
worked ont in the interest of the British mahu1act
nrer The bill of the American Copyright League
Loft the American printer. paper-maker, type |
+ounder compositor and binder to shift for himself
Tho English author who obtained an American
convriqht was to be free to have his book maulact
nred in England and exported to America. ha'o
never been able to see why the question OIL COPY
right shonld not be kept wholly separate from reo
trade If the League had its way, the Whole pIohV
of manufacture and publication wonld pass in'o
English hands But the real object OF an inter
national copyright is to recognize the right ol INC
FOREIGN author to protect him against piracy, 10
rolievo onr own country from the just reproach OF
stealino its reading, apd to foster the growth OF
A,noric,n literature All this can be done without
leoislang tor the benefit OF the foreign artlsan anu
foreign capitalist. We owe them nothing we TOD
them of nothing 1t is the foreign author to whoh
we are indebted and the foreign author whoin VIC
have robbed The British publisher Is aDie 10
take care of himself
Bnt we are told that Senator Hawley mas aoan
doned this part of the League programme ana mas
agreed 70 accept Senator Chaces proposal, Whlch
absolutely prohibits the importation OF English
e anioyinu american COpYilsul.
That is n step too far in the opposite direction Inc
object is not TO exclude the few copies OF an
English issue which might find their way over sea
to meet the demand of the collector OF io'cl Vi
original editions Under an act requiring American
manufacture as a condition of American copXrl4hV
nanalties for evasion could he made strong enough
IN secure "A substantial compliance with the law YET
leave il open to the amateur to import an EngnSh
conv if he wanted one. Absolute prohibition
savors a little of barbarsm 1t is not a chinese
wah that is wanted
/J1e Times infers from all these proceedings that
+bo convripbt question in America has entered
stoge nrenaratory to settlement. dispatch III
onotber paper however. says that the Copyright
League will not support measure WIN pio'''O
that books shall be manutact IL America
hone this is inaccurate for if true proves that the
Jeapue is in the hands of dOctrihdreS to whom the
free-trade dogma is more than copyright Inc
Jearuers NAV not approve OF Ihe IeStIIobloh ~
favor of American manufacture, but why should
they stand out against it Neither the LhgHsh
author nor the American publisher VIII suler the
Fnglisb autbor will be protected, the American
nublishor and bo)kmaker will be protected; anu
American reputation for honesty aud honoraOle
dealing will be Just safe under THIS measure as IA
the free-traders had their way. WhY' theh' sooulu
the League abandon its main point because ~
cannot have It's own way on MINOR poihI
Senator Hawley as might be expected, SHOWS goou
sense and sound Judgment by giving up the lhcl-
dental for the sake of the essential The interests
for which the League Is now contendlng are the
interests OF American publishers and oil all Ihe
various English industries concerned IN the prouuc-
tion of the manufactured book
The tone in which the whole question is now
discussed here is a tone of concilation. None the
less do people accept and applaud Mr. Lowers
remark that there is kind of books better than
cheap books-boOks honestly come by. Mr. law
lev deprecates the employment OF opproDrlous
terms and he would not use the word pirate Nor
,vould Mark TWAIN; nor, | suppose, Mr., Munro.
Well not much is to he gained in one way by mere
buntness Df speech. but neither is anything to be
gained by ignoring the fact that the question Is In
mart one of morals. Mr. Lowell treats 1t as one OF
common honesty. and so ii is regarded here; cover
II up under as manv soft phrases as You Ike. MI
Arnold to whom urOanity is hardly less precious
than morality itself said some time ago that 1t was
the sense of delicacy rather than Of honesty which
had to be appealed 10 in America. But" adds he
with a significance not 10 be mistaken, "a finely
Touched nature, in men nations. will respect III
itself the sense of decacy not less than the sense
of honesty" Let it stand on that ground. II Mr..
Arnold so wills. There will come time If indeed
II he not come already, when shall rest as
uneasy under the reprOach of indelicacy as of dis
bonestv Nh Arnold again Is warrant for this
belief The "great American community" he
foresees "win certainly learn to add to its many
and great virtues the spirit of delicacy."
Not lees IN the point is Mr. Arnold's testimony on