Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-27
AN EXPLANATION THAT DOES NOT
EXPLAIN.

On the 21st inst. the RECORD UNION
expressed itself freely upon the act of the
Methodist Book Concern, in undertaking
the circulation of book issued upon the
strength of the wave of SANKEY'S explora-
ton successes, and calculated to lead the
general reader to think that in purchasing
the book he was getting genuine, or at
least accurate account of Stanley's African
explorations to date-in Short that the
publication is cheat and fraud, and
that it likewise violates every moral obi
CATION not to take the property of another
without his consent. There is not one of
all the leading Eastern journals that does
not concur in this view of the matter, or
that fails to so pronounce the Compilation"
which is filched from various works by
authors who expended their money, time
and talents in producing them, and hence
are alone entitled to the profits of their
production.
We expressed the hope that the Meth
odist Church would rise up and repudiate
the dishonest action of It's Book Concern,
and not preach honesty without compel
ling its agents 10 practice it. In the same
article we remarked upon the strange posi-
ton of the Christian Adcocate, another
agency of the Methodist Church, in de-
Tending the steal in question, and shame
lessly hiding behind the absence of an in
ternational copyright law. Likewise we
remarked upon the indecency of portions
of the book, and expressed surprise that
under church colors work disgustingly
illustrated should find refuge.
Rev. A. T. Needham, of the Methodist
Church, sends us the following:
SACRAMENTO, June a. 1890.
EDS. OF REcoRD-UNIoS: Assuming that you
would not intentionally misrepresent church
OF any OF It's institutions send you the accom-
panying clipping from the New York Christian
Aduocdte-official organ OF the Methodist Epis-
copal Church-explaining the matter, which
doubtless induced you to write the editorial
published in your paper June 2lst, entitled "a
Case of Dishonesty"
/ respectfully submit the explanation made
by DR.. ]. VI. Buckley TO your judgment, for such
correction you may deem Justice to our
church and its institutions requires. Yours
truly, ARNOLD T. NEEDHAM
Pastor Sixth-street NJ. Z. Church. Sacramento.
The clipping inclosed by Mr.. Needham
does not explain at all, nor does it show
that the RECORD UNION misstated the
case. In brief, it is statemant that the
Adcocate is not the official organ of the
"Book Concern" That the ''Book Con-
Germ" sent the AdrOcdte an advertisement
of book it had taken to circulate by SUBJ
scription. That the advertisement did
not have the usual scrutiny of the editor,
and went into the paper. That the adver-
tisement was put out by supernumerary
of the "Book Concern" without the au-
thorization of the Chief Agent. That the
advertisement was improper and immoral,
and that the Christian Aduocate deeply re-
grets that it appeared in its columns, and
further, that that journal entirely agrees
with the secular journals in their criti-
cism of the advertisement. There is not
in the clipping any reference whatever to
the criticism of the RECORD UNION, nor
any apology for the issuance of that book
by the Book Concern" But we will
assume that it is the advertisement of "The
New Stanley Book" that was advertised in
the Christian Aduocate.
Our correspondent is correct in saying
that the REcoRD-UNIoN will not inten-
tionally do injustice to any one. 1t has
not done so in this case. The fact remains
that "The New Stanley Book" was put out
by the Methodist Book Concern that it is
a cheat, and is a theft of other peoples
property that the Christian Advocate re-
viewed and commended the book at length
in its Literary or Book Table," that
Rev. DIR. Buckley, the editor Of the Adpo-
cate, apologized defensively for the book,
and attempted to justify its issuance, say.
ing that he did not know where the author
of the book got his facts, but that "He got
them somewhere, quoting from many
sources and paraphrasing," "but he did no
infringe copgiqht.' The italics are ours
The same editor adds:
Whether good, bad, or Indifferent book. We
do not say; that Is matter of literary criticism
but II is not plain theft" Two-thirds of Il
were written before Stanley emerged and wha
he said about his last tour is not flched from
copyright matter, American CT foreign.
We submit that the charge of the REC
oRD-UNIoN is not replied to or explained
away, by long excuse for the blunder by
which an immoral advertisement was ad
mitted to the columns of the Adrocdte. We
repeat, not in criticism of the Church, bu
of one of its agencies, that the Church
should rise up and condemn the action o
the "Book Concern"-passing over tn,
weakness of DR.. Buckley in the advocate
if it chooses and it is not expected tha
any clergyman of the Church viii b,
found apologizing for or excusing what tn,
world does recognize as plain theft" i
DIR. Buckley does not.
POLITICAL FREEDOM.
Very different, indeed, is the idea o