New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-14

men, except the absence OF a foW OF our b"osV'' "
miss from the head OF this table foremost man OF
letters the chief of our guild the distinguished presi-
dent Of the American Copyright League Whose cn4ar
another has the honor 10 occupy, but wnch none
other than himself can be said to fl'
Then Laurence Hutton read Mr.. Loweips letter. ana
all present heartily Joined In toast TO the heaio
Of Mr. Lowell with warm wish that 1t may pass
from state Of uncertainty TO that of complete res
torstcn.D
The toast TO Mr.. Lowell having been drunk with
much enthusiasm, Mr.. Stedman continued as foho"s
Though our summons sent out at short nGnce'
we have a thoroughly representative assehioIabs,
gathered TO celebrate upon the eighth anniversary OF
the formation Of the American Copyright League %e
We celebrate the victorious result Of struggle, ue
successive campaigns of which have extended over
measure which has long been fought IN any Legs
lative body, unless 1t be the Parliamentary bIn 70
four years have passed since the petition presented
by Henry Gay IN S ana t tns Mr sy Mr.
Now, it chances that within the last week our in
ventors have been celebrating the Tooth anniversary
of the American patent system. From the hrst,
foreigner could obtain patent. The international
principle was at once the o agh Or al sb ont
the time copyright struggle began II was co dh ~
upon certain condition. ae the designs Of
what were termed useful articles and In new pro
cesses in art or manuac was ~ wbcb
we have been contendiDg-and me victory OF whch We
ere now eelebratng-was rec0gnzea, 70 VII tlat tle
tight OF nroperty In literary inyenti0nn tho written
product OF the bfan-h0wever 1t may be otherwise
Conditioned. has no boundary lines ,.,. H..
during many years chiefly on grounds relative to the
welfare OF American authors ana me usveope 81
he wrongs experienced by foreign writers however
prejudcal to our reputation snos e tan The
cTIel ills so long inflicted upon our own men OF
etters-of less moment than the repression OF american
IDEAS, the restricted growth Of our National heraIe
during that weary period in which, though foreign
author was denied some increased measure Of RronSs
the question for American author was "neh s my ne
could obtain yo SI re conc he hne
nation Of the Copyright Association o. isos' unaer
the auspices of Bryant and the elder Putnam tnp-
RIGHT MAKES MIGHT.
In time as we know, the chief wrongs felt py
American authors seemed TO right themselves. But
international copyright had not been gained inc
cause OF forty years chiefly maintained on pracucai
and egoistlc grounds, made little headway Know
of no more striking example Of the ultimate force OF
ethics than the record Of final campaigns. ~
has again been found that right makes might-that
it is the most effective promoter OF even statutory law
This result makes US wish still more fervently that
Mr.. Lowell were with us tonight ana makes us say
Oils health was never better worth than now W.
From the beginning Of his active connection with the
League, he has put his strength upon the moral side
and e1drnc in prose and verse; have made the argn.
ment for u.s. You and i and every Congressman In
a amS I aSd cOn i creds the st being
"Tberc Is one thing better than a cheap book, ana
at Is book honestly come by and the second Is hAe
unto it:
ain vain we call old notions fudge
And bend our conscience TO our dealing
The Ten Commandments VIII not bulge,
And stealing will continue stealing"
shall not here repeat the story Of the last seven
years There are others mere rom and sUspense and
vlgor and triumph of the final campaign The man
c1ssses engaged in it-of authors publishers, printers
worlmen, and Of the noble army OF leglSators Ins'
the legal recognition Of the international right Of prop
ery in literature, and secondly, the rehabilitation OF
our national good name throughout the reading world
PROFIT TO ENGLISH AUTHORS.
Yes. and one thing more. Primarily this is an
authors Jubilee But trust that 1t is not only Amer
can authors who feel like chanting:
alt must be now dat de Kingdom am a-comin',
An dc year oh tublo."
We hone that foreign authors-and especially olr
English fellows Of the craare rejoicing, are rejoc-
ing inst little are somewhat in touch with us To-
night We really have done our best for them through
weary and costly marches, often led by those VINO
themselves can profit little by what Is gained. We
can say with George Eliot Zone must be poor to
nermt onr Transatlantic brethren to understand that
American authors have for some years edTeo 5at
battle rather than own, as far as material liz
t tSSt are concerned" (ApplauseJ
The road to publication for American work has
works-snce the manufacture OF unauthorized reprints
became improbable 20 Tar as respects Ss te AnI S
6acRneyed word altruistc except for the satisfaction
derived from sense OF honor dignity t ns Fo OF
a stroke the list Of our competitive writers: AZ
British authors are now American antoiS. me oa
the language OF Shakespeare and Bacon and Milton ct
last means something All VIII now compete on
marlIet of this Greater Britan'of what must be the
greatest bool.mart Of the world ....,.- =, ...-
We have bought this right Of competition for our
foreign compeers with no small price and we therefore
tender IT the more t&ously. If 1t be not perfect
4ta bfct wifi mon rs
can make it,. And If we have not yet listened TO
symphonic chord Of the appreciation which we are
leye that this is due to tho gloom Of their present
season. and be ause their Anglo saxon heart IS too l
for words and Is one not worn upon the sleeve. For
il cannot be denied that Copyright law, If not
perfect, wins at least nneenths OF the battle II II
that this revolution Is not one OF those which never
60 backward.
PUBLISHERS AS SECONDS.
The one thing more, then. upon which we con-
graduate ourselves is that American literature has OF
truth outeaped restrictions and has grown To that
estate in which it fears Just and equal competition
We welcome the wide worlds writers TO This De
pendency-assured that their ef.ry, though II may
check the production of class OF works That spring up
Hest and noble ambition OF the deserving. Tie prizes
will be tho worth. that the Romans also are
admitted to the Olympic games. - .c.uf, o,o
The publishers have ably seconded our Efforts ana
are with us tonight. Their position, too. mas been
misunderstood. They have made more than one con
Ts a results hf nav muc6 more Clearly defined than for
us and for their foreign competitors Dut they 100,
in spite Of the eighteenth century TRADITIONS TO inc
over whatever may ensue, they know th9t nothing
can be so adverse as the went OF :ettled basis Si
worklngman may be an idealist bqt lns bread Is
sweet-nor can he live without 1t. He after all, has
held the key OF the situation, and he has not refused
TO turn II for
But now, gentlemen, you are eager TO see and hear
the heroes Of the past struggleand first the egsa-
tors who have carried through one OF those great
National causes from which too many public servant
stands aoof because there is-in the phrase Of the
lobby" so little in it," shall not draw too heavily
upon their strength for not all OF them yet
covered from the fatigue Of the campaign. Besides,
there are 50 many here tonight, from whom we ex-
pect-thOugh, for what seemed to me good reasons,
have not set them an exnmplethOse brief ard rapidly
succeeding uterances which render the feasts Of
Arcadia 50 distinctive. (Appause)
SENATOR PLATT'S WORDS.
The first sneaker called on by the chairman
rhn liz snlh hnvs and nlohts