New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-22
CANADIAN RIGHTS AND COPYRIGHT

Sir Charles Upper bears criticism ILL., He Is APP
Darently vexed at what our London correspond
ent said of him the other day. We might, indeed
almost reckon him to be angry were 1t not that
| anger would indicate non-judicial frame or
mind unbecomng to a Minister OF Justice. But
vexed he certainly seems TO be. Unfortunately, he
does not specify the precise cause of his vexation
| 1t cannot be because Mr. Ford spoke OF his ropu
tatIon as "Jingo." for that has long been the I'm
mediate level of Sir Charles's heart Neither can
II be that his attitude toward Mr.. Hall Caine,
| loudly proclaimed In advance. was branded as
| breach Of good taste and common sense True
| Mr. Hall Game Is a mere author, very lnsgnih
| cant being compared with real. live Barone
| But then an Earl is still more exalted person
| age and If Lord Aberdeen is going to receive the
| author and listen to him courteously, Is 1t not
both premature and stupid for any lesser dign-
tary to announce beforehand that he will not do
so? Surely Sir Charles, as Minister Of Justice
must think SC. whatever view he may take as
| private individual.
There is left, then only this conclusion that Sir
| Charles is vexed because he thinks Mr.. Ford
challenged his right, or the right Of the Canadian
| Government to enact an unjust copyright law
without regard to the will of the British Govern
|
waving our correspondents letter aside rs too
| impernent to reply to-" makes haste to add that
Canada has a constitutional right to make any
copyright law she peases and he, as Minister OF
Justice is not going to sacrifice that privilege. 1t
| is always pretty safe to reckon that when man
Saws ANYTHING Is too impertnent to reply to- his
very next words will be the best reply to 1t he is
able to make Well we beg to assure Sir Charles
| that no such challenge was Intended. either by
| Mr.. Ford or by The Tribune We are quite will
ing to concede that Canada has a right, theoret
| ically to make any copyright law she peases, no
| matter how foolish or dishonest. She has also
right to enact that two and two shall henceforth
make five, and that water shall flow uphill. We
do not challenge that right for moment. We do
not say the British Colonial Office will do so. But
we do give fair warning that the people and Gov
eminent of the United States are not likely to re-
gard such legislation as the embodiment Of per-
feet Justice and eternal wisdom.
| Theoretically as Mr. Ford said in the letter
which disturbed the habitua tranquility Of the
| Tupperan mind, Canada has a right to make a
| DOWNRIGHT law without regard TO the Imperial au-
| thority Yet in practice she has half disavowed
that right by sending Mr. Newcombe-Slr Charles
| Jumpers own Deputy Minister Of Justice. by the
way-to London TO confer with the Colonial
Office and TO get, If possible, its approval OF her
net. The Canadian Minister knows perfectly well
| that II would be a bad bit Of work for him and
| for the whole Dominion Government TO oppose
| openly the Imperial Government and TO defy Its
| expressed will In such matter His Toronto
| speech sounded very brave and masterful, but
| though there may be no Buncombe County In
Canada-we all know for what he was speaking
His impassoned rhetoric will make good cam
paIgp literature when the general election comes
ON. a few months hence, though 1t will scarcely
be as effective as railroad building and expansion
of publlc works Its effect upon the Colonial