Year: 1873

We are beginning the fourth month OF the Expo
sltion The feature in August VIII be the great
Patent Congress- without knowing what will be
the result Of the deliberations of this assembly 1t
will be well Tor your readers to have little idea OF
Its history. Some time ago Mr.. Jay, the American
Minister at this Court, became convinced that
among the most useful Oflces OF the Exposition
would be the revision of the different patent laws
OF Europe and the codifcaton or an international
system which would do justice to the genius OF
acute men in every nation, and at the same time
not give one people any unfair advantage over an
other II would be a long story and not very
useful One fear to tell you the complications and
vexatiOns that attend the efforts of any inventor
to cover his patent by the protection OF foreign
government. An American may invent a sew
ing machine or cotton gin or fax
spinner, or any instrument or machine capable Of
mnistering to the comfort and wealth Of the world,
and German may take the machine ana reproduce
it on his own account without giving the inventor
the benent Of q dollar suppose we can do the
same thing in America and have done 1t, taking
machines and instruments and achievements from
foreign people just as we sometimes take English
books and republish them without giving the
authors any return. But the practice is evil and
should be amended.


THE MEANING OF THE CONGRESS-.


Mr.. jays tdea was that, as the world assem-
bling here to witness this Exposition and to assist
in Its development, the time would be very pro-
pitous for studying this patent question: carefully
considering the laws OF each country, and seeing If
1t were possible to arrange upon an international
system which would be advantageous to all. do
not know that Minister had anything more
than an indefinite idea OF attaining this invaluable
end, not only for his own country, but for other
countries; still, 1t was noble thought earnestly
pursued. When the matter brought TO the


attention OF the Archduke Rainer, as the head OF


the general direction, OF the Exposition, he
| approved 1t. A letter was addressed to Mr.. Jay


by the Austrian Minister Foreign Affairs, giving,


] believe, an Official approval OF the Congress- and


indicating the purpose the part OF the imperial
government to send official delegates to the


assembly, IntmatODs were also received from


England that the English government would do
| the same thing. Likewise Germany. Upon the
direct assurance OF the Austrian government, con-
veyed In an official letter, which have no doubt


is on file in the state Department at Washington,
Mr. Jay induced the American government to send
out Mr.. Thacher from the Patent ONCE. But the
preliminary or rather the second thought OF the
Austrian authorities was not favorable to the idea
Of Patent Congress. In the first place, the idea
OF any congress meeting even to arrange pract-
cal a matter as patent laws was a step radical
SO far in advance OF the policy of nation like





to it without a shudder.


INTERNATIONAL IDEAS.


When I speak OF o shudder / allude to the extra
ordinary fear that exists in the minds of European
| States generally OF what ts called "The Inter
national" think 1t was Alexander, OF Russia,
who spoke OF Napoleon, when an exile at st.
Helena, as his nightmare" and declared he never
slept well while the exile lived and there
| chance of his returning to Europe. An influence
| more terrible than that OF Napoleon, because not
| the life of mere man, but OF a principle rests
upon the cOnsciences OF the kings; when you
speak OF arbitration, such had in Geneva, or
| OF an international movement to affect patent
laws, or OF any such active policy suggests the
international communistic theory, we excite all
the latent that the fear Of the international
revolution inspired in these royal minds. Know
ing this have wondered as have walked through
the high sweeping halls OF this magnificent palace
OF the Prater whether the imperial mind that in
spired IL did not see that this Worlds Exposition
was itself a monument OF internatonalism, an in
vitation to the very doctrines and theories which
are so strongly feared


THE MONARCHs CHANGE THEIR MINDS.
Be 1t as 1t may the Patent Congress idea grew
weaker the more 1t was considered. First
heard that Germany would not send a commissioner.
Probably she may ask one OF her delegates at
-
cussions. Onicially however, Berlin will not
cognize any Congress OF this kind. Then, In
sponse to question addressed to Lord Enfield


the Under Secretary OF State for Foreign Affairs In
the House OF Commons, the English Minister an
nounced similar conclusion They would send a
representative to report to the government the
value OF the discussions, but they would take no
part in them. The gentleman who was then deslg
mated is now In vienDa-Mr. Wallace, think, they
call him, and q member OF the English Bar, whose
speciality has been the arguing OF patent cases.
I do not think that more than two coun-
trics-Switzerland and Bavaria-have sent
official delegates and so our extraordinary
ofeial accredited to the Congress is here to-day in
the commission In the position OF delegate to an
assembly which is not an assembly but simply
debating club. Competent men they all are
skilled In knowledge OF patents and inven tions !;
quite able to show the jars ana breaks and rough
corners OF different laws and to suggest remedies
to their assembly on the 4th Of August, but not
competent TO make any recommendation that will
bind or In any way influence their governments.
cannot see, as IT now stands, that the Patent
Congress will be practically Of any more value
than the sending OF skilled gentlemen to a debat-
Ing society In saloon at Baden Baden. What the
| determination OF Mr. Thacher will be am not
| formed 1 can well understand how Mr.. Jay, how.
ever wouid Ieel emDarrassed at nrst py THIS want
| OF good faith, II be allowed SO harsh phrase
| on the part OF the Austrian government, in
| generating the idea OF the congress- and
| inviting America to take part in It, and then sud


denly withdrawing from the position. But Mr. Jay
| is man Of too much prudence and patience and


sincerity Of mind, too thorough o republican, ana
| too profoundly convinced OF the wisdom OF the


great principles which underie the plan OF the


congress to paralyze any possible results by she


Axhihjtion Of temner-so that instead Of pubIshlpg