260 Patent-Right and Patent-Law . [May, 
the question of expediency. Is the recognition of the in- 
ventor’s property in his ideas beneficial or otherwise to the 
nation ? Are the interests of the patentee and those of the 
public in harmony or in opposition ? It will be of course 
admitted that, to hold our position as a great industrial 
community, we stand in continual need of improvements. 
We must make our goods either cheaper or better than we 
did before, and we must from time to time begin to make 
something new, — something which has not been made before. 
In a word we need invention : what is the best article to-day 
is no longer in the same position to-morrow ; what suits 
present wants will not always meet the requirements of the 
future. If we stand still, our enemies— I use the term ad- 
visedly, for international competition is only a modern phase 
of war — will not follow our example, and we shall be left 
behind. We must therefore have a constant supply of in- 
ventions. For this purpose we must make it remunerative 
to invent. Few persons in this world will work persistently 
for nothing. It has indeed been cynically said, by some one 
of the talkers and writers whom Mr. Macfie delights to 
quote, that the inventor can no more help inventing than a 
hen can help laying eggs. Granting this provisionally, 
though egg-laying and inventing maybe and often are stopped 
by sheer starvation, the hen may “ lay away,” and the in- 
ventor may go to some country which will register his 
property in his invention on more favourable terms than 
England offers, — which will give him longer security for a 
lower charge, and without the chances of lapsing. This is 
actually taking place. Some of the opponents of Patent- 
right say, again, that we can well spare those who leave us ! 
Is this reason or infatuation ? Further, the more difficulties 
we throw in the way of the inventor the fewer persons will 
aim at any improvements in arts and manufactures. 
Would it not be better for the nation at large, and for 
themselves, if our working men sought to raise themselves 
by inventions rather than as at present by trades-unionism 
and strikes ? But if we concede so much, what must we 
say of the policy of placing it substantially beyond the 
power of a working man of average position to obtain, and 
still more to maintain, a Patent ? America afts on the 
opposite principle, and profits thereby. Many workmen 
there are busy with inventions and improvements who under 
our Patent-law, or if under no Patent-law at all, would be- 
come idlers or demagogues. Germany saw that many of 
her best men went to other countries where an efficient 
Patent-law prevailed, and introduced their inventions there. 
