The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-11-06
THE INTERNATIONAL LABOR CON.
GRESS,

ternational Convention at Basic, it's readers
will be able to compare the results Of its
action and deliberations with those of our
own Congress, held few days previously,
and to form an intelligent opinion az to
their relative merits. While the discussions
and the subjects discussed in tho Philadel-
phia Congress assumed widely different
range from those entertained at the BasIe
Convention, the objects aimed at and the in
tentiOn Of the delegates Of both bodies were
identical, viz the establishment Of a t,,,.
demoerGcy-surrounding circumstances. Gus.
toms, and the texture Of society amply &C.
counting for any apparent discrepancy. If
the deliberations of the one body were, in
some respects of a more advanced or radio
al hue than those embodied in the other, the
grievances complained Of are also Of diff.
ferent and more aggravs ted character. The
wrongs which exist ia one hemisphere, and
Of which the toiling masses SO Justly com.
plain, were brought into being under far diff
ferent auspices from those which exist in
the other, we're hence it is necessary to un-
derstand the nature Of these circumstances,
before criticism on the action Of either il
worthy OF more than passing notice. One
important fact, however, must not be for
goEten-that while the institutions, and state
Of society prevailing in Europe are a legiti
mate Cfspring-the inevitable off,hoot Of
despotism-ln the other it is a peruersion-
a maladministration of the spirit of our
institutions which has created the evils Of
which the American workman complains.
10 the one case thorough Reconstruction is
imperatively demanded in the other a lust
administration of tho fundamental pripci-
pies upon which the government is founded
alone is required.
hgain, the American Congress demands
the adoption Of . Just monetary system the
European Convention that right to private
property in land shall be abolished. Here
certainly there is no conflict. In the Old
World, a landed aristocracy- monopolizes
the soil-the heritage of the people-and
the results are seen in the moral and social
degradation Of the agricultural laborers
both 10 France and Eugland-where the
wages system is exhibited in its most deplo-
rable light. In the New World, BY destroy
ing the overshsdoWing, unhallowed, blight.
ing influence of the m0nied power, we des-
troy its ability to create the vassal1Ge of
which the teeming millions Of Europe com
plain, SO that by destroying the lesser evil,
the greater evil is averted though there is
no doubt that, however revoluti onary the DE-
mand referred to may appear to the Amer-
can mind, irpriRcple It is substantial
" correct, and that our readers may the
more thoroughly understand the principles
upon which the demand Is made, We prop ose
in our next TO present at length the aIgu-
ments Of its advocates and opponents, and
the reasons which guided US in declining 10
take any part in the discussion. So with
the question Of INHERITANCE, subject which
also engrossed the attention Of The Basic
Convention. The Law Of entail and primo
genlture-a relic Of barbarism- which still
exists in the countries Of the Old World
but from which we are happily exempt onI
this side Of the Atlantic, taken in connection
with the action had upon the land question
gives force and FEASIBILITY to the re soluk
tions of the Convention, which would bd
somewhat out Of place M m American ash
semblyl
On the important topic OF Trades UnionI
which, in our judgment, present the onlI
feasible means by which the education, svsI
Iematic organization and concerted Political
action Of the masses may be secured thu
English delegates we're far 10 advance Of
their Continental brethren. The plairl
matter of fact statements of Messrs. Appld
garth and Less1er, in relation 10 what bal
been accomplished through their agency IL
Great Britain, possessed a value far in al
vance Of the theoretical schemes OF many n
the French and Italian delegates, and spokl
volumes in favor ofthe prudence and stirlink
common sense Of those who had CONTROLLED
their action.
thus briefly referred to the ouei
hOns upon which an expression of oninicS
was obtained, we desire to add TINT tH,
spirit of earnest inquiry and determinatioL
which manifested itself, and the intelIigenl
and philosophical manner in which the di1
cussions were conducted, reflected the bOI.
est credit on the participants and proven
that an earnest, spirit of inquiry had bed
at work, which conveyed message of bole
for the future. There is no dor I'll,
these conferences, these annual ext Oh
Of the working classes-especially il Ike
old world-are destined to effect a social RI.
vOlution and insure the success of Republicko |
institutions. Such are the corrupting IL
iuences of wealth such the destinations kf |
aristocratic tinsel, and 60 intimate our
latiOnship with European Society, that w|s
ma many Of its most Objectionable featured.
being incorporated upon our social stru{-
lure consequently any movement tendiAg
y uProot them cannot but exert benefcikl
influence IN our own and other lands
The mode of selecting the srb;oo.. 4.
discussed is far superior to that adonteda =
our Congress. By announcing them
in advance Of the meeting The varion.
CARNATIONS are enabled to thoroughly
anime and understand them, consrouork
the delegates, in representing The viewslor
their constituents arc prepared to givl
resson for the hope that is in them, andIbv
this method an exhaustive and intelIis Mt
difcus'iOn is generally secured, while in Eur
own country the debates partake too MI ch