The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-10-23


Owing to the fact that the ADVOCATES
continuation Of the proceedings Of the
Workingmen's International Convention has
failed to come to hand, we clip the following
from the correspondence Of the Chicago
Tribune
WEDNESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
After the minutes Of the previous days
session had been read and adopted, long
and desultory discussion arpse rs to the au-
thority which should be vested in the gene
raj and local councils also as to the best
means by which the proceedings # the Con-
gress could be brought before the people
The debate, which lasted during the entire
day, was productive Of little, if any, practi-
al benefit. Adjourned.
THURSDAY, Sept. 9.
The Congress assembled as usual, at 0 A.
NJ, when the minutes Of the previous davis
session were read and approved. The Com
mittee on the Land Question read a some
what voluminous report, which, after
lengthy discussion, resolved itself into the
following resolutions:
l. This congress declares that society has
a right to abolish private property in land,
and TO make it common property.
2. There is necessity to make this
change.
Eccarius (London) proposed that the re-
solution Of the General Council, affirming
the declaration Of the Brussels Congress, be
confirmed. Il reals as follows:
+" The Congress thinks that the economic
al development of modern society will Gre
ate the social necessity Of converting arabic
land into the common property of society,
and Of letting the soil, on behalf Of tie state,
TO agricultural companies, under conditions
analogous t. those stated in regard to mines
and railroads" The conditions are, that
they be let TO companies Of workingmen (not
to capitalists, as at presently, bound by con-
tract to guarantee to society the rational and
scientific working Of the railways, &c, at q
price, as nearly as possible approximate to
the working expenses. The same contract
should reserve TO the state the right to veri-
fy the accounts Of the companies, SO as to
prevent the reconstruction OF monopolies. A
second contract ought to guarantee the mu-
tual rights Of eacn member in respect to his
fellows
In the discussion which followed, Che
male (Parls) said that the sol was the means
Of labor; common property never Tad ex-
listed, and for that reason never would
exist
Cowell Stepney (London) said He would
not trench upon the Brussels resolutions,
which he considered homogeneous. The
collective wisdom was always superior to
that of the individual. Mere private inter
ests must disappear before the interests Of
the community.
Gegg (Geneva) said the soil was for those
who WpnlA cultivate and al had
had q right to possess it. By religious pre-
JUDGES and the force Of arms, mankind had
been enslaved for the benefit Of the few. 1t
had led to Serfdom, and though that was
abolished now, wage slavery still existed,
The abolition Of wage labor would abolish
the power Of one man to live upon the labor
another.
Lucraft Nondon) was in favor Of the land
eng the property Of the state, and beng
ltiVatei BY the state, under the direction
committees. He did not want the land
vded into small lots. 1t could be calti-
Dated on large scale, by machinery, for the
ene6t Of the people. He.also combatted
On emale. The English and German dele
yates especially, seemed to enjoy the idea OF
acknowledging the principle that whatever
is is right.
The Congress then adjourned, to meet
again at o'clock next morning.
FRIDAY, Sept. 10.
The Congress- assembled according to ad
tournament, at 9 O'Clock, President Jung in
the chair.
After the minutes Of the previous days
session had been read and approved. the dis
cussion on the land question was resumed,
Aanlarad hak -
Congress had no right to pass resolutions on
the land question in the absence of the agri
culturists-
Eccarius London) replied that on the
same principle it hal no reason to pass any
resolutions regarding the right Of inherit
ance OF the church, because the landlords
and bishops were not present.
Richard (Ls ons) said TC was no reason
that property could not be made collective
simply because II had never bad been so.
We had already had too much experience 10
private property.
Langlols (Paris) was in favor Of common
property in land, but Of individual cultiva-
ton. II the land was made common prop
erty, under existing society, the French peas
antry would be opposed to the whole
scheme, and it would ultimately lead to civil
= war.
Bruhin (Basel) said the soil was given to
mankind. Society disposed Of 1t according
to It's wants. In baroArous state, the soil
is either cultivated 10 common, or let out on
certain conditions. History records that BY
conquest nations have been enslaved. In
free states, some few appropriated the soil,
as in Rome In modern society land has
been sold to great capitalists, who have ex
tnguished the small farmer. Private prop
erty IN land is a historical fact, but the peO
PIES welfare is the highest law, and if pri
vate property is mi urious 1t must be ab0l-
ished, but only By the expressed desire Of
the majority Of the people.
Backounine (Naples) said: Formerly nj
norities out now maJoritles, represented the
interests of the people. Formerly it was tn
middle class, now it was the working clas,,
who held the reins Of power ia their hanGs.
We bad heard Of the intelligence Of the in
dividual. There was something more idtel-
ligent than that, viz: The intelligence Of
"collectivitv.' Tolain had said that the
land had been acquired by agreement, and
that such agreement led 10 freedom, which
was a lalacy. 1t lad been acquired BY
force, and it was the business OF the Inter
national to bring about freedom.
\ LeSsner London) combatted Cnemale,
who had said that common property in land
would lead TO Communism. Whist was
meant by the expressiou2 He, as commu-
MIST, demanded that every child should be
educated, and that every maa who was will
ing to work should have the means to do 80,
so that he could lead the life worthy OF a
human being. Ii has been said that we
ought not to pass q resolution in the absence
of the pessantry. Our highest duty is to
enlighten them. In ITO there were Csc, 900