The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-07-15
Written for the ADVOCATE
The International in England.
BY C. OSBORNE WARD.

BY c. OSBORNE WARD.
In giving you a view of this important
organization Of workingmen, already mem
orialized in history, have reserved, for
the last letter, the history Of its birthplace
the locality, not of its conception, but
of its leap into organized existence, and
the place of its head centre and general
direction Notwithstanding the importance
which attaches to it, by reason of these
great events in France, the place of its
birth is, Of all others, most suggestive
since it is here that it's career is marked
with its most peculiar and vital characteris-
tic, that of Cancellation and agglommera-
ton. This characteristic has, in fact shown
itself to be the signal one of its whole ca
reer. England is agItated with awful
political throes. These irrepressible ag-
ltations are the fruit of an immense but
miscellaneous organization of her workmen.
She has among her friendly societies a reg
ularly published list Of !2,026 societies,
containing over a million and half of
workingmen. Her trades unions are
l.250,000 strong. Her cooperative soci--
etles are gradually trailing up, until, at my
last visit, their numbers had last increased
to 800, 900 innumerable other and kindred
organizations are springiDg out cf this
moral soil, whose peculiar fertility is more
propitious Of late, 10 emancipation Of wages
slavery, than to the perpetuation OF aristo-
cracies.
But these vast elemens of force in the
right direction were unknown to each other
Their growth haG been based on objects Of
individual improvement, and their career
did not run in parallel lines. There was
relationship in their origin and history,
an affinity in character and object, but no
ANAL gamation or affiiation and while they
fought for parallel interests, they harrassed
each others fanks on the march.
1t remained obviously the duty Of the
International Association of Workngmen
to work up these cancellations. The lncip-
lent germs Of this society are said to be
Polish. The noble struggle of the Poles
excited, in 1868, the openly expressed sym
pathy of all civilized people. 10 Paris and
London this sympathy was shared more
especially by the working classes. At
moment of high excitement a meeting,
mostly Of workingmen, was called at st.
James Hall, London, April %, 1868.
Several French workingmen were present,
among whom, Tolain and FribOurg. This
meeting gave rise to the International So
ciety which was created out of the discus
sions it excited The London working
men invited the foreigners to conferences,
and after some consultation it was resolved
to hold another meeting. During the time
between these meetings, however, an ad-
dress was drawn up by Mr.. Odger to the
French sympathyzers in Paris, which was
received and answered with warmth. The
second meeting alluded to was held in the
st. Martins Hall, September %, 1864,
and was presided over by Mr.. Edward
Spencer Beesley, and it was here that the
International took on material existence and
became thing 1t went so far as TO ap-
point provisional council, and Mr.. Odger
was elected president. In November this
council adopted the rules Of the society,
and delivered an address The foresight
Of the council was manifested in calling an
international conference or congress of the
delegates from sympathyziDg workingmen's
societies in all parts of the world
This celebrated Congress convened at
Geneva, Sep. 8, 1866. From that moment
the tyrant Napoleon began to dog the In
ternational, and the innumerable arrests
and annoyances, waged by him and his har-
pies, are traceable to the monarch's fore
sight, in viewing, as be we'll might, in this
omenous organization the hand writing on
the wall. 1t is evident that the same omen
was shadowed over the souls of the mon
archists In England. Fenanism, which
was at that time argued 10 be deusion
practlced on the Irish, by ring Of sharks
to bag their honest contributions, and the
arlstocracy Of England taking advantage
OF the thus created susceptibilties, pushed
their surmlse, that they might thus give
the international a disreputable smack
among the workingmen Of England. All
these and many more have been the obsta-
cles met by the International, but nothing
is lnsuoerable to true progress.
1t was not until 1867 that the organiza-
ton began to show its aptitude and peculiar
qualities Of affillalion with the older trades
unions or organizations Of resistance. 1t
was late before it began to show its inher-
ent facility as a concilating medium be
tween parties on strike in different parts Of
the world. 1t. was not until 1868 that it
began to be practically explained that a
strike at Chemnitz, or Geneva, or Basil, or
elsewhere, might be supported by Subsidies
from fund at London, and that, therefore,
there was great incentive in principle,
before all trades unions, no matter of what
nationality, to unite in business reciprocity
cn as to insure success bv calcnlatinn as