The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-03

A special despatch to the HERALD, which
we publish in another column this morning,
states that the proposed conference of the rep
resentatives of England, Austria and France
is for the purpose of considering the ex-
tent and spread of the International Society
Of Workingmen. We are told that this
is really the object of the mooted meeting Of
Earl Granville, Count Beust and President
Theirs, though ostensibly the consideration OF
the Eastern Question Is its alleged object. In
order that the readers of the HERALD may I'M
derstand exactly the aims of this organization
attention, we publish this morning the re-
suit of an interview between the HERALD's
London correspondent and DR.. Karl Marx, the
Corresponding Secretary of the International
in the British metropolis. DR.. Marks EXPOSE
ton of the workings of the society, Its aims
and aspirations, its peculiarities and the char
acter of the men composing it, will, we feel
satisfied, be read with interest here, while it
will also tend to exhibit this powerful society
In somewhat different light from that in
which it has been generally represented to the
public.
According to the showing Of Dr. Marx the
International and tho Paris Commune were
not 80 closely allied as was generally sup
posed. Only five of the prominent members
Of the Commune leaders-Flourens, Dom
browski, Duval Rigault and Wellesley
were members of the International. Of these
the first four named are dead. Regarding the
other leaders, who were not Internationals, If
DR.. Marks estimate of them be true, more
impracticable set of idiotic blunderers it would
be impossible to conceive. The accidental and
alphabetical Assy. who became prominent
because his name commenced with an A, is
set down as an idiot; poor Pyatt, ''blower; !"
Flourens, q misguided philanthropist; Rossel,
an ambitious hypocrite; Rochefort, literary
Bohemian, and so on to the end of the chapter
of distinguished names which ilumine the sad
page Of the history of Paris under the Com
mune. Admitting that only five of the Com
mune leaders were members Of the Interna
tional there is no doubt that those men who
swelled the .insurgent army and committed
caused the destruction in Paris during the
dying hours of the Commune were members
of the International. The declaration Is not
sufficient that the International does not con-
template the destruction Of property. The
evil work was accomplished, and we must
judge the Internationals in Paris by their
labors.
The International Association of Workmen,
according to the best authorities, has existed
for more than six years. 1t was founded on
the 2sth of September, 1864, in London. A
provisional committee was appointed at the
meeting held on that day to frame statutes
for the society 1t was subsequently agreed
that q congress should be held in 1866. The
provisional committee In the meantime
undertook to place itself in communication
ties throughout the world. How well that
committee performed its task our readers can
easily conjecture from the interest which the
International at the present time claim In
Europe and America. At the present time
sections of the society exist in France, Eng
land, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Austria, Ger
many, Holland and the United States. In
Russia, owing to the stringent governmental
measures, it has had little or no opportunity !;
but the empire Of the Gear will not escape it's
influence, and if the programme already laid
down for the Introduction Of the society into
that country be carried out revolution is by
no means improbable or impossible.
From this it will be seen that the rami1ca-
tons of the International are such as to cause
the statesmen of Europe to regard with appre-
hension this fast growing organization. Its
aims are such as are calculated to attract
unthinking workingmen. The old cry that
capital is the oppressor of labor, and that the
master manufacturer, agriculturist or miner is
no better than tyrannical task driver, is raised
to seduce the unwary within the folds of the
society. The plan Of the Commune is to make
every man work, and to live on the profits Of
his labor. The day when individuals or cor
porations will fail to be able to control capital
and land is fast approaching, according to
cherished ideas of the society. An equal
distribution Of the goods of this life
10 Ill. VNO uldu Will NC TlCn 8CCOrQ-
ing to this grand arrangement or nc
man will be poor, for the State will compe
each and every man to labor. This is in brie
the fattering picture which the international
holds up to the gaze of the workingmen o.
Europe and America. Capital has had its day
according to these theorists. 1t has built rail
roads, extended commerce, covered the ocear
with steamers, opened forests, cut canals
delved into the deep recesses of the earth ant
pierced mountains These are the accom-
plishments of capital; now labor must step II
to reap its reward, and the International is t
be the means by which the accomplishment Il
| to be reached
Wild and impracticable as this reasoning
appears to sensible people, it is sufficient.
attractive to draw millions of men within tn
fold of the society which advocates ttes