Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-19

TUEsQAY. DECEMBER 10, 1871.


TuEsaAY, DECEMBER 10, 1871.
The EnternafiOnals.
The funeral procession of the internationals,
in New York, Sunday, was very orderly and
quiet, and seems 10 have been a successful dem
oustration. The i'll judged action of the police
authorities forbidding it, which was finally re.
versed, drew general attention to it, and in this
way gave it more importance than would have
been possible il the authorities had allowed it to
take place a week earlier. For this reason the
procession was, doubtless, much larger than it
otherwise would have been. 1t was chiefly a
French demonstration having reference to the
execution of Rossel and some other chiefs of the
Paris communists; but sympathizing men Of
other Municipalities Joined it. There were in the
procession, besides the French, various Sec
tons consisting of Poles, Cubans En-
glishmen, Germans, Swiss, Irish Fcnans,
aud few Americans. portion of the latter
were individuals who have little in common
with workingmen, but who are usually on hand
when there is a chance for notoriety. Such we
Judge to be the Tabor reform" quality and
standing of several of them one being described
as a quack doctor who is ''always on hand in
times of excitement" and another as a real es-
1are broker who has big voice, is inclined to
oratory, and likes to be "mdgiSter reg in
stormy assembly" Woodruff < Clafin were
out in all their glory, "attred in dark blue
jackets, black dresses white collars, Alpine hats,
and broad crimson scarfs." But the French and
the great majority of those associated with
them, were quiet and earnest in their bearing.
Thieves were busy among the spectators, and it
is complained that the police "allowed" them to
operate.
The 1nternationae" is a European institu-
ton, which means great deal more than labor
reform, 1t means opposition to monarchs,
privileged classes, and class advantages of every
sort, and aims at a general reconstruction of So
ciety. Its purposes arc not adapted TO any
thing in the political or social condition of the
United States. The condition of workngmen
here is SO different from that of the same class
in the countries of Europe, that an American
labor reform association can not adopt the
ideas, aims, and methods of the European in
ternaonas, without wholly disquailying itself
for doing successful work in behalf of work
ingmcn in the United States. Here every one is
free to pursue happiness and prosperity in his
own way, provided he does no injustice to the
rights of others. Society has no class arrange
ments to hold back industry and thrift from
success and keep industrious workugmen
perpetually on the borders of starvation.
There is room for improvement here;
but there is nothing here to make it
reasonable TO group American working.
men with those of Europe and place
them Ender the banner of the 'Interna.
tionale.' Our sympathy will go naturally with
the oppressed people of Europe, and be on the
side of every sincere endeavor TO rescue them
from oppression and improve their condition
but in this there is nothing that can allow us to
misrepresent our own institutions and social
condition. So far as concerns workingmen,
ouc country is not like England, France, and
Germany; and tue things that need to be dom
here 10 secure improvement, are not like what
needs to be done in those countries. In this
respect, VIC have little or nothing in common
with them.
The European internationals appear not to
have reached the true idea of political and social
freedom. In their theory, the true state is pow
erful organization arranged on socialistic prin-
ciples, which does everything and leaves no
man free to pursue his own fortune in his own
way. Each must submit to what the common
wealth prescrbes and not TO attempt 10 act
freely for himself, and the commonwealth must
do lis best to make all comfortable This idea
pervades all their organizations and has not
been without influence in some of our labor re-
form associations. The leaders Of the "Inter-
rationale have very great desire to get control
of some country and organize it in accordance
with their theory. This led them to encourage
and aid the insurrectionary outbreak of the
Paris communists which organized re.
bellion against the regularly elected
constituent assembly. They hoped to
get control of France by means of this out
break. They have thought of Selling control
Of Belgium. They are now, probably, thinking
Of what may be possible for them in England,
bye and bye; but their "republc' is not cur
republic, and it will be some time, we suppose,
before their conception of the rights of man
comes to resemble that in which our institutions
were founded. Nevertheless, they are in search
OF better condition, and viii doubtless advance
to the higher and nobler ideal. 1t is unfortu-
nate for their influence in Europe that so many
Of their more active leaders are atheists and
talk Of sweeping away all religious institutions;
but this will change, for the human mind can
not rest in atheism.