Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-12
The International.

In introducing his bill for labor commiss'o on
which was passed by congress few weeks
since-Hon. George F. Hoar, of Massachusetts,
made an allusion TO the International, which being
incorrectly reported, occasioned some comment
in various newspapers. With Mr.. Hoar's con-
sent. the Christian Union publishes the follow.
ing private letter from him, written in answer
to an inquiry about sources of information re-
garding the society:
WASHINGTON, Jan. 80, 1872.
lfy Dear Sir; A work in French, by Eccarus
an article in Atlantic Monthly of about MAY
1871, entitled aggressive labor combinations
or something like it; an article in the Londor
Times of about October last, ofseveral columns
the Fortnightly Review for The past tive or sly
wears, pdSsinl; these and many newspaper ar
ticeS, of which Mr.. Mcpherson, clerk of The
house, has a collection, are the sources of in
formation, so lar as | know, about the in ter
rationale.
There was nothing about it in the bill to
which you refer The newspapers reported me
as saying, in a few remarks which made in in
Producing it, that the internationale was "com-
posed of the leading minds Of Europe" did
not say that, but merely that a meeting in En-
gland which ADOPTED some rules which qnoted
was composed of their leading minds Chat is,
the leading minds Of the Internationally from
then expressed. and now have, strong SYM
pathy for the ihternationale for this reason.
The four things on which understand them to
be agreed are
/. That there is relation existing between
the laboring men of different countries stronger
than that which attaches them to their respect.
i've s0yereigns.
,. That they will not permit their rulers
any longer to use them as instruments for max
ng war on each other. or for lowering wages by
using the workmen of different countries to I'm.
derbid each other.
3. That they will take all means to throw light
on the condition of the working classes every
where by gathering accurate and thorough STA
tistical information.
4. That education at the public charge is to
he insisted on as the right OF every man, aud as
the Indispensable condition Of a remedy for ex-
lsting evils
do not at this moment think of anything
else TO which the IllterHdtiOnGIe can be said to
have committed Itself. Perhaps its members
have so generally expressed their belief that nat.
ura wealth, as they term it, should not be per
mitted TO be engrossed by individuals to any
considerable degree, that that also may be
termed one of their doctrines. ! am not aware
that they are agreed on any measure to prevent
this, Or even agreed that it can be prevented by
any dnect eXertion of public Authority.
Of course Sucn movement cannot 20 fal
| without attracting 10 itself many violent ant
| visionary persons who would attack the law!
| which are indispensable to all profitable indus
| try and to human society itself 1t is not sur
prising that after so many centuries of guoranc,
the laboring classes should themselves be some
| times deluded by such men. Bat | am not on,
| IF those who would say, "How foolish TO restor
these men their sight. They see men only al
trees walking" Ii is the oil disease and no
the new health which distorts the vision for
time. The existing order of things in every
principal European state, in crushing into ignor
ance and poverty millions ofhuman souls, causes
every year crimes thOusand-iold greater thar
all the eX .esses of the commune.
meant when / took up my pen only to ans wer
your gu 'stion. see have been led TO write
much MORE which pray excuse
am yours very respectfully,
GEO. F. HoAR.