Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-21

B aulAlc OtttcI aifC5dbtJAo III Lilc afLhtAS
(which this is, in part, rejoinder, but le
1 your readers get wearied, we forego Il
pleasure. a TEKNEssEEAN.
ngTERNATT OEAL W0RKING-MEN
ASSOCIATION.
/ At large meeting of working-men, he
in MeLure's Hall, Edgefeld, on Monds
night last, pursuant to previous call, G. {
Proctor was called to the chair, and NJ. ]
Ford, Secretary. Mr.. Proctor, in few pc
tinent remarks, explained the object of u
meeting to be to take Into consideration h
propriety of forming section Of the Inter
national Working mems Association
North America. BE said be was entirel
unacquaiuted with the purposes of the As
sociatis q, but had some documents whic
might throw some light on the matter, on
Of which he read as follows:
IL .sTHE PLATFORM.
81. The total abolition OF all class rub
| and all class privileges.
| '2. Complete political and social equalit!
1 for both sexes.
G3. Naturalization of the land and Of al
| the instruments of production.
81. A reduction of the hours of labor, 81
as to allow more time for improvement and
recreation. ~ &
as. Education to be undertaken by the
State-so be obligatory, gratuitous, and
secular.
a6. Religion to be ignored, as being 8
speculative subject, concerning the individ-
ual. Nc religious differences or creed to be
recognized. .=.
az. The substitution of direct system OF
taxation, based upon property, instead Of
the present system of leVying taxation upon
industry; the taxation TO be progressive.
@S. The abolition Of the standing army
as being provocative to war.
t'9. The adoption ofthe principle of asso-
ciatiye production, with view to the COM
plete suppression Of the present system of
capitalist production"
On motion, members of the press, if any
present, were invited to act as assistant
secretaries
Mr.. Frank Laid, a member of the Asso-
citation, was called upon, and after a few
explanatory remarks, read the following
utterances from the General Rules" of the
Association. Considering:
g@That the emancipation of the working
classes must be conquered by the working
classes themselves; that the struggle for
the emancipation of the WORKING classes
means not a struggle for class privileges
and monopolies, but for equal rights and
duties. and the abolition of all class rule.
"That the economical subsection of the
man Of labor to the monOpoliZer of the
means of labor-that is, the sources Of
life-lies at the bottom Of servitude in all
its forms, of all social misery, mental de-
graduation, aud political dependence.
ssThat the economical emancipation of
the working classes is therefore the great
end to which every political movement
ought 10 be subordinate as means"
SThat the emancipation Of labor is neith-
er local nor a national, but social prob
lem.n
"For these reasons the International
Workinemen's Association has been found
ed. 1t declares:
"That all societies and individuals adher-
ing to it, will acknowledge truth, justice,
and morality, as the basis of their conduct
towards each other, and toward all men,
without regard to color, creed, Or nation
aliGy;"
"That it acknowledges no rights toithom
lutieS, no duties ,vitheut rights"
Mr.. I4add then gave place to Mr.. He'll,
another member of the association, who
read a brief history of the association, af-
Ter which he at considerable length address
I'd the chair, and stated that he had partic-
pated in the organization of a section of
,he International Workngmen's AssOcia-
ion at Lawrence, Kansas, about nine
months ago, but was forced 70 leave the
place before the organization was fully
completed. He had given the subject some
and would try and explain
The object of the International to the best
Of his ability. He wished in the first place
10 disabuse the citizens present of the pop
llar error that the International Working
mems Association and the Paris Commune
we're one and the same organization. The
was an organization OF all
the object OF which was the
elevation of their condition. In one coun-
nv it might be found necessary to adopt
)ne policy, and different one in another
country. But this International Associa-
ion was an organization to unite the COM
non cause and avert the calamity of the
of one country moving TO the
letriment of their fellows of another coun-
~. In this country we had vital issues at
take, that in many countries in Europe
lad not yet been reached. And in Europe
here were principles commended for by The
masses that were already an accomplished
act with us, 1. e., the separation OF church
md State. He then went on to explain
certain sections in the Declaration of
Principles of the American Congress
Of the international Workingmen's
Association held in Philadelphia,
asst July. He spoke OF the danger
20 the interests of the working men Of stand
ng armies, of the great importance OF ed
lcation to the common masses, and of the
sacred duty each and every man owed to
Dosterity in affording them ample facilities
Tor the requirement of useful knowledge.
He adverted to the present corrupt condi-
Jon of politics in general, and expressed
belief that healthy reform could only be
expected to be reached through the work
ing classes, and only by their own efforts;
and he exhorted all to the necessity OF l.
termined action. He considered that the
general impression existing that capital and
abor were antagOnistic erroneous; but, as
capital was well organized, it was matter
Of necessity, of self preservation for LABOR 10
also organize; and the idea that one was
of the other he considered a
wrong one. One was dependent on the
other, but if either was independ-
ent he certainly considered that one labor,
or labor of necessity had to be performed
before capital could result from it, and that
,apital was simply the profit of labor.
Is was then moved that a committee, rep
'esenting the different branches of industry,
)e appointed, whose duty it shall be to in
7estigate the subject, and obtain from head
,et relative to the Association, and report to
n adjourned meeting of workingmen.
The chair appointed the following gentle
men said committee: James Strong, j. j.
3ouldin, J. Q. Coleman, B. E. Wallace, w.
:. McInturf, l.. A. He'll, John w. Bartlett,
Iem. Price, Henry Hutchison, c. H. Cur
an, o. W. Smith, John Taylor, G.. M.
Kerr and w. r. Cornelius.
On motion of Mr.. Wallace, the Chairman
md Secretary were added to the committee.
The Committee was then instructed to
arefully consider the matter and report to
future meeting as to the ACCESSIBILITY of
a section of the lnternationals
D this vicinity.
II was then determined that, when this
Meeting adjourn, it adjourn to meet again
{ the call of the Chairman.
A vote of thanks was rendered Messrs.
Iox Brothers for the use of the hall.
On motion, it was resolved that a copy OF
hese nrOcaadings he furnished the IJNION