The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-02-03
international WOTkingmens Association

There being such a wide diversity o.
opinion in reference to the objects of this
Association which is giving the crowned
heads of Europe SO much trouble, and
which has recently compelled the New York
authorities to respect their rights, we are
glad to be able to place before our readers
the following letter from John Hales, Gen
eral Secretary of the International, to the
Dundee Republican Club, who wrote to in
quire into the principles Of the lnteina-
tional
Int. WoRKINGMES' : ASSOCIATION,
256 High Holborn, London, e. w.
My DEAR SIR i received your letter,
and have much pleasure i'll answering 1t,
though do not consider the association OF
which | am the Secretary under any obj
CATION to defend itself The International
is an association worthy Of the support Of
every worker, as it represents the interests
and aspirations Of labor, and labor alone.
\ 1t looks upon the human race as one great
family, and seeks to unite the workers of
all countries in one fraternal bond, ire
spective If all differences of nationality,
J language, color, creed, or trade, and aims
I at the reconstruction Of society upon labor
basis. 1t considers that labor, Of either
I brain OF hand. should be the only condition
Of citizenship. and claims for every person
I born the right to labor and the right to live,
upon the condition that lie or she performs
I a fair share Of the labor that may be re
quired by society. 1t seeks to substitute
realities for shams. and give all equal rights,
based upon fraternity of interests, and
guarantees to all the liberty to live instead
Of the liberty to starve, which they now
possess. 1t is both political and social, and
its action depends much upon the peculiar
circumstances and condition of each coun-
try, but it always acts i'll the interests of the
working class At the present time it is
actively supporting the engineers Of New
castle in their struggle for a reduction Of the
hours If labor 1t is organized upon the
I federative plan. and each section or branch
I has full liberty Of action so long as nothing
is done antagonistic to the principles Of the
association. and may take up any question
\ it may deem calculated to advance the in
\ terests Of its members, either national OF
\ local. parliamentary or municipal, political
I or social In Belgium it has occupied itself
I Cllltllh Will tllt SbNltli o-hiAiSt Nfhl
I ital in France it has occupied itself with
\ politics in Germany, ON the other hand,
\ the two questions have gone hand i'll hand,
and while the social question has not been
neglected, the political power has been
utilized, and four members have been re-
] turned to the German Parliament, where
I they have bearded Bismarck and protested
AGAINST the stealing Of Alsace and Lorraine.
/ The various Congresses held by the Asso-
/ citation Of Geneva, Lausanne, Brussels and
4 Basle discussed and adopted the following
/ points, which may, therefore, be said u
/ form the programme ef the International
4 ]. The total abolition of all class rule and
! all class privileges.
2 Complete political and social equality
Of both sexes.
3. Naturalization of the land, and Of all
| the instruments If production.
4. A reduction Of the hours of labor, Sc
as to allow more time for improvement and
recreation.
3. Education to be undertaken by the
State-to be obligatory, gratuitous and
secular
6. Religion to be ignored, as being q
speculative subject concerning the individ
ual. No religious differences or creeds t.
be recognized
:. The substitute of direct system o.
taxation based upon property, instead O
the present system Of levying taxation upoI
industry; the taxation to be progressive
8. The abolition of standing armies, a!
being a provocative to war.
9. The adoption Of the principle of asso
ciative production, with view to complete
ly supercede the present system Of capitals
production.
Other points Of minor interest have beel
discussed and likewise adopted, but thes
are the principal ones, and, | think, EN-
brace nearly all for which an agitation cal
be raised. ! think they are comprehensive
and comprise all the objects the variou
democratic and labor organizations ar
striving for, and | would submit, with al
due Difference, that it would be wise for yol
to join, and thus form part Of the most ho
mogeneous and powerful body yet organ
J lied in the interest Of the people. Hopin
, to hear from you, | remain yours frater
nally, JOHN HALEs,
General Secretary International.