The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-10-26
THE INTERNATIONAL.


At the last session Of the lnternationals,
as is generally known, it was resolved after
a somewhat stormy debate to remove the
executive headquarters from London to
New York While We have III word Of
encouragement for any class Of men or or
ganization which is aiming to accomplish,
through legitimate channels the elevation
of the Industrial classes, whether in Europe
or America, patriotism as well ~ duty I'M
pels US To admit that We believe this move
ment to be fraught with the utmost danger
alike To our institutions and the welfare Of
the producing classes However plausible
Or attractive their programme the patent
fact remains that the evils az which they so
Justly complain, are the outgrotrh OF mon
archicll institutions, and the means by
which they propose to Remove thol,,
repugnant to and subverslve of genuine
republican principles. Neither can W.
ignore the fact that they are striving for i'll
the main, for what W. have already obtain
~, nu matter how questionable thc ivy Ny
Ne have made Y; these privileges
Il IS needless 70 say We have not and
cannot have any sympathy with creed
which draws the line Of demarcation Ire
tween the native and foreign born citizen.
or which awards special privileges to the
former at the expense Of the latter but
We are equally opposed q the importation,
VI class IF intellectual dyspcptics, Who
refuse and who intend 70 refuse. allegiance
to our institutions making The United
States the theatre " their machina-
tIons and the working classes tho lupes 10y
which they can obtain little cheap motto
rety. We believe American mechanics
are perfectly able to manage their own IL
slit ltions, to redress through the lawfully
established means the ballot the Irlev-
ances VI which they complain. without the
ana or advice of professional narplnts.
The objects IF the international ana thu
means by which they arr prepared if nee
cssary to secure them, as developed in its
Congresses and the speeches Of its delegates,
are entirely distinct from those for which
the American mechanic is cunteudiug. In
country where individual enterprise has
been the keystone Of national success
where moral suasion is considered superior
~ brute force; where tho barricade ana
guillotlne are unknown; whore the ballot
instead Of the bullet furnishes the safety
valve and where the will uf tie people is
the supreme law Of the land no advocacy
Of their principles no resort To- their alter
native Is required.
But another and insupcrable objection
70 utilization under any circumstances. is
their open and avowed inhdelity. III the
labor movement in the United States. HI
religious test II any character has been re-
quired. Freedom If conscience in the
fullest acceptation Of the term, has always
been cheerfully conceded, but God forbid
that the day shall ever come. when infdel-
ity and disayowal Of an overriding proyi-
dence shall be required as a test Of loyalty
to lah"rs interests. We prefer the views
Of Newton nti-deluvian and behind the
age Cd as they may have been, 70 the more
modernized ideas Of the Nineteenth cen
fury atheist. W. propose to hold the OBJ
pressors of the poor to a strict accountable
ity, and prove their iniquity from a higher
standpoint, than that furnished by any
modern code of ethics. We propose to
base our demands and fortify our position
by an appeal to the book Of books, a tribu-
nal from which there can be no appeal.
In view Of these facts it bchoves those
to whom our labor organizations are for
the time being conhded, to take a thorough
and comprehensive view Of the situation,
and act accordingly. We have every faith
in their energy, patriotism, enlightened
judgement and devotion to labors interests
As matters stand, one of two alternatives
is presented organize without delay,
an Industrial Congress which shall reflect
and embody the sentiments Of the Ameri
can mechanic, in accordance with the
genius Of American institutions, or permit
purely foreign organization to SOW the
seeds Of distrust and discord, to dissemin-
ate principles antagonistic to every true
republican principles which must bring
confusion and anarchy in their train, and
eventually ennable their representatives to
hold an almost undisputed sway We
know some will smile at these prognostica-
tions let those laugh who win.