Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-01-26
THR IvTERN.rTsO.N.sL.
WHAT IT IS, AND WHAT IT Is NOT.

citation of Workingmcn. The following ac-
count of its origin and aims we have pre-
pared with care, and believe IL TO be accur-
ate ms far as It goes, and as complete as it is
possible FROM existing data 10 make it. We
are inclined TO the opinion that the crgani-
zation has been misudged and made to an
swor for the sins of others. The strength of
the Association ii is impossible to estimate.
It is asserted by different authorities to
have from 10000 TO 100000 adherents in this
country. The estimates as to its strength
in other countries are no moro reliable.
1t was in 1899 that German workmen,
who had been driven in turn from their
own country and from France, found ref
uge in London, and the next year founded
branch of society then existing in
Frunce and Switzerland, the aim of which
was the dissemination of fcommunstic theo-
rlus, and which embraced in its member
ship Germans, Swedes, Poles, Danes and
Hungarans.
Later in ls47, the German communists
not the above mentioned society, but other
Germans, held conference in London,
Karl Marx, more recently noted as the
leader of the Iniernationals, being present.
The manifesto adopted by them declared
the aim of communism to be "the over
throw of the rule of capitalists by the acqui-
sition of political power Neither of these,
however. were the International, though
they deserve mention as being an earlier
organization than it, having nearly the
same end.
In 1860 Il "Trade Union, Manhood Suf-
frage Association was formed in England
which by the way, was very friendly to us
during the rebellion. 1t was in 1862 that
the International exhibition took place in
London, and the workingmen of Paris,
after considerable struggle, obtained the
privilege of choosing and sending to the
Exhibition representatives OF every leading
trade in Paris. The meetings of these men
with those equally prominent in England
suggest d, and had an important bearing
upon, the formation of the International.
It will he remembered that in 1868 the
Polish insurrection was in progress, and
upon the 22d of July, while a meeting to
express sympathy was being held in st.
james Hail. London, a delegation of French
workmen entered the Hall without notice,
were received cordially, and participated
| III the tNPIflStS. AZ tulS ulttllllS, VI 1T It's
c ose, the proposition for an international
Association was suggested; its first aim
being, of course, the expression of sympa-
| thy with the Polish insurrectionists while
| its second was the and'ng together of the
workmcn of Europe, to guard themselves
against their employers, who, when any
| conflict occurred as to the price of labor be-
| tween themselves and their work lmen, al
most always onquered-especially in Eng
| land-by threatening to hire cheaper for
| eigners. Their reasoning was that all
workingmen have common interest,
| without regard to their natonalities. The
~first meeting of the new society was held in
| St. Martins Hall, Sept. 2sth, 1864. Karl
Marx speaking for the French. Upon the
| question of Polish oppression, they were
outspoken, and turning from that subject to
one in which they were more directly in
tcrested denounced the combination Of cap
| ital against labo :, the course of employers
above referred to, and called for a union of
all workingmen for their own protection.
| \ ommitee was appointed to frame a code
| of rules, ETC., to be presented at meeting
of the International Workingmen's Con-
| grcss To be held in Brussels. The English
workingmen were prominent in this move
ment though there were a large number of
Germans, Frenchmen, Italians, Swiss and
| Poles connected with it. Odger was chosen
President of this Committee.
The platform adopted by it omitted, pur-
posely all reference to forms of govern
ment, leaving each member to be a Repub-
lican, a Monarchst, or Communist as he
chose. In England they purposed ratne'
to utilize the existing Trades Unions than
to work in conflict with them. They avow-
ed their confidence to he in the numbers of
the workingmen, and called upon the
workingmen to give more attention to
politics, and TO watch the action of their va
rlous governments more carefully.
Many of the foreign workingmenS soc-
cites Immediately joined the new organiza-
tion. Belgium, however, forbade the meet
ing of the Congress in Brussels, and it was
decided to hold ii in 1866 in Geneva. The
subjects assigned for discussion covered Il
wide range, embracing Trades Unions, CO.
operation, combination of workingmen for
protection against capital reduction of
hours of labor, the employment of women
and children, and the re-establishment of
Polish independence.
| The Convention met in 1866 in Geneva,
60 or more delegates being present, besides
others interested but not sent regularly.
They resolved in favor of corporations of
Trades Unions as organizing centres of
work knpmen in the interests of the eman-
cipation of labor; of the independence of
| Poland and against standing armies and
| the overworking of women and children.
| From that time to this the International
has made rapid progress, becoming the ac-
knowledged representative Of the most ad-
yanced laboring men in Europe and WELD
ing great influence.
Notwithstanding the fact that in its in
ception it ignored the question of govern
mental forms, the members, are, we think,
almost unanimously Republicans. So
manifest has this been that foreign govern
ments are constantly watching their move
ments, regarding them as the enemies of
a,onarvhy IN ~ cations. In Sna'n the
question was prominent among those which
broke up the Malcampo ministry last fall.
The Spanish Internationals, individually,
as well as the French, go far beyond Re-
publicanism in their demands, being radl-
cal communists. Their Spanish organ, re-
Gently, in an editorial upon republics, de-
nounced them, asserting that "they would
only serve to augment the predominance of
the middle classes" 1t may seem singu-
lar that in England and Switzerland, whore
labor is comparatively we'll treated, the In
ternational demands refer mainly to the
abolition of class rule, and the protection
of labor, whilo in France and Spain they
are, as we have said, communstic; from
which it is fair to deduce that Internation-
aism is but the reaction against greater or
less wrongs, and that the reaction is in al
most exact proportion to the wrongs suf-
!