, 1874-02-07

bly, nm moro de1ieato question than TINT OF tho
" international" could come before tho Amori-
eau pooplo. Tho liberty Of tho press aud Of
speech, tho right Of discussion, and tho right to
assemble, we inust preBorvo; and yot wo must
300 to it that this liberty Of discussion, Of
speech, and Of assembling ntall not ond In a
Paris Commune or in the roign Of petroleum.
How shall wo ot1oct this ? Shall meetings Of
= certain ordcr DO prohibited? Shall discussion
Of certain questions DO !ntordictod7 ? To put
an oxtromo caae, shall 1t DO nude
unlawful at public moottnB Of work.
ingmon to prohibit tho agitation Of
The question whothor thoy had not better
take fotciblo poHBosslon Of tho City Government,
or divide the property Of tloir employers among
themselves? Which is the hotter method OF
procoduro--tllis, or to wait for some overt act on
thoir,part, and then oppose forco by force ? Or
shall all discussion which might probably end in
abreneh If tho poace be deemed unlawful and
all assemblies gotten up to discuss such quca-
tionB as whether, having no other means Of sup
port the faborora had not better tako possession
Of tho public funds for TINT purpose be prolib-
ftod The International Is in tho midst Of
us, and nc do not know how soon VIC may be
called upon to solve these questions. delicate ae
they are. Wo nood not rogrot, however, II tic
problem is forced upon lie Tor, aftor all, 1t is
only tho question, How slall Liberty boprescrv-
ol from dogenorating into Licenso7 How ius,,ro
order and not infringe the principles Of FREQ
dom ?-and tho sooner tho question Is solved
the bettor.
There are, evidently, two dangers attending
tho solution Of the question, tito danger Of
preventing License by sacrificing Liborty, or Of
permitting l.eeuse to destroy L'perty. And yot
grcat as thoae dangerB aro, and difficult OF
avoidance, avoided thoy must be; aud tho
question, How tho Republic will donl with tho
Internationa17 constttutionally settled. Wo
must not doludo ourselves that tho Intorna-
tionalistg will give us no trouble. They aro Or
ganizod in this country, aud they are not or
ganized here for no purpose. Their objects aro
tho same hero IS everywhere. They may love
American independence and tho Stars and
Stripes we'll; they love tho International and
tho red flag better. The Constitution of tho
United States they accept; but only provision
ally, us the best stepping-stone possible to tho
principles OF Karl Marx.
To know the 'reaf designs and influence OF
this organization, and tho desperate character
OF many who are members OF 1t, VIC need to
keep our eyes on their doings tabroad.
Everybody remembers the Paris Commune,
and knows how deeply tho organization has
taken root in Trance. Germany ia infested
with Rods, and We are glad TINT the majority OF
them stay there. a writer in recent number
description Of the Germans who leave from
Hamburg for this country and other parts Of
tho world, aud Of tho laborerB and mechanics of
the town: tho former, solid, honest, thrifty,
taking MI adtou OF thoir country, In company with
thoir wives and children, as industrious as thom-
selves; tho latter, mon Of less inviting nppoar-
ance, gathered at the socialisto clubs, wifo1esa
aud childless, discussing strange theories of
government and OF tho family, arguing that tho
relation Of husband md vito Ia but q 4'hlstorio
the woman who freely gives hor love to any man
is not prostitute but tho woman Of the fu-
ture." In Berlin, these samo men amuse
themselves by breaking up the meetings
Of such voters as they cnnnot torrify,
80 that tile latter havc to deliberate
only With closed doors. Tho strange pnrt Of 1t is,
that this has bean going on for some time and
the Government Inns not i11tarfored. There is
scarcely quarter OF tue globe which tho Inter-
national has not penotrated. Only last month,
in Belgrade, in seryia, tho Parliament, or
Schuosch tina, had q stormy debate on tho best
means Of meeting the proletariat and holding
them in check. Whatevor way NC turn we find
tho same thing,-the International at work,
growing boldes III every country st each success
no matter when, how, OF where obtained.