The Labor enquirer., 1885-01-31
INTERNATIONAL
Past Great Deeds Of This Grand
/ Association Of Working
People. .,

How 1t Was Organized in London in
1S62-Its Aims, Ends and
Objects.
The International Workmen's Asso-
citation, world famous under the abbre-
Waited title, the Internationale, was
founded on the 5th of August, 1852, at the
tavern des Franc-Maeons, London, Eng
land.
1t has already become part of history
and the following brief resume of its
career is condensed from a voluminous
account in the latest edition of the En-
cyclopadia Britannica and from other
authentic sources.
The occasion of the formation of the
lInternationale was the visit of some
EFeSrh gaykpe ast8 The London exhibi, !,
ton in 1862. In the course 6f the s1fsitf
the French delegates were cordially well
coined at an entertainment at the Tavern
des Maeons where the labor question
was discussed and further interchange
of ideas expressed. A preliminary in
ternational alliance offensive and defen-
siye of all the workmen of the world was
there projected.
In 1864 great public meeting of work.
ingmen of all nations was held at St.
Martins hall at which Professor Beasly
presided. Here aprovislonal committee
was appointed to draft constitution of
the new association.
In this constitution which was ap-
proved at the first congress held at
Geneva in 1866, and in a remarkable adj
dress issued by the committee, Me aim
of the Internationale is defined in>Cear
and able terms.
1t was set for that Notwithstanding the
vast development of industry and the
enormous accumulation Of national
wealth the lot Of the working class was
as hard as ever. All the recent revolu-
tions and refoIms had been achieved
only in the interest of the middle classes
leaving the position of the working man
unimproved. The emancipation of the
workingmen must be the task of the
worBiDgmen themselves. With this
view the 1nternatlonale was founded,
which while it recognized truth, justice
al rpnr,litI, tho IoCic Of 10
without distinction of creed, nationality
and color would serve a COMMON CENTER
for the efforts of workingmen toward
their complete deliverance from the
tyranny of capital
A general council having it's seat in
London was appointed which was to
hold annual congresses and exercise
general control over the affairs of the I
association while local societies were
allowed free play III all questions In
September, 1866, a general congress was
held at Geneva; in 1867 at Lausanne; in
1868 at Brussels; in 1869 at Basle and III
subsequent years at other towns. In
1872 at Geneva, the party of action under
BakOunine withdrew. In 1874 the last
public congress was held at Geneva.
And until two years ago no further
move was made.
In 1880, secret congress of both reYO-
lutionists and men who believed only IN
education assembled in London and
quietly reorganized the International
upon the grouO system of Bakounine for
educational purposes only, the intention
being to enlist and educate all Workmen
lect IN the future the proper material for
the party of action. This action was
sensible and wise, in furtherance of it,
a congress was called in London last De-
Cember Our readers will remember \
that Prince krapOtkin was present there.
The great congress held at Copenhagen
in February, in returning from which
Bebel was arrested, was also council of
the International.
Advices received from New York, Phi.
ladelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, Omaha. San
Francisco and New Orleans speak of its
rapid organization there, and of the sue
cess and favor it meets WITH
The International before the reorgani-
cation was the moving spirit of the reVo-
luton of 1871 in France, and the estab-
lishment of the WOrkmen's government
in Barcelona, Seville, Cadiz and Cartha-
gena, in Spain, in 1873 That these at
tempts failed was due to weakness, was
due to action being taken before the peo-
pie were prepared.
The issue of the hour now is to edu-
cate the people. When that is done,
success is certain.
! For the old International and its
glorious work, let us have reverence.
For the new with its magnifcent posi-
bilities, let US have service. aid and ad-
herence
Now is the time and the hour to move.
Let us do it without fear.
According to private information which
reaches us from Russia, the progress of
the Revolutionary Nihilist party is said
! to be something extraordinary and ia