Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-08-24
WORLDS CONGRESS-
THE LONG SILENT WORKMEN
EXPRESS THEMSELVES.
All OF One Mind On Essentials The
Political Tactics of the Social.
ist Party of the United
States Practically
Endorsed,

Until the official report, now in course
of preparation, of the Socialist Congress
held in Paris last month, is promul-
gated, any attempt of those not in pos
session of the minutes and documents
the proceedings must fall far short of
perfection. The variety of languages
spoken, the faulty organization, and the
consequent confusion more or less
marked at different stages of the pro-
ceedings, it may easily be imagined,
preclude that degree of accuracy which
should characterize a formal report.
While awaiting the issuance of the Off
cial protocol, however, it may not be
out Of place to make some general re-
marks in addition to those which have
already appeared in these columns.
The Socialist Party's delegate arrived
at the place of meeting two days later
than the average record of the steamer
he sailed on warranted him in calculat.
ing upon. Some slight defect caused an
inadequate supply of steam, and the
speed of the vessel was thereby lessened, ,
so that instead of arriving at Havre on
the morning of July ID, the anchor was
not dropped till the 18th, and further
delay of the special train until p. m.
only enabled the delegate to reach Paris
in the evening. This was why he did
not make his appearance at the Con-
gress till the morning of the 10th, and
not, as some capitalist papers and their
copyists had it, because he attended
another congress by mistake. After
handing his credentials to the Secretary
he took his seat and listened to the dis
cussion which was taking place on the
question of attempting further to secure
a union with the so-called Possibilist
Congress. This name "Possibilist" as
applied is local, and could not well ap-
ply to the foreign delegates, many of
whom were Socialists of the same cal
ibre as those who attended the Socialist
Tor, Partisan, "MarXist') Congress. The
American Socialist delegate attempted
to speak in favor of making further eff
forts at union, sending up his name to
the managing bureau several times, but
a vote was taken in favor of cl6ture,
notwithstanding that the delegates from
various countries represented had not
all been heard. A vigorous protest on
the part of the American delegate, sup
ported by the Italian delegate, Costa,
amidst cries of "Sit DOWN. from Eng
lish anarchists, procured him the oppor-
tunlty of suggesting that representa-
tives from each country be heard, which
was finally adopted, and it soon became
apparent that the majority of the for
eigners We're in favor of unconditional
fusion. But the French delegates and
the handful of English anarchists pres
ent were opposed, while the Germans,
over eighty in number, agreed with a
resolution of Liebknechts, which i'm
posed conditions which it was plain
would not be accepted. Liebknecht's
resolution was then adopted on a vote
by nationalities.
Wednesday morning arrived without
the definite set tlement of the fusion
question. 1t was decided to hear the
reports of delegates. August Bebel, the
German parliamentarian, reported con-
cerning the movement in Germany.
Peter Lavrotf, the Russian philosopher
and writer, spoke of Russian affairs.
Jules Guesde followed with an eloquent
speech on the Socialist movement in
France, in which he SAID that there
were 445 Sections of the Socialist Party
in France, while the Possibilists were
confined to Paris. He was sure that the
Socialists would succeed in France.
Meanwhile the Dutch and Italian dele
gates, Nieuwenhuis and Cipriani, re-
turned from the "Possibilist' Congress,
and reported that the terms of fusion
presented were refused.
On Thursday morning William Morris
reported for the Socialist League IA
semi-anarchist organization; he spoke