The Irish standard., 1901-09-28
Ever Since the Early Sixties London Has
Been the Headquarters of
All Conspirators
The Anarchists are Split into Two Sections
with Different Men as the
Leaders of Them.

pean revolutionists and agitators.
Marx, Bakunin, Stepnich, Aveling,
Kropotkin had made it their head
quarters, and now at critical mo-
ment in the history of anarchism an
extremist came on the scene, who be-
lieved in putting into effect all the
dreams of Reclus, Proudhon, Kropot-
kin and others, after the revolutionary
ideas of Bakunin.
This man was Herr Johann Most,
who had been expelled from Berlin in
1879, after Germany had begun to leg
islate against the Social-D Democrats
and all their ilk. Most soon took hold
Of the extremists of all nations then
gathered in London and formed a
secret "Propagandist Club" to carry
on an international revolutionary agi-
tation and to prepare directly for the
general revolution which Most thought
was near at hand. For this purpose
committee was to be formed in every
country in order to form groups after
the Nihilists' pattern, and at the proper
time to take the lead of the movement.
The activity of all these national Or
ganizations was to be united in the
central committee in London, which
was an international body. The organ
of the organization was to be the
Freedom
The following of this new move
ment grew rapidly in every country,
and in 1881 a great demonstration Of
Most's ideas took place at the mem
orable International Revolutionary
Congress in London, the holding of
which was mainly due to the initiative
of Most and the weu-known Nihilist,
Hartmann.
Already in April, 1881, preliminary
congress had been held in Paris, at
which the procedure Of the "Parlia-
mentary Socialists had been rejected,
since only social revolution was re-
garded as remedy. In the struggle
against present-day society all and
any means were looked upon as right
and justifiable; and in view of this
the distribution of leaflets, the sending
of emissaries and the use Of explosives
were recommended. A German living
in London had proposed an amend.
ment involving the forcible removal
of all potentates after the manner Of
the assassination of the Russian Gar,
but this was rejected as "at present
not yet suitable"
The congress following this prelim-
mary one took place in London on
July IA to 10, 1881, and was attended
by about forty delegates, the repre-
sentatives of several hundred groups.
1t announced its principles as follows:
"The revolutionaries af all countries
are uniting into an international So
cial Revolutionary Working Mems
Association for the purpose Of social
revolution. The headquarters Of the
association is at London, and subcom-
mittees are formed in Paris, Geneva
and New York. In every place where
like-minded supporters exist, sections
and an executive committee of three
persons are to be formed. The COM
mittees of q country are to keep up
with one another, and with the cen.
tral committee, regular communica-
ton by means Of continual reports
and information, have to collect mon
ey for the purchase of poison and
weapons, as well as to find places
suitable for laying mines, and so on
1c attain the proposed end, the ami.
hilation of all rulers, Ministers OF
State, nobility, the clergy, the most
prominent capitalists and other ex.
ploiters, any means are permissible,
and therefore great attention should
be given especially to the study Of
chemistry and the preparation Of ex-
plosives, as being the most important
weapons. Together with the chief
committee in London there will also
be established an executive committee
Of international composition and an
information bureau, whose duty is to
carry out the decisions Of the chief