Year: 1871

L
| Revolutionary Spirit OF the Age.


| DR.. Karl Marx, the great chief of the Inter-
national, Is dead, as may be seen by our cable
news from Europe. This event will be both a
cause of grief to the society in which he was
so prominent and Of rejoicing to the monarchs,
rulers and aristocracies of Europe. He was
an able man and a great organizer, and his
death will be felt by the Internationals; but
his work will live after him, for he has done
more than any other man to give shape and
| power to the associations of the working
classes In Europe. Still his death will not
break up the International. Theoretic and
impracticable as may be some Of the views of
this organization, it is based on principle
that cannot be ignored in this enlightened and
progressive age It springs from the neces-
sity that is felt everywhere of enfranchising
the working people, of aleviatng their con-
dition, and of giving them more equitable
proportion of the product of their labor. The
magnetic telegraph, rapid communication by
railroads, steam power, the astonishing inven-
tions of the time, with the press and other
enlightening and quickening influences of the
age, are elevatng the masses, and teaching
them 10 aspire to better condition. These
movements have led to the creation of the
Internationally the organization and af1ilia-
ton of societies In all the civilized countries Of
the world and aggregating millions Of men, for
| a common object.
London appears to be the centre of this
numerous and powerful organization. This is
natural, for not only is the capital of Great
Britain the most populous city in the world,
but there the people have the greatest liberty
of speech and action. London, too, is the city
Of refuge for all prescribed revolutionists, poll
tcians and political writer's. 1t is the cal
dron in which the advanced ideas of Europe
are constantly fermenting. Paris is another
centre, and in some respects more active
one than London. At least the International
was seen more active there of late than else
where. This arose, probably, from the extra
ordinary state of things into which that city
was thrown by the war and the revolution that
followed. There is no doubt that it affiliated
with, if it did not control, the Commune in
the desperate struggle the latter made with
the Theirs government But 1t Is evident the
International has its ramifcations in all the
large cities of Europe as well as in the towns
and rural districts. 1t has connections even
in the United States, where there is less need
for them than in any other part of the world


The conservative or reactionary press of
Europe is endeavoring to create alarm of this
formidable society, and is calling earnestly
upon the governments to crush it. The govern
ments privileged classes and capitalists are in
dread, and would willingly seize it by the throat
If they dare and knew how to do 80. But
they are afraid to enter upon the strug-
gle. To them the International is
monstrous spectre, visible everywhere,
but intangible, and moving as irresistibly as
the winds or currents of the ocean. Is it not
the avenging Nemesis which has grown out Of
modern civilization to punish the oppression
of the past. and to give to the mass of man
kind ghtf sRa pysasss 5Hg ages Zig of ignorance and
darkness2 At least such appears to be the
fear of the governing few and the thought of
the many. The International is the embodi-
ment of the revolution which underlies all the
governments and society Of Europe-the po-
litical, social and moral earthquake that has
b en- breaking out and continues to break out
| in one spot or another as the elements prove
favorable. The radicals Of England, the ultra
republicans and socialists of France, the Car
bonari OF Italy, the Fenians Of Ireland, the
republicans of Spain and Germany, many Of
the most extensive workingmen's associations
in all parts Of the world, the revolutionary So
ciety of Russia, the womens rights
societies and nearly all revolutionary move
ments Of the time, are connected, directly or
indirectly, with the International. Though
the International may act Independently Of
some of these and be distinct organization,
they all are in sympathy one with the other
1t is very well to talk about crushing the
International, but not 80 easy to do 80. The
attempt might set Europe in blaze Of revo-
luton. It might overturn the monarches and
inaugurate reign Of horrors more appalling
than those in Paris lately or of the first
French Revolution Ideas and the aspirations
of the masses, in this age, cannot be crashed
out under the tread OF colossal armies or by
the repressive, reactionary measures of gov
ernment.


Admitting that the character, object and
conduct of the International have been mis-
represented to some extent by the govern
ments of Europe, their agents and reaction
airy press; that the International has been
blackened by the advocates of despotsm for
political effective cannot close our eyes to
the fact that this society holds some theories
that may prove dangerous to order, progress
and the rights Of property. The dosmas Of
socialism and communism, which some of
the Internationals at least, hold, could
not advance the cause of civilization. The at