Year: 1872

From the London Times, Oct. u


We place before the public elsewhere


a trustworthy account of the origin


principles, and present aims of the now


notorious International Working Mems


Association. The most prominent refec


ton suggested to the reader will probably


be one of perplexity at such an extra.


ordinary medley of sense and folly,


practical aims and visionary utopias,


economical ends and the most extrava.


agant political means. Looming through


mist of long words we seem to see the


simple STRINGS of a natural ambition to


assert a more definite place in the great
world of national and international action
but, like children grasping at a light,
these new politicians stretch beyond it
into darkness, and grope amid distant
confusion for objects close at their feet.
If the writers of some of these maifestos
could but be little more moderate and
accurate in their language, they would
express opinions and aspirations which
they have, at all events, perfect right to
entertain. At the bottom of all these
mysterious attempts at the renovation of
society lies the simple fact that the i'm
provement in the conditions of life which
has been gradually spreading downwards
for centuries has now in no slight degree
reached the working class, that the de-
velopments of science and the extension
of trade have conferred on them measure
of wealth, of leisure, and of intelligence
which at once qualities and incites them
to take more prominent part in politics,
and to assert their influence more directly
in legislation and policy. We witness
but a further step in the process by which,
in this country at least, power has always
followed in the track of wealth and
knowledge, and by which class after class
has asserted its special influence and in
terests in the government of the country.
If Mr.. 0dger would not complete his
proposition in such terribly hard words,
nothing could be more reasonable than
his invitation to the Working Men i" to
bring their reason and moral right to
bear with becoming dignity" on the
policy of Rulers and the legislation of
Parliaments. Men who realize the i'm.
possibility of paternal administration will
rejoice at nothing so much as at the pros
pect of the great body of the people
acquiring the capacity and the power to
speak for themselves, to explain their
own wants, and secure an adequate atten-
ton to their interests, If any one is dis
turbed at this process abroad, we can re-
assure him by our experience in this
country. 1t is the way we have got on
from the beginning, and we have well
,omed the recent extension of the suffrage
% the working class as the natural de-
relopment of our institutions. We listen,
therefore,, to all this defamation with
atis6ed confidence that in the sober light
# day, and corrected by the reflections
# multitude of minds, it will resolve
tself into recognition of our old
ashioned, just, and patient method of
edressing grievances, and satisfying the
easonable claims of all classes.


In fact, nothing is more surprising in
his recital than that the Working Men
Fho are dreaming these dreams should
ot see that they are themselves refuting
heir own denunciations, and convicting