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Inaugural Address of the International Workingmen's Association
Marx, Karl
http://www.connexions.org/CxLibrary/Docs/CX5580-Inaugural.htmPublisher: International Workingmen's Association (The First International) Year Published: 1864 Resource Type: Article Cx Number: CX5580 Speech by Karl Marx to the founding meeting of the First International. Abstract: Excerpt: The lords of the land and the lords of capital will always use their political privileges for the defense and perpetuation of their economic monopolies. So far from promoting, they will continue to lay every possible impediment in the way of the emancipation of labour... To conquer political power has, therefore, become the great duty of the working classes. They seem to have comprehended this, for in England, Germany, Italy, and France, there have taken place simultaneous revivals, and simultaneous efforts are being made at the political organization of the workingmen's party. One element of success they possess - numbers; but numbers weigh in the balance only if united by combination and led by knowledge. Past experience has shown how disregard of that bond of brotherhood which ought to exist between the workmen of different countries, and incite them to stand firmly by each other in all their struggles for emancipation, will be chastised by the common discomfiture of their incoherent efforts. This thought prompted the workingmen of different countries assembled on September 28, 1864, in public meeting at St. Martin's Hall, to found the International Association. Subject Headings |