THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY.- WHAT IS IT?

Dunstan Times, Issue 497, 27 October 1871, Page 3

THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY.WHAT IS IT?

—o — Frequent reference 7 is 'made in 'English papers to this Society. We give some extracts tending to showj itsj_extcnt_ and aims. The Paris correspondent of the Timet writes:—“We are. constantly receiving fuller details in regard to the organisation of this Society, which has, in fact only attained its real development and acquired a complete organisation during the last four or five years, and is still.’scarcely old and strong enough to enter on its proposed programme of destroying— first, all religions: second the family lie; third, property; fourth, hereditary ri. hts; fifth, the national tie. But the rapidity with which it is spreading and extending its organisation into all countries leads one toj'anticipate that the day cannot be far distant when it will boldly declare itself in France. The hostility between the capitalist and the producing classes has long been at white heat. The days of June and the days of May, 1848 and 1871, have shown that the war between them is on in which no quarter is given, and nothoughtofcorapromiseisentcitained. But in countries where this state of feeling does not exist, or only exists in part, all that the Association asks is the help and sympathy of working men. But the sentiment created by obedience to this call is one which is terribly likely to lead men to more active co-operation. There have been contemporaneous insurrections before now in several countries, but the ends to which they were directed were different in every case, or at most only coincident in name. The insurrections with which th* Internationl Association promises to keep Europe supplied will have the same underlying object common to them all, will appeal to the same class in every country, and will rest their appeal upon wishes by which this class is everywhere actuated. Consequently its strength promises to become greater in proportion as its objects are mors fully proclaimed. It is a prospect which all who flatter themselves that the worst is over, and that the empire of law and order is now definitely restored, will do well to ponder carefully.” The San Francisco Bulletin cays;—To disseminate its doctrines, this society has scattered throughout Europe journals avowedly advocating its principl s. In Belgium it has seven weekly papers, three of which are printed iu Brussels, one at Antwerp, and three in the man factoring towns. Holland supports three international journals; Germany, three; Switzerland four; Hungary, one; and even in old Spain, a Communist sheet appears weekly at Barcelona. In great Britian and in this country there are several news-papers, which, if they do not inculcate, communism, pure and simple, are endeavoring to revolutionize the countries with socialistic doctrines. In fact this socialism is becoming the hydra-headed monster of modern times, and its temporary crushing at Paris only revealed its many ramifications, where, indeed, they were little suspected. Of the precise time of the organisation of this Internationalism is difficult to speak with certainty, but about three years since it was noted that a few leaders of English trades’ unions were continually called to the continent, and two were sent to America, avowedly with a view of establishing international trades’ unions, with a central office in London. In May last, the society issued an address which has been characterised as “exhaustive a piece of wickedness as was ever published.' Attached to it were signatures representing England, France, Germany, Holland Belgium, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Denmark, and the United States. One J. O. Gocarizo, whoever he may be, signed the address as the representative of America. Austria and Belguim have commenced legislating to put clown Internationalism by main force, and recent telegrams state a measure for a similar purpose is to be introduced into the French Assembly by the Thiers Government. How to counteract this spread of socialism is one of the puzzling problems of European statemanship. Penal statute s never yet accomplished much good in eradicating moral evils of this nature. Legislative repression would be considered as persecution, and so only give vitality to what it was intended to check.

Divorces arc obtained in Maryland without publicity. Husbands take tbeir wires out fishing, and lighten the boat. At the next meeting of the Congregation Club, says the Pacific, the Rev. J. Rowell will open discussion on recent theories respecting the state of the wicked after death. We trust the Rev. J. will touch upon the most recent theory of all—the one now for the first time promulgated by ourselves —namely, that the state of the wicked after death is very greatly preferable to the state of some of the pious in this life. It may not be so comfortable, but it is more honourable. —San Francisco News Letter. The Hokitika Hospital Committee have decided to institute criminal proceedings against the West Coast Times for publishing an alleged libellous article on the 2nd instant.