154

THE  SOCIALISM  OF  TO-DAY.

lish,  in  each  country,  a  National  Association  of  all  Societies
existing  therein.”
Thus  the  International  was  to  be  constructed  like  a  pyramid,
founded  on  the  territorial  division  of  existing  Society  :  at  the
base  of  all  was  the  commune  ;  then,  from  the  grouping  of  communes, ­
  the  province  ;  from  the  grouping  of  provinces,  the
nation  ;  and,  to  crown  all,  from  the  grouping  of  nations,
humanity.  It  was  a  grand  idea,  recalling  that  of  the  Catholic
Church  ;  but  for  want  of  the  principle  of  authority  and
obedience,  the  national  grouping  of  sections  was  never  accomplished, ­
  even  in  France  or  Germany.
Each  section  and  each  federation  names  a  committee,
which  is  connected  with  the  General  Council.  Every  month
each  committee  sends  a  report  on  the  position  of  the  Associations ­
  within  its  jurisdiction.  The  General  Council  is  elected
by  the  representatives  of  the  federations.  Each  congress
determines  the  time  and  place  of  the  next  congress,  while  the
General  Council  settles  beforehand  the  questions  for  discussion,
and  presents  a  report  on  the  proceedings  of  the  year.  It  also
issues  a  circular  concerned  with  everything  likely  to  interest
working  men  :  offers  of,  and  demands  for,  labour  ;  wages  ;  the
progress  of  co-operative  societies  ;  the  situation  of  the  working
classes  in  different  countries.  It  is  in  permanent  relation  with
local  societies.  It  chooses  from  its  members  the  president,
the  secretary,  and  the  treasurer  of  the  association.  To  meet
the  ordinary  expenses  of  the  staff  and  of  publications,  a  subscription ­
  is  called  for.  The  members  pay,  in  the  first  place,
from  the  time  of  joining,  half  a  franc  a  year  for  the  general
fund,  and,  in  addition,  from  one  to  two  francs  for  the  local
section  or  federation.  To  assist  strikes,  further  resources  must
be  obtained.  By  a  very  cleverly  conceived  rule,  every  society
that  wished  to  affiliate  itself  was  allowed  to  retain  its  own
organization.  In  this  way  working  men’s  societies  of  all  kinds
could  be  absorbed,  provided  they  simply  declared  their
adhesion  to  the  principles  of  the  International.
The  debates  and  the  resolutions  of  the  first  congress  were
moderate.  The  more  radical  motions  were  not  carried.  The
French  group  represented  “  the  left,”  and  the  Germans  “  the